Terrence Stephen McQueen is widely known for his antihero roles during the 1960s and 1970s, earning the nickname “King of Cool.” He received an Academy Award nomination for The Sand Pebbles (1966) and starred in popular films such as The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Bullitt (1968), and Papillon (1973). Join us in this slideshow as we explore McQueen’s incredible life and career.
In 1974, McQueen became the highest-paid movie star in the world. McQueen was known for his difficult relationships with directors and producers, which did not hinder his demand in Hollywood.
At 17, McQueen joined the United States Marine Corps in 1947, where he faced challenges with military discipline and experienced several demotions. He was honorably discharged in 1950 and later regarded his time in the Marines as a pivotal period that contributed significantly to his personal development.
After his military service, McQueen began earning money by competing in motorcycle races, becoming an accomplished racer during the early 1950s.
McQueen made his Broadway debut in 1955 in the play A Hatful of Rain and had minor roles in various stage productions.
His film career began with a bit part in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), leading to roles in The Blob and The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery (1959).
McQueen gained significant recognition through his role as bounty hunter Josh Randall in the television series Wanted: Dead or Alive, which aired from 1958 to 1961.
His breakout role in Never So Few (1959) came after Frank Sinatra cast him in place of Sammy Davis Jr., leading to favorable reviews and increased visibility in Hollywood.
McQueen starred in The Magnificent Seven (1960) as Vin Tanner, which became his first major hit and led to his departure from Wanted: Dead or Alive. His role in The Magnificent Seven showcased his talent for scene-stealing, which drew the ire of co-star Yul Brynner.
McQueen’s breakout role in The Great Escape (1963) solidified his status as a superstar, although he did not perform the film’s famous motorcycle jump.
He received his only Academy Award nomination for The Sand Pebbles (1966), where he played an engine room sailor alongside Richard Crenna and Candice Bergen.
Bullitt (1968), one of McQueen’s most famous films, featured an iconic car chase through San Francisco, with McQueen performing some driving, but much of it done by stunt drivers.
Following the success of Bullitt, McQueen shifted his image in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), playing a wealthy executive opposite Faye Dunaway.
In the 1970s, McQueen starred in Le Mans (1971), Junior Bonner (1972), and Papillon (1973), the latter being a physically demanding role alongside Dustin Hoffman.
By the early 1970s, McQueen had become the highest-paid actor in the world. His final films, Tom Horn and The Hunter, released in 1980, were loosely based on true stories, marking the end of his film career before his death.