Farewell to Chad McQueen. The actor, producer, and son of star Steve McQueen has passed away at 63 years old. According to TMZ, the man died on Wednesday at his home in Palm Desert, California. It is impossible not to remember his performance in Karate Kid where he played the role of Dutch.

Chad McQueen is dead

In 2020, McQueen was injured after a very bad fall and since then he had never fully recovered, as a friend of his stated. His death was announced by his children Chase and Madison and his wife Jeanie. «With sorrow, we announce the death of our father Chad McQueen. His remarkable journey as a loving father and his unwavering commitment to our mother truly exemplified a life full of love and dedication».

The Announcement

His lawyer confirmed the actor's death and stated that he suffered from organ failure caused by an injury sustained years earlier. On the day of his death, Chad was with his children Chase and Madison, his wife Jeanie, and lawyer Arthur Barens.

Who He Was

Born in Los Angeles on December 28, 1960, Chad McQueen is best known for his role as Dutch in «The Karate Kid» (1984) and its sequel, «The Karate Kid Part II» (1986). His portrayal of one of the Cobra Kai members became an icon of 1980s pop culture. His character had a ruthless attitude and encouraged Johnny Lawrence (played by William 'Billy' Zabka) to brutally beat Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) during the Halloween dance night. His character also mocks and threatens the New Jersey native before the All-Valley tournament. During the second season of the television series «Cobra Kai» it was revealed that Dutch was serving a prison sentence. Although there was talk of a possible appearance by McQueen in the series, scheduling issues ultimately prevented it. Chad McQueen continued to appear in other action films such as «Nightforce» (1987), «Martial Law» (1990), «New York Cop» (1993), «Firepower» (1993), «Darklands» (1994), «Red Line» (1995), and «The Hunt».

The 2006 Accident

But the actor primarily dedicated himself to his passion for car racing, participating in events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and founding McQueen Racing, which develops cars and motorcycles. In 2006, his career as a driver ended due to an accident in which he nearly lost his life during the Daytona International Speedway's Rolex event. McQueen was married to Jeanie and had children Chase, Madison, and Steven, an actor famous for his role in The Vampire Diaries.

The Family

The family told Variety: «It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. His extraordinary journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, has truly been an example of a life full of love and dedication. His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also served 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 to carry forward not only his legacy but also our grandfather's».