Chad McQueen is best remembered for his portrayal of “Dutch,” a ruthless member of the Cobra Kai dojo, in the 1984 classic The Karate Kid and its sequel The Karate Kid Part II (1986).
Chad McQueen, son of iconic actor Steve McQueen and known for his role as “Dutch” in The Karate Kid films, passed away on Wednesday in Palm Springs at the age of 63.
In a heartfelt statement to Variety, his wife Jeanie and his children, Chase and Madison, expressed their grief: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. His unwavering dedication to our family, along with his passion for racing, truly defined his life.”
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They added, “He honored his father’s legacy through his love for racing and passed down his knowledge and passion to us. We will continue both his legacy and that of our grandfather.”
The statement concluded by requesting privacy for the family during this challenging time as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.
McQueen is best remembered for his portrayal of “Dutch,” a ruthless member of the Cobra Kai dojo, in the 1984 classic The Karate Kid and its sequel The Karate Kid Part II (1986). His character was notorious for encouraging Johnny Lawrence (played by William Zabka) to attack Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) during the Halloween dance and for taunting LaRusso before the All-Valley Tournament.
Though his character was referenced in the second season of the Cobra Kai TV series as being in prison, McQueen did not make an appearance due to scheduling conflicts.
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While McQueen appeared in other films like New York Cop (1993) and Red Line (1995), his career in film didn’t reach the same heights as his father’s. However, his true passion was racing, where he found significant success.
He competed in prestigious events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring, and later founded McQueen Racing, a company focused on developing high-performance vehicles, continuing his family’s legacy in motorsports.
In 2006, McQueen survived a near-fatal crash while practicing for the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Though he recovered, the accident effectively ended his professional racing career. Despite this, he remained actively involved in motorsports through his company.
Born on December 28, 1960, in Los Angeles and raised in Malibu, Chad McQueen is survived by his wife Jeanie, his children Chase and Madison, and his son Steven, a professional actor known for his role in The Vampire Diaries.
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