Chad McQueen He died at the age of 63. The son of legendary actor Steve McQueen, he was best known for his roles in the 1980s and 1990s. Most notably, he appears in the first two parts of the film Karate Kid franchise, William Zabka stars as Dutch, a Cobra Kai student who is good friends with Johnny Lawrence. He also starred in a number of other notable films before retiring to focus on other endeavors.
Per Diversity, The 63-year-old was confirmed dead in a statement issued by his wife Jeanie and children Chase and Madison.. Read the full statement below:
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, coupled with his unwavering devotion to our mother, has truly been an example of a life full of love and sacrifice. His passion for racing served as a way to honor his father's legacy while highlighting his exceptional talent, a testament to the values instilled in him. He passed on his passion, knowledge and dedication to us, and we will carry on not only his legacy, but our grandfather's as well. As a family, we must navigate this difficult time and request privacy as we remember and celebrate her extraordinary life.
After the former actor's death was announced, there was an outpouring of love from people all over the world. a remarkable tribute from co-creator Jon Hurwitz Cobra Kai. He revealed that they always wanted Chad McQueen back Karate Kid franchise and that they almost managed to bring it back. Check out his full comment below:
Here is his full text:
Perhaps the Dutch were the purest Cobra of them all. It is ruthless and dangerous. That's what we love about her. And it was all because of Chad McQueen's performance.
When interviewing writers for Cobra Kai, if the candidate didn't know who Dutch was, it was an uphill battle for them. If they raised him without rushing, his chances of making the squad increased greatly. Holland was important to us.
We've always wanted Chad McQueen to appear on the show. And it almost happened several times. Chad was torn. Injuries during the competition limited his opportunities, but he loved the idea of playing again with his friend @william_zabka. They had a lot of fun together making The Karate Kid.
Before Season 6, we got word that Chad was ready to join the party. Josh, Hayden and I went to his ranch to meet him in person for the first time. He welcomed us with his family. He was as unique and hilarious as we've heard from Billy all these years.
He took us on a tour of his property and showed us some of the most incredible film and racing memorabilia we've ever seen in person. It was wonderful to witness the love and respect he had for his father's work.
We left Chad's place with excitement and decided to make Holland's return special. Yes, we named him in episode 602 partly to keep him fresh in the minds of the audience. We wrote a scene for him much later in the season. Holland was still bad. The scene was pathetic. It would blow the minds of young John, Josh and Hayden.
Unfortunately, Chad was unable to join us when it was time to shoot. At the end of the day, it wasn't meant to be. But the Dutch will always be remembered as bad guys in the Miyagiverse. He kicked ass. He hated “Danielle”. And he loved riding bikes with his boys.
Fandom mourns the Karate Kid legend today. I am very grateful to have had the honor of spending an afternoon with him. Sending lots of love and strength to his beautiful family. May Chad rest in peace.
Chad McQueen Leaves an Enduring Legacy Behind
While Chad McQueen's death is obviously tragic and he will be remembered by his friends, family and fans, the one-time actor leaves a lasting legacy that audiences can always return to. Although His big break on screen came in 1984 when he played the role of Holland Karate KidMcQueen initially appeared in a few small productions that helped sharpen his acting chops.
after
After McQueen's prolific spell as an actor, he went on to become a professional racer, his true passion throughout.
After appearing in the original Karate Kid McQueen starred in the sequel Karate Kid part IIreprises the role of the Dutchman and proved to be a key to the popular franchise. A few years after the second part, he starred in Steve Cohen's martial arts film martial law, plays the main character Sean Thompson. He also played important roles in several other films and in 2001, he acted in his last film. AutumnHe plays a character named Manny Carlotti.
after McQueenA productive spell as an actor, he went all the way to become his true passion, a professional racer. He began his racing career with the Sports Car Club of America and later competed successfully in other events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring. He also continued his family's passion for cars, founding McQueen Racing, a company that manufactures high-performance cars and motorcycles.
Source: Variety