Chad McQueen has sadly passed away at the age of 63. Known as the son of the iconic actor Steve McQueen, Chad gained fame for his acting roles during the 1980s and 1990s. He was particularly recognized for his role as Dutch, a Cobra Kai student and close friend of Johnny Lawrence, portrayed by William Zabka, in the first two *Karate Kid* films. Beyond these roles, he appeared in several other significant movies before stepping away from acting to pursue different interests.
According to *Variety*, Chad’s death was confirmed through a statement from his wife, Jeanie, and his children, Chase and Madison. Their statement is as follows:
“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. He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us, and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfather’s 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.”
Following the news of Chad’s passing, global tributes poured in, including a notable one from Jon Hurwitz, co-creator of *Cobra Kai*. Hurwitz expressed that they had long desired Chad McQueen’s return to the *Karate Kid* franchise and nearly succeeded in bringing him back. His full remarks are below:
“Dutch may have been the purest Cobra of them all. Merciless and dangerous through and through. That’s what we loved about him. 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 brought him up unprompted, their chances of making the staff skyrocketed. Dutch was that important to us.
We always wanted Chad McQueen to appear on the show. And it almost happened a couple of times. Chad was torn. His racing injuries limited his capabilities, but he loved the idea of playing again with his pal, @william_zabka. They had so much fun together while making *Karate Kid*.
Before Season 6, word got to us that Chad had decided he was ready to join the party. Josh, Hayden, and I drove out to his ranch to meet him in person for the very first time. He and his family greeted us warmly. He was as unique and hilarious as we’d 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’d ever seen in person. The love and respect he had for his father’s work was beautiful to witness.
We left Chad’s place excited and determined to make Dutch’s return special. And yes, we dropped his name in episode 602 partly to keep him fresh in the audience’s mind. We wrote a scene for him much later in the season. Dutch was still badass. The scene had pathos. It would have blown young Jon, Josh, and Hayden’s minds.
Unfortunately, Chad was unable to join us when it came time to shoot. At the end of the day, it wasn’t meant to be. But Dutch will always be remembered as a badass’ badass in the Miyagiverse. He kicked ass. He hated “Danielle.” And he loved riding bikes with his boys.
The fandom mourns a *Karate Kid* legend today. I’m so grateful I had the honor of spending an afternoon with him. Sending much love and strength to his wonderful family. May Chad rest in peace.”
Chad McQueen’s Legacy Endures
Chad McQueen’s passing is undoubtedly a loss, but his legacy remains vibrant through the memories cherished by his friends, family, and fans. Although his breakthrough role came in 1984 as Dutch in *Karate Kid*, McQueen initially honed his acting skills in smaller productions.
After a successful acting career, McQueen pursued his lifelong passion for racing. Following his role in the original *Karate Kid*, he continued to make an impact in the sequel, *The Karate Kid Part II*, further cementing his significance in the franchise. Later, he starred as Sean Thompson in Steve Cohen’s martial arts film *Martial Law*. His acting career concluded in 2001 with his role as Manny Carlotti in *The Fall*.
The Karate Kid (1984) Cast & Character Guide
Transitioning from acting, McQueen embraced a successful career in professional racing, his true calling. He began with the Sports Car Club of America and went on to compete in prestigious events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Additionally, he established McQueen Racing, a company dedicated to high-performance cars and motorcycles, perpetuating his family’s love for automobiles.
Source: *Variety*
