Chad McQueen, best known for his role as Dutch in The Karate Kid and its sequel, has passed away at the age of 63. According to TMZ, McQueen died on Wednesday at his ranch in Palm Desert, California. His death was confirmed by his attorney, Arthur Barens, who was present with McQueen’s life partner and children at the time. Barens reported that McQueen’s death resulted from progressive organ failure following an injury he had sustained a few years earlier.
Chadwick Steven McQueen was the only son of legendary actor Steve McQueen, who passed away in 1980 at the age of 50. Chad was nine years old at the time. Following in his father’s footsteps, McQueen developed a passion for racing at a young age, winning major competitions by the age of 10, including a class victory at the World Mini Grand Prix when he was 12. His racing career continued into adulthood, but a severe accident in 2006 left him with broken ribs, back injuries, and a broken leg. Despite the setback, McQueen’s love for racing persisted, and in 2010, he founded McQueen Racing.
Inspired by his father’s success in the entertainment industry, McQueen also pursued an acting career. He made his film debut in 1978’s Skateboard, but his breakout role came in 1984 when he played Dutch, a Cobra Kai student and one of Johnny’s friends, in The Karate Kid. His character was known for bullying Daniel LaRusso (played by Ralph Macchio). McQueen reprised the role in the 1986 sequel, The Karate Kid Part II.
McQueen was later offered the chance to return as Dutch in the hit TV series Cobra Kai, which brought back original stars William Zabka and Ralph Macchio. However, in 2020, McQueen declined the offer, having retired from acting to focus on his passion for racing. His last acting role was in the 2001 film The Fall.
Before stepping away from acting, McQueen appeared in several other films, including Fever Pitch with Ryan O’Neal, Martial Law with David Carradine, Death Ring alongside Mike Norris, Jimmy Hollywood with Joe Pesci, and Red Line with Dom DeLuise. McQueen also co-produced the documentary Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans, which explored the making of his father’s iconic 1971 film Le Mans.
In a 2017 interview, McQueen reflected on playing Dutch, a character fans loved to hate in The Karate Kid. He also spoke about his family’s ongoing presence in Hollywood, proudly mentioning his son, Steven R. McQueen, who has appeared in popular TV shows like The Vampire Diaries and Chicago Fire.
Chad McQueen was married twice. He had one son with his first wife, Stacia Toten, to whom he was married from 1987 to 1990. He later married Jeanie Galbraith in 1993, and the couple had two children together.
