‘Karate Kid’ Star Chad McQueen, Son Of Steve McQueen, Passes Away At 63

Actor Chad McQueen, the only son of Hollywood legend Steve McQueen who is perhaps best known for playing “Dutch” in the 80’s classic “The Karate Kid” franchise, has passed away at the age of 63.

The actor passed away on Wednesday, September 11, at his home in Palm Desert, California, according to his longtime attorney, Arthur Barnes.

According to a report from TMZ, McQueen had been suffering from complications stemming from an injury that ultimately led to progressive organ failure. The actor was surrounded by family and friends when he passed, Barnes told the outlet.

McQueen played secondary antagonist “Dutch” in the original 1984 “Karate Kid” film.                                           Photo: Columbia Pictures

The news of McQueen’s death was confirmed by his wife Jeanie, as well as his daughter, Madison and son, Chase, in a statement posted to Instagram.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen,” the family captioned alongside a black and white photo of Chad and his father. The post was uploaded to the official Instagram accounts of both Chad and Steve 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.”

Actor Steve McQueen with his son, Chad, on the set of the 1971 film ‘Le Mans’

“He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfathers as well,” the statement continued. “As a family we need to navigate this difficult time and we kindly ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”

In addition to playing Dutch in both 1984’s “The Karate Kid” and the 1986 sequel, “The Karate Kid II,” McQueen is known for notable appearances in the 1993 movie “Firepower” and 1998’s “Surface to Air.”

Chad McQueen enjoyed a close relationship with his father and was adamant about protecting the legendary action star’s legacy. He produced two documentaries about his father’s life and career, “I Am Steve McQueen,” which released in 2014, and “Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans,” which debuted the following year.

Like his father, Chad McQueen had a passion for auto-racing, according to a report from the New York Post.

In 2016, he was nearly killed in a car accident while doing a practice run for the Daytona International Speedway’s Rolex 24 race. The crash ended his career as a professional driver.