Was 63 years old

Actor and celebrity son Chad McQueen dies

Chad McQueen died at the age of 63.

(Bild: AP)

Chad McQueen, who was an actor and racing driver like his famous father Steve McQueen, has died. It is with "heavy hearts" that they announce the death of their father, his children Chase and Madison wrote in an Instagram post. "His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent, but was also a way to honor his father's legacy," the statement read.

The family did not disclose the cause of death. McQueen was 63 years old. He came from Steve McQueen's first marriage to actress Neile Adams. The "Bullitt" star, who had cancer, died in November 1980 at the age of 50; his son Chad was 19 at the time.

Acted in "Karate Kid" films
The celebrity son starred in several feature films. He had his best-known role as a feisty karate fighter in two 'Karate Kid' films in the 1980s. Until 2001, he appeared in low-budget films such as "Martial Law", "Red Line", "Surface to Air" and "Fall". As a racing driver, he took part in competitions and founded a company for sports cars and motorcycles in 2010. He had a son from his first marriage to actress Stacey Toten, who is also an actor. In 1993, he married Jeanie Galbraith, with whom he had two children.

Video: Chad McQueen as karate fighter "Dutch"

Steve McQueen (1930-1980) was known as a taciturn screen hero and passionate racing driver. In the 1968 cop thriller "Bullitt", he played a policeman being hunted by mafia hitmen. At the wheel of a Ford Mustang, he raced through the streets of San Francisco in a legendary scene. His other films included "The Magnificent Seven", "Cincinnati Kid", "The Getaway", "Papillon" and "Flaming Inferno".