Chad McQueen, Actor and Racer, Dies at 63

Chad McQueen, who gained fame for his role as Dutch in the Karate Kid films, has died at the age of 63. His family announced his passing on his official Instagram account on September 11, though they did not disclose the cause of death.

Chad McQueen, the son of the legendary actor Steve McQueen, played the role of Dutch, a bully, in The Karate Kid (1984) and its sequel, The Karate Kid Part II (1986). He did not appear in the third installment or the Cobra Kai series, despite producers expressing interest in having him return.

Chad’s acting career included roles in 1990s action films such as Firepower, where he played an undercover police officer, and Red Line, where he portrayed a car thief.

Passion for Racing and Tragic Accident

Chad was also a passionate race car driver. He started racing dirt bikes at the age of 9 and later founded McQueen Racing in 2010. His racing career was cut short by a severe crash at Daytona International Speedway, where his Porsche 911 GT3 rolled several times, causing significant injuries. Chad was in a coma for nearly a month and required major surgery to stabilize his spine.

Born Chadwick Steven McQueen on December 28, 1960, in Los Angeles, he was the son of Steve McQueen, known for films like The Great Escape and Bullitt, and Neile Adams, a Filipina American actress, singer, and dancer.

Chad was married twice. His first marriage to Stacey Toten ended in divorce, and they had a son, Steven R. McQueen, who is an actor known for The Vampire Diaries and Chicago Fire. In 1993, Chad married Jeanie Galbraith, with whom he had two children, Chase and Madison, both of whom are involved in McQueen Racing.

Chad McQueen is survived by his wife, children, and his mother. His father, Steve McQueen, passed away in 1980 from a heart attack after surgery for a cancerous tumor. His sister, Terry McQueen, died in 1998.