Chad McQueenhas passed away at the age of 63. The son of legendary actor Steve McQueen, he was most famous for his acting roles from the 1980s to the 1990s. Most notably, he starred in the first two installments of theKarate Kidfranchise, playing the role of Dutch, a Cobra Kai student who was good friends with William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence. He also starred in a number of other noteworthy movies before retiring to focus on other endeavors.
PerVariety,the 63-year-old was confirmed dead in a statement given by his wife Jeanie and his children Chase and Madison. Read the full statement below:
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. 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. His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him. He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us, and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfather’s as well. As a family, we need to navigate this difficult time, and we kindly ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.
Following the announcement of the former actor’s death, there has been an outpouring of love from people across the globe, witha notable tribute coming fromJon Hurwitz, the co-creator ofCobra Kai.He revealed that they always wanted Chad McQueen to return to theKarate Kidfranchise, and that they almost managed to bring him back. Check out his full comment below:
His full post reads as follows:
Dutch may have been the purest Cobra of them all. Merciless and dangerous through and through. That’s what we loved about him. And it was all because of Chad McQueen’s performance.
When interviewing writers for Cobra Kai, if the candidate didn’t know who Dutch was, it was an uphill battle for them. If they brought him up unprompted, their chances of making the staff skyrocketed. Dutch was that important to us.
We always wanted Chad McQueen to appear on the show. And it almost happened a couple of times. Chad was torn. His racing injuries limited his capabilities, but he loved the idea of playing again with his pal, @william_zabka. They had so much fun together while making Karate Kid.
Before Season 6, word got to us that Chad had decided he was ready to join the party. Josh, Hayden, and I drove out to his ranch to meet him in person for the very first time. He and his family greeted us warmly. He was as unique and hilarious as we’d heard from Billy all these years.
He took us on a tour of his property and showed us some of the most incredible film and racing memorabilia we’d ever seen in person. The love and respect he had for his father’s work was beautiful to witness.
We left Chad’s place excited and determined to make Dutch’s return special. And yes, we dropped his name in episode 602 partly to keep him fresh in the audience’s mind. We wrote a scene for him much later in the season. Dutch was still badass. The scene had pathos. It would have blown young Jon, Josh, and Hayden’s minds.
Unfortunately, Chad was unable to join us when it came time to shoot. At the end of the day, it wasn’t meant to be. But Dutch will always be remembered as a badass’ badass in the Miyagiverse. He kicked ass. He hated “Danielle.” And he loved riding bikes with his boys.
The fandom mourns a Karate Kid legend today. I’m so grateful I had the honor of spending an afternoon with him. Sending much love and strength to his wonderful family. May Chad rest in peace.
While Chad McQueen’s passing is obviously tragic, and he will be remembered by his friends, family, and fans, the one-time actor leaves behind an enduring legacy audiences can always go back to. Even thoughhis big break on screen came in 1984 when he starred asDutch inKarate Kid, McQueen initially appeared in a couple of small productions that helped sharpen his acting chops.
AfterMcQueen’s fruitful spell as an actor, he went on to become a professional racer, his true passion all along.
Following his appearance in the originalKarate Kidmovie, McQueen starred in the follow-upThe Karate Kid Part II, reprising his role as Dutch and proving key to the popular franchise. A few years after the second installment, he starred in Steve Cohen’s martial arts filmMartial Law,playing the protagonist Sean Thompson. He also played significant roles in a handful of other movies and, in 2001, he starred in his final movie,The Fall, playing a character named Manny Carlotti.
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AfterMcQueen’s fruitful spell as an actor, he went on to become a professional racer, his true passion all along. He started off his auto racing career at the Sports Car Club of America and then went on to successfully compete in other events, like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring. He also founded McQueen Racing, a company that develops high-performance cars and motorcycles, carrying on his family’s passion for automobiles.
