Karate Kid star Chad McQueen is dead at 63: Son of legendary actor Steve McQueen passes away from organ failure after injury years earlier

Chad McQueen, who played a supporting role in the original Karate Kid film, has died at age 63.

McQueen died Wednesday from organ failure at his home in Palm Desert, California, his longtime attorney Arthur Barens told TMZ.

McQueen was not only known as an actor, but was also the son of the iconic star Steve McQueen.

According to his attorney, McQueen had been suffering from progressively worsening organ failure caused by a serious injury he suffered years earlier, which eventually led to his death.

He was reportedly surrounded by his children and his wife Jeanie in his final moments. 

McQueen played Dutch, a member of the villainous Cobra Kai gang in The Karate Kid (1984)

In a statement to Variety, McQueen’s wife Jeanie and his children Chase and Madison wrote: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. 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 grandfather’s as well,’ McQueen’s family concluded. ‘As a family, we need to navigate this difficult time, and we kindly ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.’

Chad was born on December 28, 1960. He was the only son of Steve McQueen and his first wife, the Filipina American actress Neile Adams.

The couple also shared a daughter, Terry Leslie McQueen, who died in 1998 at the age of 38.

Neile tied the knot with Steve in 1956, but the couple divorced in 1972.

McQueen was later married to Ali McGraw (from 1973 to 1978) and to Barbara Minty from 1980 until his death later that year from a heart attack shortly after surgery to remove multiple tumors 

After appearing in the original 1984 Karate Kid, Chad McQueen reprised his role in The Karate Kid Part II, which was released in 1986.

According to his attorney, McQueen died at his home in Palm Desert, California, while surrounded by his wife Jeanie and children; pictured in 2015 in North Hollywood

Chad was born on December 28, 1960. He was the only son of Steve McQueen and his first wife, the Filipina American actress Neile Adams; pictured together in 1964 in Santa Monica

The couple also shared a daughter, Terry Leslie McQueen, who died in 1998 at the age of 38. Adams and McQueen were married in 1956 and divorced in 1971; pictured in 1966

Chad (R) was the son of the legendary Hollywood star Steve McQueen (pictured on the left on the set of his film Le Mans in 1971)

His character, Dutch, was among the most reckless and aggressive of the Cobra Kai members, but unlike many of his costars, McQueen never made an appearance on the popular sequel series Cobra Kai, which debuted on YouTube Red before moving to Netflix, where it will wrap up its sixth and final season sometime next year.

In 2019, co-creator Josh Heald told Entertainment Weekly that McQueen had been approached about reprising his role as Dutch.

However, scheduling issues prevented him from appearing, so his character was described as being in prison in order to leave open the possibility of him appearing at a later date.

McQueen was first married to Stacey Rae Toten from 1987 to 1990, and they share one son, the actor Steven R. McQueen.

Chad married his second wife, Jeanie Galbraith, in 1993, and they welcomed two more children, son Chase McQueen and daughter Madison McQueen.

McQueen initially followed his famous father into acting with his first role, a small part in 1978’s Skateboard. 

He never achieved a comparable level of fame as the elder McQueen, and he primarily had small supporting roles in television and film, including several direct-to-video movies.

He did share his father’s interest in racing, though, which was fostered when Steve would drive over 100mph with Chad seated on his lap while film Le Mans.

Chad would become a gifted racer in his own right.

McQueen’s acting career never took off like his father’s, but he followed Steve’s passion to become a gifted auto racer; pictured in March 2023 in Palm Desert, Calif.

He is survived by his wife Jeanie and his children Steven, Chase and Madison, as well as by his mother Neile Adams, who is 92; Chad is pictured with Neile in 2022 in Palm Springs, Calif.

He competed in events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring, but his career behind the wheel came to a screeching halt after a devastating crash in 2006 on a practice run for the Daytona International Speedway’s Rolex 24 event. 

The crash left him with a broken left leg and multiple broken ribs, and he also suffered two spinal fractures.

But McQueen recovered enough to continue his passion outside of the cockpit, and in 2010 he founded McQueen Racing, which collaborated with manufacturers to create high-end limited-edition motorcycles and cars intended for racing.

He is survived by his wife Jeanie and his children Steven, Chase and Madison, as well as by his mother Neile Adams, who is 92.