Chad McQueen, ‘Karate Kid’ Star and Son of Steve McQueen, Dead at 63

Chad McQueen, who portrayed Dutch in the first two Karate Kid films and the son of Hollywood icon Steve McQueen, has died, his family announced on Thursday. He was 63.

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“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen,” McQueen’s wife, Jeanie, and his children Chase and Madison, wrote on Instagram. “His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment 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,” they continued. “He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfathers as well. As a family we need to navigate this difficult time and we kindly ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”

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McQueen had been in over a dozen films from the late Seventies through the early 2000s, but by far his biggest role was in Karate Kid, playing Dutch, one of the members of the brutal Cobra Kai dojo. He reprised the role in the second film as well. Karate Kid became one of the most successful film franchises of all time, spawning five movies and the Cobra Kai Netflix series.

McQueen stopped acting in 2001, Like his father, McQueen had a love for racing and cars, founding McQueen Racing in 2010.

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