Biography
Dubbed "The King of Cool," McQueen ushered in a new breed of antiheroes who commanded the begrudging respect - along with large salaries - of studio producers and directors, while attracting millions of moviegoer fans around the world. Though he made a name for himself as the star of the popular Western series "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (CBS, 1958-1961), McQueen nearly stole the rug from under star Yul Brynner in the acclaimed movie "The …
Latest Tv Credits
1 - 4 of 4
Career Milestones
| Raised in Slater, Missouri by a grandmother and great-uncle | ||
| Sick with cancer, made his final two films, "Tom Horn" (bad) and "The Hunter" (perhaps his worst movie), playing a bounty hunter in each | ||
| Starred as bounty hunter of few words Josh Randall in CBS series, "Wanted: Dead or Alive" | ||
| Took 18-month sabbatical from acting in order to pursue hobby of racing | ||
1945 | Ran away to California to live with mother and stepfather | |
1946 | Moved with mother to Greenwich Village in NYC; lived with gay neighbor | |
1948 | Served in US Marine Corps as a tank driver | |
1950 | Returned to NYC | |
1956 | Broadway debut, replacing Ben Gazzara as Johnny Pope in "A Hatful of Rain"; fired after six weeks | |
1956 | Feature debut in small role of Fidel in Robert Wise's "Somebody Up There Likes Me", starring Paul Newman | |
1958 | Attracted attention for his first starring turn in "The Blob", a campy classic of cheap 1950s sci-fi | |
1958 | Introduced character of Josh Randall in episode of "Trackdown", starring Robert Culp | |
1959 | First film with director John Sturges, "Never So Few" | |
1959 | Staged an "accident" in order to get out of TV series commitment to act in a feature | |
1960 | Sturges' "The Magnificent Seven" reinforced him as a laconic loner in action | |
1961 | Formed Solar Productions | |
1962 | Developed his screen persona further as a surly, rebellious, busted NCO in Don Siegel's "Hell Is for Heroes" | |
1963 | Reteamed with Sturges, soaring as the motorcyle-riding American amidst mostly Brits in "The Great Escape" | |
1964 | Competed on USA team in motorcycle race | |
1965 | Acted the title role in Norman Jewison's "The Cincinnati Kid" | |
1966 | Played "Nevada Smith", directed by Henry Hathaway | |
1966 | Second film with Wise, "The Sand Pebbles"; nominated for Best Actor Oscar | |
1968 | Cast against type as the suave mastermind of Jewison's "The Thomas Crown Affair" | |
1968 | Offered a superb performance as as rough, surly cop "Bullitt", particularly behind the wheel for one of the screen's all-time best car chases through streets of San Francisco | |
1969 | Ventured into (William) Faulkner country for "The Reivers" | |
1971 | Returned behind the wheel for "Le Mans"; film was a pet project that began with no script and John Sturges at the helm; Sturges dropped out after shooting many racing sequences | |
1972 | Teamed with Sam Peckinpah for two pictures, the captivating rodeo comedy-drama "Junior Bonner" and "The Getaway", an enjoyable film built around a chase | |
1973 | Inspired performance as "Papillon", the man who defies solitary confinement, madness and aging to become a wistful genius of survival | |
1974 | Presided over listless all-star project, "The Towering Inferno"; reteamed onscreen with Paul Newman | |
1977 | Starred in Arthur Miller's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People" (directed by George Schaefer); film sat on shelf for years and received only limited distribution | |
1979 | First disgnosed with cancer caused by exposure to asbestos | |
Awards
1963 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Love With the Proper Stranger |
1966 | Academy Award for Actor in The Sand Pebbles |
1966 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Sand Pebbles |
1966 | Golden Globe Award for Henrietta Award (World Film Favorites) |
1969 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in The Reivers |
1969 | Golden Globe Award for Henrietta Award (World Film Favorites) |
1973 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Papillon |