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Chad McQueen, known for his iconic role as the bully Dutch in the Karate child films, died Wednesday in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 63.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen,” his wife Jeanie and children Chase and Madison said on social media.

“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 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 also that of our grandfather.

“As a family we are going through this difficult time and we kindly ask for your privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”

McQueen’s attorney Arthur Barens confirmed to TMZ that he died of organ failure at his ranch in Palm Springs.

McQueen was the son of ‘King of Cool’ Steve McQueen, whose passion for acting and racing he shared and continued.

Best known for his role as Dutch in the 1984 film The Karate Kid and its 1986 sequel The Karate Kid Part IIMcQueen’s portrayal of a member of Cobra Kai is one of the defining moments in 1980s pop culture.

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He subsequently appeared in films such as Fever height in 1985, New York police officer in 1993, Jimmy Hollywood in 1994, Red line in 1995, Paper trail in 1998, Autumn: The Price of Silence in 2001 and won a Telly Award for his documentary Filming at speed.

However, it was MCQueen’s car racing career that was far more successful. He competed in events such as the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring, and in 2010 founded McQueen Racing, which creates bespoke cars, motorcycles and accessories.

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

He continued to race professionally, but in 2006 suffered a near-fatal crash during practice for the Rolex 24 event at Daytona International Speedway.

He broke his lower leg and suffered multiple vertebral and rib fractures, but the crash ended his professional racing career.

McQueen continued to produce the documentaries I am Steve McQueen And Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mansabout his father.

He was an executive producer on the film Yucatanin early development at Netflix by producers Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey, according to Term.

Yucatan is a project that McQueen and family friend Lance Sloan, a Warner Bros. executive, had been working on for more than two decades. They found nearly 1,700 pages of notes and storyboards compiled by Steve McQueen in a suitcase after his death in 1980.

The film followed a maverick salvage expert’s search for Mayan treasures on the Yucatán Peninsula. The original storyboard featured Steve McQueen in the lead role.

Sean Kanan, who played Mike Barnes in The Karate Kid Part III And Cobra Kaipaid tribute to McQueen on social media, saying: “He made an unforgettable impression on the Karate Kid universe. I wish his family strength and peace during this difficult time. RIP Chad.”