News Mania Desk/ Sohom Chatterjee / 13th September 2024
Chad McQueen, the American actor and race car driver recently passed away on Wednesday, September 11. According to People Magazine, he passed away in Palm Springs, California at the age of 63.
The American actor is highly regarded for his role as Dutch in the 1984 film ‘The Karate Kid’ and its sequel, ‘The Karate Kid Part II’. He also starred in movies like ‘Death Ring’, ‘Firepower’, and ‘Red Line’. His last film appearance was in the 2001 drama ‘Fall: The Price of Silence’ before he fully switched to racing.
In a statement issued by Chad’s wife Jeanie McQueen and their two children Chase and Madison, shared on the demised actor and his late father Steve McQueen’s Instagram, they confirmed this bad news. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen.”
The statement highlighted his contributions to the field of film and racing while also praising his steady commitment to his family and racing simultaniously. As quoted by People Magazine, the statement read, “His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication.”
They also acknowledged his efforts to honour his father’s memory through racing. “His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also served as a way to honour his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him.”
Chad McQueen was the son of legendary actor Steve McQueen who was also an actor and racer in the 1960s and 70s but sadly died of cancer in 1980 at the unfortunate age of 50. Speaking about his admiration towards his father, Chad told People Magazine in 1996, “A lot of my values are like my dad’s… I try to be quiet like him. Growing up, I didn’t understand his distrust of people. But getting older, I do now.”
The actor founded McQueen Racing in 2010, a company specializing in custom high-performance cars after his near-fatal crash in 2006 while training for the 24 Hours of Daytona race, an event that almost ended his racing career.
Richard Rawlings, a fellow car enthusiast as Chad, posted on Facebook, “I just heard the terrible news of Chad McQueen’s passing. The McQueen legacy is one of a kind, and Chad kept that cool, fearless spirit alive. From the entire GMG squad, our thoughts are with the McQueen family. Rest easy, Chad.”
