Chad McQueenson of legendary actor Steve McQueen, who played the evil Dutch in the Karate Kid film series, died Wednesday in Palm Springs. He was 63 years old and the causes are unknown..
According to Variety, his family announced the sad news in a statement. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. His remarkable career as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication,” they said in the statement.
They also recalled Chad McQueen’s love of motorsports. “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. As a family, we must navigate this difficult time and we kindly ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life,” they noted.
Chad McQueen, who is in charge of playing the role of Dutch, Johnny Lawrence’s (William Zabka) best friend and fellow student at the Cobra Kai dojo.
Who was Chad McQueen, one of the bad guys in Karate Kid?
Chad McQueen was born in Los Angeles on December 28, 1960 and grew up in Malibu surrounded by fame: his father was Steve McQueen, one of the biggest stars in the history of cinema.
Chad McQueen, actor and son of Steve McQueen. Photo: AP
His best-known role was that of Dutch in Karate Kid and its sequel Karate Kid IIwhere he demonstrated his acting ability. His portrayal of one of the members of Cobra Kai was iconic in 80s pop culture.
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In “Karate Kid” he played the evil Dutch. He worked in the first two films.
His character displayed a ruthless attitude every time he appeared in the first film of the franchise: He was the one who encouraged Johnny Lawrence (played by William “Billy” Zabka) to brutally beat Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) during the Halloween dance night.He also mocks and threatens the protagonist’s character before the legendary All-Valley Tournament.
During the second season of the Netflix television series Cobra Kai, it is revealed that Dutch has been serving time in prison. Although there was talk of McQueen possibly appearing on the show, it was reported that scheduling issues prevented this and he never made the appearance..
Chad’s father Steve McQueen encouraged his passion for acting and motor racing. Photo: AFP
Following the success of his character, McQueen continued to appear in some minor action films such as New York Cop o Red Linebut his film career was not as long as his father’s.
Cars, a passion like his father’s
However, where he followed in the footsteps of the great Steve McQueen was in motor racing. Chad had a successful career in car racing, his true passion. He competed professionally in events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring.in addition to founding McQueen Racing, a company that develops high-performance vehicles and motorcycles, continuing the family legacy of passion for cars.
In 2006, McQueen suffered a near-fatal accident while practicing for the Rolex 24 event at Daytona International Speedway. Although he eventually recovered, the accident ended his professional racing career, although he remained involved in motorsports through his business and other ventures.
