Steve McQueen (d. 1980)

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Biography

Terrence Stephen McQueen was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of 1960s counterculture, made him a top box office draw for his films of the late 1950s to the mid-1970s. He was nicknamed the "King of Cool" and used the alias "Harvey Mushman" when participating in motor races.

Timeline

The story of Steve McQueen, told in moments.

1930 Birth

Born Terrence Stephen McQueen in Beech Grove, Indiana. His father left before he was born. Raised partly by his great-uncle on a farm in Slater, Missouri. Ran with gangs in LA as a teenager. Joined the Marines at 17.

Your father left before you were born. Raised in a boys reform school. Was rage your fuel? Was acting an escape from that childhood?

1963 Event

The Great Escape premiered. His motorcycle jump over a barbed-wire fence became one of cinema's most famous stunts, though his stunt double Bud Ekins actually did the jump. McQueen did the riding in every other scene.

The motorcycle jump in The Great Escape. Was the stunt man necessary? Did that fence scene make you the King of Cool?

1968 Event

Bullitt opened in theaters. The ten-minute car chase through San Francisco set the standard for every movie car chase that followed. McQueen did much of his own driving in the Ford Mustang GT 390.

Ten minutes of car chase through San Francisco in Bullitt. Did you drive it yourself? Did Bullitt change what an action movie could be?

1974 Event

Became the world's highest-paid actor. Turned down roles in Apocalypse Now and Superman. Raced motorcycles and cars obsessively in his spare time. Owned over 200 motorcycles.

Highest-paid actor in the world. Turning down Apocalypse Now and Superman. Did you regret either? Were you choosing carefully or just saying no?

1980 Death

Died of mesothelioma in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where he'd gone for experimental cancer treatment. He was 50. The cancer was likely caused by asbestos exposure during his time in the Marines and on film sets.

Experimental treatment in Mexico. Were you chasing a cure or just time? Mesothelioma at 50. Was there anything left unsaid?

Artifacts (15)

Soldier in the rain

graphic material

europeana View

The Rhododendron (serial) (IA rhododendronseri1982appa)

Appalachian State University

commons View

The memento, old and new Natchez, 1700 to 1897. (IA mementooldnewnat01powe)

Power, Steve

commons View

Other Days by William Winter (Moffat, 1908) (IA otherdaysbeingch00wint)

William Winter

commons View

Southern campus (IA southerncampus1963univ)

University of California (1868-1952). Southern Branch University of California (1868-1952). Southern Branch. Associated Students Associated Students of UCLA

commons View

Victoria Daily Times (1901-10-23) (IA victoriadailytimes19011023)

commons View

Wagon Trails 1982

Unknown authorUnknown author

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Argosy All-Story Weekly 1924-05-03

Various

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Alberta public accounts for the year ending December 31, 1910 (IA albertapublicac1910albe 0)

Alberta. Treasury Department

commons View

Steve McQueen

Published to coincide with the exhibition Steve McQueen 30 January - 21 March 1999, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London and 12 June - 15 August 1999, Kunsthalle Zürich.

1999

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Giardini Notebook

Steve McQueen represents Great Britain at the 2009 Venice Biennale with a new film, Giardini.

2009

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Queen and Country

War artist, Steve McQueen constructed an oak cabinet with 120 pull-out drawers containing large facsimile sheets of stamps, each featuring a photograph of a serviceman who has died in Iraq.

2010

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Steve McQueen: Works

The largest exhibition catalogue to date of Steve McQueen's work will provide a detailed insight into his complex and unusual oeuvre. Installations, photographs and film from every period of his...

2012

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Twelve Years a Slave: Full Book and Comprehensive Reading Companion

Solomon Northup was born a free black man. He was kidnapped, tortured, and sold into slavery. For 12 years, he was kept in bondage as a slave in Louisiana--Twelve Years a Slave is his moving and raw...

2013

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Indy's Big Adventure

Indy’s Big Adventure By: Steve McQueen This book is about being different, helping one another out, and racism. Realizing that just because someone is different doesn’t mean you cannot become friends...

2019

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