Chad McQueen has died 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. Mainly, he starred in the first two installments of the Karate Kid Franchise, 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.
Per Variety, The 63-year-old was confirmed dead in a statement given by his wife Gianni 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 full of love and devotion. His passion for racing not only highlighted his extraordinary talent, but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values ​​instilled in him. He passed on his passion, knowledge and dedication to us, and we will continue not only his legacy, but also our grandfather’s. As a family, we need to navigate this difficult time, and we cheerfully ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.
After the announcement of the former actor’s death, there was an outpouring of love from people all over the world, with A notable tribute coming from Jon HorwitzThe co-creator of Cobra Kai. He revealed that they always wanted Chad McQueen to return to the Karate Kid franchise, and that they almost managed to bring him back. Check out his full comment below:
His full post reads as follows:
Dutch may be the purest Cobra of them all. Merciless and dangerous through and through. I liked that 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 bring him up unprompted, their chances of making the staff skyrocket. Dutch was so 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.
For Season 6, we get word that Chad has decided he’s ready to join the party. Josh, Hayden and I went out to his ranch to meet him in person for the first time. He and his family welcomed us warmly. He was as unique and hilarious as we’ve 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 have 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 the return trip to Holland. 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 bad. The scene has 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’s not meant to be. But Dutch will always be remembered as a badass badass in the MayaGiverse. He beat himself. He hates “Daniel”. And he loved to ride his bike with his boys.
The fandom mourns a Karate Kid legend today. I am so grateful that I had the honor of spending an afternoon with him. Sending much love and strength to his wonderful family. May Chad rest in peace.
Chad McQueen leaves behind an enduring legacy
Although the passing of Chad McQueen 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 though His big break on screen came in 1984 when he starred as Dutch in Karate KidMcQueen initially appeared in a couple of small productions that helped hone his acting chops.
yet McQueen’s fruitful spell as an actor, he became a professional racer, his true passion all along.
After his appearance in the original Karate Kid Movie, McQueen starred in the follow-up The Karate Kid Part IIReprising his role as Dutchman and proven key to the popular franchise. A few years after the second installment, he starred in Steve Cohen’s martial arts film martial law, playing the protagonist Sean Thompson. He also played significant roles in a handful of other movies and, in 2001, starred in his final film, The casePlaying a character named Manny Carlotti.
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yet McQueenAfter his fruitful spell as an actor, he became a professional racer, his true passion all along. He started his auto racing career in the Sports Car Club of America and then successfully competed in other events, such as 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.
Source: Variety