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‘Karate Kid’ actor, son of Hollywood legend, dies at 63
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‘Karate Kid’ actor, son of Hollywood legend, dies at 63

An actor known for his role in the films “The Karate Kid” and the son of a Hollywood legend has died at the age of 63.

Chad McQueen died Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. A cause of death has not been released.

“His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering devotion to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication,” his family said in a statement on Instagram. “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.”

Chad McQueen was the only son of actor and race car driver Steve McQueen, who died in 1980. “The King of Cool” was the Oscar-nominated star of such films as “The Great Escape” (1963), “The Cincinnati Kid” (1965), “Bullitt” (1968), “The Thomas Crown Affair” (1968), “The Getaway” (1972) and “The Towering Inferno” (1974).

“He passed on his passion, knowledge and dedication to us and we will continue not only his legacy, but that of our grandfathers as well,” said Chad’s family, who asked for privacy as they “remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”

Chad McQueen has appeared in more than two dozen films and television shows, most notably as Cobra Kai member Dutch in 1984’s “The Karate Kid” and 1986’s “The Karate Kid Part II.” He did not appear in the Netflix sequel series “Cobra Kai” due to his involvement with his racing company, McQueen Racing.

“I didn’t like acting anymore,” McQueen told The Associated Press in a 2005 interview. “So I decided to focus on racing full-time.”

McQueen Racing is a company that makes custom cars, motorcycles and accessories. Chad’s son Chase, who also races, and his daughter Madison now run the company, AP reported.

A third child, Steven R. McQueen, is an actor best known for “The Vampire Diaries”.

Chad McQueen, whose acting credits include “New York Cop,” “Squanderers” and “Red Line,” raced professionally for many years, including in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona before suffering injuries behind the wheel. He also produced two documentaries about his father, “I Am Steve McQueen” and “Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans.”

Chad McQueen

Actor Steve McQueen relaxes with his son Chad during the filming of the movie ‘Le Mans’ on June 24, 1971 in Le Mans, France (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)Getty Images

McQueen is survived by his wife, Jeanie, and three children, Chase, Madison and Steven. He is preceded in death by his famous father and mother, Neile Toffel, and a sister, Terry, who died of respiratory failure at age 38 in 1998.