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‘Karate Kid’ film actor dies at age 63
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‘Karate Kid’ film actor dies at age 63

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Chad McQueen, who played Dutch in the 1984 original “Karate Kid” film and the son of acting legend Steve McQueen, has died at the age of 63, reports say.

McQueen’s family – his wife Jeanie and his children Chase and Madison – confirmed his father’s death in a post on Instagram.

“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,” the post read. “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. He passed on his passion, knowledge and dedication to us, and we will continue not only his legacy, but that of our grandfather as well.”

Chad McQueen’s breakthrough as an actor came in the “Karate Kid”, where he was one of the antagonists of Daniel, played by Ralph Macchio. He appeared in several other small films and TV shows, with his last credit on IMDB coming in 2001. He has several producing credits, including a film about his father, “Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans” in 2015.

McQueen was a professional racing driver for many years and participated in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona.

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

A series of injuries forced him to retire from racing behind the wheel. He eventually founded McQueen Racing, a company that makes custom cars, motorcycles and accessories. His children now run the company.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)