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Steve McQueen: A Biography
Steve McQueen is one of America’s legendary movie stars best known for his hugely successful film career in classics such as The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, and The Towering Inferno as well as for his turbulent life off-screen and impeccable style. His unforgettable physical beauty, his soft-spoken manner, his tough but tender roughness, and his aching vulnerability had women swooning and men wanting to be just like him. Today—nearly thirty years after he lost his battle against cancer at the age of fifty—McQueen remains “The King of Cool.” Yet, few know the truth of what bubbled beneath his composed exterior and shaped his career, his passions, and his private life.
Now, in Steve McQueen, New York Times bestselling author, acclaimed biographer, and film historian, Marc Eliot captures the complexity of this Hollywood screen legend. Chronicling McQueen’s tumultuous life both on and off the screen, from his hardscrabble childhood to his rise to Hollywood superstar status, to his struggles with alcohol and drugs and his fervor for racing fast cars and motorcycles, Eliot discloses intimate details of McQueen’s three marriages, including his tumultuous relationships with Neile Adams and Ali MacGraw, as well as his numerous affairs. He also paints a full portrait of this incredible yet often perplexing career that ranged from great films to embarrassing misfires. Steve McQueen, adored by millions, was obsessed by Paul Newman, and it is the nature of that obsession that reveals so much about who McQueen really was. Perhaps his greatest talent was to be able to convince audiences that he was who he really wasn’t, even as he tried to prove to himself that he wasn’t who he really was.
With original material, rare photos, and new interviews, Eliot presents a fascinating and complete picture of McQueen’s life.
From the Hardcover edition.
Now, in Steve McQueen, New York Times bestselling author, acclaimed biographer, and film historian, Marc Eliot captures the complexity of this Hollywood screen legend. Chronicling McQueen’s tumultuous life both on and off the screen, from his hardscrabble childhood to his rise to Hollywood superstar status, to his struggles with alcohol and drugs and his fervor for racing fast cars and motorcycles, Eliot discloses intimate details of McQueen’s three marriages, including his tumultuous relationships with Neile Adams and Ali MacGraw, as well as his numerous affairs. He also paints a full portrait of this incredible yet often perplexing career that ranged from great films to embarrassing misfires. Steve McQueen, adored by millions, was obsessed by Paul Newman, and it is the nature of that obsession that reveals so much about who McQueen really was. Perhaps his greatest talent was to be able to convince audiences that he was who he really wasn’t, even as he tried to prove to himself that he wasn’t who he really was.
With original material, rare photos, and new interviews, Eliot presents a fascinating and complete picture of McQueen’s life.
From the Hardcover edition.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
November 30, 2012
FULL DISCLAIMER UP FRONT: I won this book through FirstReads.
McQueen is one of my favorite classic actors, and for that reason, this biography really engaged me overall. I was disappointed to read about the depths of his drug use and subsequent treatment of hs first wife, but the egomaniacal behavior is kind of expected in actors of such success back in those days.
I have rated this book only three stars because of the factual details author Eliot gets wrong. He erroneously calls Tom Bosley's character in the Natalie Wood and McQueen film Love With the Proper Stranger the father of Natalie's character. He in fact plays the man Wood's character intends to marry once she can't go through with an abortion for the child she conceived with McQueen's character during a one night stand. Also, Eliot first lists McQueen's third wife as being 28 when they met but then says she is 25 on their wedding day. Plus, the book lists the photo of McQueen's last public appearance as being at the premiere for his last film The Hunter but then the text of the book says it was the premiere of his second-to-last film, Tom Horn. I don't know if this is sloppiness on Eliot's part or on his editor's, or both, but it is distracting. And it really shouldn't happen in a biography.
McQueen is one of my favorite classic actors, and for that reason, this biography really engaged me overall. I was disappointed to read about the depths of his drug use and subsequent treatment of hs first wife, but the egomaniacal behavior is kind of expected in actors of such success back in those days.
I have rated this book only three stars because of the factual details author Eliot gets wrong. He erroneously calls Tom Bosley's character in the Natalie Wood and McQueen film Love With the Proper Stranger the father of Natalie's character. He in fact plays the man Wood's character intends to marry once she can't go through with an abortion for the child she conceived with McQueen's character during a one night stand. Also, Eliot first lists McQueen's third wife as being 28 when they met but then says she is 25 on their wedding day. Plus, the book lists the photo of McQueen's last public appearance as being at the premiere for his last film The Hunter but then the text of the book says it was the premiere of his second-to-last film, Tom Horn. I don't know if this is sloppiness on Eliot's part or on his editor's, or both, but it is distracting. And it really shouldn't happen in a biography.
June 30, 2019
I have always been a Steve McQueen film persona fan. He was always played the disconnected rebel who did things his way. Among my favorite McQueen movies were The Blob, The Magnificent Seven, Hell Is For Heroes, The Great Escape, Baby The Rain Must Fall, Cincinnati Kid, Nevada Smith, The Sand Pebbles, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, The Getaway, Papillon, The Towering Inferno, and The Hunter. He truly 'the King of Cool' to me in my youth as a movie fan.
I had assumed that because he was a 'method' actor, his performances were a reflection of his personal life and character. Yes, he was an adulterer, a frequent drug user, a drunk, a prima donna, and a rebel but the biography does not deny any of that. The author, Marc Eliot paints the picture of McQueen as an irascible, temperamental self-indulgent rebel. Coming from a fatherless childhood and having a mother who was absent and irresponsible, McQueen developed a survival sense and spent significant time being shuttled around by her mother, time with his grandparents, a wealthy uncle,a juvenile detention home and the streets. In time, he served in the USMC where he ran afoul because of his rebellious spirit. Always a pursuer and lover of women, McQueen began a lifelong addiction to having sex with as many woman as possible. Landing in NYC, he stumbled into 'method acting' while pursuing a woman. He found he had a talent for 'acting; and received training through the G.I. Bill. Going from the theater to film took him several years in the mid-50s. In time, he established himself as a decent and emotional actor. Throughout his sojourn, McQueen developed friendships with a diverse group of lifelong friends: agent, David Foster; actor, Robert Wagner; singer, Johnny Rivers; hair stylist, Jay Sebring; actress, Sharon Tate; martial artist/actor, Bruce Lee; director, John Sturgess; actress and wife, Neile (Adams) McQueen; actor, James Coburn; and actor, Robert Vaughn. A self-made man, he became a producer and partner a studio, First Artists.
As he aged, McQueen became a recluse and divorced twice. He had a lifelong competition with Paul Newman and volatile relationships with director, Sam Peckinpah, his two wives, Neile McQueen and Ali McGraw. He was a good and attentive father to his two children but was not faithful to his wives. Ali McGraw wrote of her own troubled father but also applied it to Steve McQueen "...he had no way to deal with his pain but to drink ... all the pain and loneliness festering inside while his pride kept him from revealing his vulnerability... On the one hand there was the angry, physically violent authority figure, and on the other hand there was a gentle, elegant loner, a kind of mysterious genius, the romantic genius with troubled eyes, capable of equal amounts of unpredictable rage and tenderness at a moment's notice.'
In truth, during his last five years of life in the 1970s, McQueen became more domineering over his second wife who was his lover while he was married to Neile, turned down numerous movie role offers because his salary demands of millions were outrageous and stopped taking care of his health. Truthfully, his last marriage to Barbara Minty came on the heels of an affair with her while he was still married to McGraw. His own arrogance caused him to ignore a 1972 warning via several throat nodules. By 1979, he was trying to revive his career and make money. By late-1979, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. It was determined that his exposure to asbestos during his military service for weeks and racing inside asbestos lined care cars had caused his cancer. Always the fighter, McQueen made one last movie, Hunter and sought any and every treatment. In his last days, knowing he was dying he sought spiritual forgiveness for his life. He began to read the bible and eventually turned to Christianity. He married his third wife at the Ventura Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Billy Graham visited him during this spiritual journey. The ironic turn in his life did not deter him from seeking medical treatment. The last few months of his life are treated from a personal point, citing McQueen's desire to keep his terminal illness private. It would be only be a month before his death that Steve McQueen issued a public statement that he was indeed dying. Sadly, his last attempt to receive experimental treatment in Mexico failed and McQueen died in November of 1980.
The book is a 'no-holds barred' tell-all book. It does not dispel the persona of Steve McQueen but it paints him as a flawed man. It was an emotional experience. I did watch several Steve McQueen movies during the time that I read the biography.
I had assumed that because he was a 'method' actor, his performances were a reflection of his personal life and character. Yes, he was an adulterer, a frequent drug user, a drunk, a prima donna, and a rebel but the biography does not deny any of that. The author, Marc Eliot paints the picture of McQueen as an irascible, temperamental self-indulgent rebel. Coming from a fatherless childhood and having a mother who was absent and irresponsible, McQueen developed a survival sense and spent significant time being shuttled around by her mother, time with his grandparents, a wealthy uncle,a juvenile detention home and the streets. In time, he served in the USMC where he ran afoul because of his rebellious spirit. Always a pursuer and lover of women, McQueen began a lifelong addiction to having sex with as many woman as possible. Landing in NYC, he stumbled into 'method acting' while pursuing a woman. He found he had a talent for 'acting; and received training through the G.I. Bill. Going from the theater to film took him several years in the mid-50s. In time, he established himself as a decent and emotional actor. Throughout his sojourn, McQueen developed friendships with a diverse group of lifelong friends: agent, David Foster; actor, Robert Wagner; singer, Johnny Rivers; hair stylist, Jay Sebring; actress, Sharon Tate; martial artist/actor, Bruce Lee; director, John Sturgess; actress and wife, Neile (Adams) McQueen; actor, James Coburn; and actor, Robert Vaughn. A self-made man, he became a producer and partner a studio, First Artists.
As he aged, McQueen became a recluse and divorced twice. He had a lifelong competition with Paul Newman and volatile relationships with director, Sam Peckinpah, his two wives, Neile McQueen and Ali McGraw. He was a good and attentive father to his two children but was not faithful to his wives. Ali McGraw wrote of her own troubled father but also applied it to Steve McQueen "...he had no way to deal with his pain but to drink ... all the pain and loneliness festering inside while his pride kept him from revealing his vulnerability... On the one hand there was the angry, physically violent authority figure, and on the other hand there was a gentle, elegant loner, a kind of mysterious genius, the romantic genius with troubled eyes, capable of equal amounts of unpredictable rage and tenderness at a moment's notice.'
In truth, during his last five years of life in the 1970s, McQueen became more domineering over his second wife who was his lover while he was married to Neile, turned down numerous movie role offers because his salary demands of millions were outrageous and stopped taking care of his health. Truthfully, his last marriage to Barbara Minty came on the heels of an affair with her while he was still married to McGraw. His own arrogance caused him to ignore a 1972 warning via several throat nodules. By 1979, he was trying to revive his career and make money. By late-1979, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. It was determined that his exposure to asbestos during his military service for weeks and racing inside asbestos lined care cars had caused his cancer. Always the fighter, McQueen made one last movie, Hunter and sought any and every treatment. In his last days, knowing he was dying he sought spiritual forgiveness for his life. He began to read the bible and eventually turned to Christianity. He married his third wife at the Ventura Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Billy Graham visited him during this spiritual journey. The ironic turn in his life did not deter him from seeking medical treatment. The last few months of his life are treated from a personal point, citing McQueen's desire to keep his terminal illness private. It would be only be a month before his death that Steve McQueen issued a public statement that he was indeed dying. Sadly, his last attempt to receive experimental treatment in Mexico failed and McQueen died in November of 1980.
The book is a 'no-holds barred' tell-all book. It does not dispel the persona of Steve McQueen but it paints him as a flawed man. It was an emotional experience. I did watch several Steve McQueen movies during the time that I read the biography.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2025
Just finished:
New York: Three Rivers Press, 2011.
Probably best remembered for the movie Bullitt (1968), Marc Eliot chronicles the life of a great actor but a less than stellar human being.
His mother had Terrence Steven McQueen (1930-1980) at an early age. His father bailed and so did his mother eventually. The abandonment by his mother led to Steve not doing well in relationships with women. He ultimately found his way to New York City and took acting classes.
Eliot demonstrates that McQueen struggles with pot, cocaine, peyote, and women. This along with his diva personality held him back in his movie career and relationships with women. McQueen died from mesothelioma most likely caused by close and prolonged exposure to asbestos.
I have one minor gripe with this book and one that is a medium gripe. First, Eliot gets some dates wrong regarding the ages of Dustin Hoffman and the age of his third wife. Second, the author mentioned that McQueen attempted to turn his life around in the last few years of his life but doesn't really mention McQueen's motivation. A few days before he died attempting to get medical treatment in Mexico, Billy Graham paid him a visit. Eliot should have said more here. Graham doesn't mention McQueen, at least in the index of "Just as I am." I want to know more.
Other than that, I'd recommend this book. Eliot writes great biographies of Hollywood actors.
New York: Three Rivers Press, 2011.
Probably best remembered for the movie Bullitt (1968), Marc Eliot chronicles the life of a great actor but a less than stellar human being.
His mother had Terrence Steven McQueen (1930-1980) at an early age. His father bailed and so did his mother eventually. The abandonment by his mother led to Steve not doing well in relationships with women. He ultimately found his way to New York City and took acting classes.
Eliot demonstrates that McQueen struggles with pot, cocaine, peyote, and women. This along with his diva personality held him back in his movie career and relationships with women. McQueen died from mesothelioma most likely caused by close and prolonged exposure to asbestos.
I have one minor gripe with this book and one that is a medium gripe. First, Eliot gets some dates wrong regarding the ages of Dustin Hoffman and the age of his third wife. Second, the author mentioned that McQueen attempted to turn his life around in the last few years of his life but doesn't really mention McQueen's motivation. A few days before he died attempting to get medical treatment in Mexico, Billy Graham paid him a visit. Eliot should have said more here. Graham doesn't mention McQueen, at least in the index of "Just as I am." I want to know more.
Other than that, I'd recommend this book. Eliot writes great biographies of Hollywood actors.
April 1, 2012
As much as McQueen is revered in popular culture, he was a bastard in real life. Eliot details all the self-centered, narcissistic behavior McQueen focused on at least his first two wives (Neile Adams, Ali McGraw) - maybe he didn't have time with the third one.
September 5, 2012
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, McQueen was one of my movie idols. He was a forerunner of many movie actions scenes, from the first motorcycle jump over a fence in "The Great Escape," or the first thrilling car chase scene on the streets of San Francisco in "Bullet." After that, almost every movie had to have a bigger chase scene to try and top it.
He really was the "King of Cool." But died so young at the age of 50 from cancer. I enjoyed reading about his life, the gritty, and the not so gritty. I learned a little known fact, that he was even on Charles Manson's hit list, and was supposed to go to the party at Sharon Tate's house the night they were all murdered, but wound up doing something else instead. The cartoon character in "Cars" is named after him, since he loved to race.
Loved reading about him. Still love his movies. He's truly an American icon.
He really was the "King of Cool." But died so young at the age of 50 from cancer. I enjoyed reading about his life, the gritty, and the not so gritty. I learned a little known fact, that he was even on Charles Manson's hit list, and was supposed to go to the party at Sharon Tate's house the night they were all murdered, but wound up doing something else instead. The cartoon character in "Cars" is named after him, since he loved to race.
Loved reading about him. Still love his movies. He's truly an American icon.
December 5, 2011
McQueen wasn't the easiest subject for a biography, hence my two-star rating. Eliot wasn't able to offer much more about his subject than the public already knows; McQueen was a druggie, womanizer, and a generally unpleasant sort who suffered from a bad case of celebrity-itis.
April 26, 2012
I love Steve McQueen. Yeah, he was a bit of an asshat. But whatever. This author is incredibly boring and seems to despise his subject. If you don't like him, don't write about him.
April 9, 2018
I especially liked the fact that you know nothing was omitted describing his sad life. It tells every detail from baby on and all the sadness & pain he had to endure when so young. In spite of the lack of love, an alcoholic prostitute of a mother, a father who deserted them when Steve was just a baby, on the streets trying to find food as a young boy & so much distrust with other people he worked his art to become the top wanted actor & was keenly aware of what was good & what was bad for him. He was difficult to work with but only because he wanted things right. He did reunite with his mother but the closeness was never there. He searched for his father only to find him after his dad had passed on. This, too, is a well written book and although it was not indicated I would think he made sure he approved of all that was written. Do not wait....get this book and you will not be sorry,
January 4, 2021
Brilliant. Loved reading this book.
May 24, 2025
An excellent examination of a star with a surprising & complicated personal history, combined with a look at Hollywood from the 50s to the 70s. Just a solid, informative, entertaining read, with a tragic ending.
June 5, 2024
Steve McQueen, my early teen crush, was a good actor. But not a good man. He was a serial adulterer, violent towards his wives, a diva on set, drug user, demanding, difficult and self-centered. This biography was very interesting, though I did have to skim through some of the movie details. Steve died relatively young - 50 years old - of mesothelioma. A sad end to a good actor.
April 5, 2017
Very enjoyable
September 14, 2019
Steve McQueen along with Paul Newman were the first old school movie stars that I really picked up and enjoyed, but McQueen died fairly young (50) and before I was born. From The Great Escape to Papillon, Bullitt, and The Magnificent Seven, McQueen is in some of my favorite movies of the 60s and early 70s. To learn he was an egomaniac wasn't all that surprising, after all he was one of the most famous and sought after actors of his time, but to hear of the drug and alcohol abuse and especially the way he treated his first wife and those he worked with was extremely disappointing. Honestly, he was a real jerk and it's not surprising how as he got older it was harder and harder for him to find people willing to work with him, even with what just having his name on the marquee would bring to a film. Sure, he was the King of Cool on screen and much like John Wayne played a version of himself on screen in many of his roles, but off screen, he acted like a troubled child in many ways. He never quite knew what he wanted from his own life it seems. It was a constant conflict of wanting to be the best and at the top of the limelight and wanting to be left alone. He lived hard and fast and I don't think it's surprising he passed away so young, though I think many would have though he'd die in a fiery wreck or even from drug use rather than from cancer. Overall, I found this to be a very interesting read and have picked out a couple of his movies that I haven't seen as well as a couple I need to give another watch. Regardless of who he was off the screen, his impact on the business is still seen today. Without Steve McQueen's car chases in Bullitt and motorcycle riding in The Great Escape, we wouldn't have movies like The French Connection and Fast and the Furious. He was an icon that impacted film for generations to come.
February 15, 2022
I gave this book only three stars for several reasons; One reason being that I found the introduction very strange and disjointed. It was essentially a comparison between Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood, in which Steve was painted in a very bad light, which I did not feel made sense for a Steve McQueen biography. Another reason I didn’t like this book as much as others I’ve read is that I found it very generic, and it felt like the author used an amalgamation of other authors’ research and ideas instead of introducing any new stories or information. Finally, the author hardly touched on McQueen’s relationship with his children which was a huge part of his life and completely ignored the very important conversion to Christianity that took place in the last years of his life. In conclusion, this book was a very entertaining read but I believe that is almost solely because it is about a fascinating man, and not because of any talent or skill on the author’s part.
July 27, 2014
Steve McQueen was an easy guy to like on the big screen but hard to like in real life. The author doesn't seem to be a fan of McQueen's and I wasn't a fan of his style of writing. Other reviewers have questioned some of the author's facts. For me the most glaring problem was in the part about The Great Escape. Eliot writes "During his more than two year confinement, Brickhill (the book's author) took part in the planning and execution of a massive escape plan. Out of the seventy-six soldiers who attempted to escape, only three made it safely to England. British-born Brickhill was one of them". That last sentence is blatantly untrue. Whether it is sloppy research or sloppy writing, it really makes one question what other fact has the author gotten wrong.
November 8, 2011
Marc Eliot consistently delivers entertaining and informative biographies. I really loved reading about Steve McQueen. I highly recommend this book to people who are McQueen enthusiasts or are curious about him.
See my full review (including fun trivia facts from the book) on my classic film blog:
http://outofthepastcfb.blogspot.com/2...
See my full review (including fun trivia facts from the book) on my classic film blog:
http://outofthepastcfb.blogspot.com/2...
July 29, 2012
The book was a quick read. Took me just a couple of days. I was a little bored by him as a subject. I didn't know too much about him and never really liked him based on his movies. After reading this book I like him even less. That's kind of sad. No time was spent making me care that he died too soon.
December 27, 2011
Misinformation on "Love with the Proper Stranger" Tom Bosley did not play Wood's dad, he was a suitor makes me wonder what else is not true
It was not a bad read but it was more a filmography than bio
It was not a bad read but it was more a filmography than bio
September 16, 2015
Oddly compelling. I couldn't stop reading it. But then, Steve McQueen was a matinee idol of mine of yore, hadn't thought about him much and then saw The Sand Pebbles on TV and was impressed by his acting in that film and rekindled my interest. So glad I wasn't married to him.
March 21, 2012
So boring, didn't finish it. The author liked lists. Movie, every actor and what they played in before. S. McQueen might be a good actor, but i didn't like him as a person.
December 17, 2012
It gave too much info on movie plots. I can watch the movie myself for that, it does not need to be in the biography. I felt that the author was just trying to fill the page.
December 18, 2017
Unflattering look at an egotistical, narcissistic, demanding superstar American actor addled by marital infidelities, drugs, and alcohol, fueled (but not excused) by an unhappy childhood.
October 29, 2023
I've found that biographies can be great reads and so I'm probably going to find more of them going forward. I read "Steve McQueen" by Marc Eliot (2011) over the last few days. The author really seems to be passionate about movies, especially how they're made and how well they do at the box office and on the surface that seems like exactly the guy you'd want to write a biography of a Hollywood actor. Unfortunately, Eliot gets bogged down in minutiae about many of the movies that don't really add to the story. Indeed, there are parts where he mentions that McQueen worked with a certain director, producer, writer, or whatnot, and then goes on to devote a couple pages to the other person that is being mentioned. A couple times I had to ask, "Wait a minute, whose biography is this, anyway?" Eliot also occasionally uses what I must assume is entertainment industry jargon and in a couple of cases makes some word salad. One example of this that really made me shake my head was on page 50 when he was describing the "mare's leg" that McQueen carried in the TV series "Wanted, Dead or Alive'': "[he] would use a specially modified weapon, a model 92 Winchester .44-40 with lever action customized to a .45-70." To people who know nothing about guns, that makes no sense, but to people who do know about guns it makes even less sense! After looking up Wanted, Dead or Alive online, I saw that what the author was probably trying to say is that McQueen carried a .44-40 Winchester but the prop department put .45-70 rounds in his cartridge belt because they looked bigger and meaner.
Speaking of that mare's leg, McQueen reportedly stole it when the show ended (he was behaving spitefully towards the studio that made the show since they'd tried to keep him from switching from TV to the big screen) which would maybe be a trivial thing if it weren't for the fact that it was an SBR! I guess in the 1950's, years before the BATF existed, nobody prioritized chasing that stuff down, especially when the culprit was one of Hollywood's bigger stars. I wonder if that particular gun got a BATF exemption for its historical/cultural importance, as has been known to happen?
In spite of the meanderings and weird sentences, we do get a good look at McQueen's life from the book. One thing I'd always heard about McQueen was that he joined the Marines but then went AWOL almost right away. That did happen, but what I always assumed was that he then got kicked out without even finishing training. In fact, McQueen did 41 days in the brig and then was let out to continue his USMC career for the next 3 years, after which he was honorably discharged. McQueen's intense exposure to asbestos in the Marines is likely what ultimately gave him fatal cancer that killed him in 1980.
It sounds like McQueen could be a real SOB at times, which he hid well when out in public, interacting with fans. The more successful he got, the bigger of a pain in the neck he became to work with and began to micromanage the movies he was in more and more. He'd throw a tantrum if he didn't get his way and he ruined a lot of friendships in the process. He was also a ridiculous womanizer and cheated regularly on his first two wives without even trying to hide it. His first wife he also beat up on more than one occasion and at least once held a gun to her head and threatened to kill her.
Eliot has also written a biography of Clint Eastwood and he compares him to McQueen in many ways throughout the book. They were both born in 1930, both became huge Hollywood stars, and many of Eastwood's roles were ones that McQueen turned down before Eastwood took them on. Both actors also had a reputation for "always playing the same character", no matter what the movie was. The difference was that Eastwood embraced this and sought out (later, wrote) roles that played to who he naturally was while McQueen rebelled against this and always tried to play more diverse roles, often with disastrous results. If McQueen had basically just played Frank Bullitt in every role, he would have probably won some Oscars along the way. What's mentioned in the book is that McQueen got discharged from the Marines one day before his unit was sent to Korea and then promptly wiped out. What isn't mentioned is that Eastwood's Army unit went to Korea without him after he almost died in a plane crash the day before they shipped out, another interesting parallel.
An interesting tie-in with the last book I finished is that McQueen knew Sharon Tate, one of the Manson Family's murder victims. McQueen attended her funeral and reportedly pulled a gun on an attendee who began behaving erratically during the ceremony (McQueen and other Hollywood denizens had been threatened by Manson, putting many of them on edge).
The book was a good read, for all its faults, but I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a bit more detail about McQueen as a person. He was a very private person and kind of a recluse at times, especially towards the end of his life so perhaps details about him are pretty hard to find, especially for a book written more than 3 decades after his death?
Speaking of that mare's leg, McQueen reportedly stole it when the show ended (he was behaving spitefully towards the studio that made the show since they'd tried to keep him from switching from TV to the big screen) which would maybe be a trivial thing if it weren't for the fact that it was an SBR! I guess in the 1950's, years before the BATF existed, nobody prioritized chasing that stuff down, especially when the culprit was one of Hollywood's bigger stars. I wonder if that particular gun got a BATF exemption for its historical/cultural importance, as has been known to happen?
In spite of the meanderings and weird sentences, we do get a good look at McQueen's life from the book. One thing I'd always heard about McQueen was that he joined the Marines but then went AWOL almost right away. That did happen, but what I always assumed was that he then got kicked out without even finishing training. In fact, McQueen did 41 days in the brig and then was let out to continue his USMC career for the next 3 years, after which he was honorably discharged. McQueen's intense exposure to asbestos in the Marines is likely what ultimately gave him fatal cancer that killed him in 1980.
It sounds like McQueen could be a real SOB at times, which he hid well when out in public, interacting with fans. The more successful he got, the bigger of a pain in the neck he became to work with and began to micromanage the movies he was in more and more. He'd throw a tantrum if he didn't get his way and he ruined a lot of friendships in the process. He was also a ridiculous womanizer and cheated regularly on his first two wives without even trying to hide it. His first wife he also beat up on more than one occasion and at least once held a gun to her head and threatened to kill her.
Eliot has also written a biography of Clint Eastwood and he compares him to McQueen in many ways throughout the book. They were both born in 1930, both became huge Hollywood stars, and many of Eastwood's roles were ones that McQueen turned down before Eastwood took them on. Both actors also had a reputation for "always playing the same character", no matter what the movie was. The difference was that Eastwood embraced this and sought out (later, wrote) roles that played to who he naturally was while McQueen rebelled against this and always tried to play more diverse roles, often with disastrous results. If McQueen had basically just played Frank Bullitt in every role, he would have probably won some Oscars along the way. What's mentioned in the book is that McQueen got discharged from the Marines one day before his unit was sent to Korea and then promptly wiped out. What isn't mentioned is that Eastwood's Army unit went to Korea without him after he almost died in a plane crash the day before they shipped out, another interesting parallel.
An interesting tie-in with the last book I finished is that McQueen knew Sharon Tate, one of the Manson Family's murder victims. McQueen attended her funeral and reportedly pulled a gun on an attendee who began behaving erratically during the ceremony (McQueen and other Hollywood denizens had been threatened by Manson, putting many of them on edge).
The book was a good read, for all its faults, but I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a bit more detail about McQueen as a person. He was a very private person and kind of a recluse at times, especially towards the end of his life so perhaps details about him are pretty hard to find, especially for a book written more than 3 decades after his death?
April 3, 2023
“PRETTY-BOY EXTERIOR, HARD-EDGE INTERIOR”
I’m not a Steve McQueen (1930-1980) fan as much as intrigued about his celebrity staying power after all these years. He died over forty years ago, yet his name keeps popping up in many books and articles I’ve read over the years. The only movies I’ve seen him in are ‘Papillon’ and ‘The Towering Inferno’ during their initial release when I was a teenager. A good biography will give you a well-rounded depiction and avoid either a hagiography or hit piece. Mr. Eliot’s Steve McQueen leans more towards the man’s many foibles but is sympathetic due to the actor’s upbringing. The various biographies I’ve read repeatedly show that the entertainment industry is willing to overlook horrible behavior by their artists as long as they keep making money for them. While it appeared Mr. McQueen was liked by many, he also had a reputation for being difficult on set and, as he’s depicted in Mr. Eliot’s book, the guy became even more difficult as his popularity grew.
Steve McQueen had charisma that translated well onto celluloid. Like many of his contemporaries in the movie/television industry, his childhood was a horror show. He hopscotched through numerous jobs and even a stint in the Marines before serendipity drew him into the entertainment industry. While he exuded a coolness with anger just below the surface when on screen, the real Mr. McQueen was an emotional basket case. His insecurities manifested themselves in his many sexual exploits as well as a need for control and validation. Drugs was one of his major food groups, especially pot. Even when he was married, the dude certainly couldn’t keep his pee-pee on the reservation and bragged about it. Mr. Eliot takes time to explain Mr. McQueen’s key television and movie jobs that helped propel him to stardom. The author also dwells upon his major movie successes and flops. There are interesting tidbits while McQueen was on location shooting a film. It should be noted that he wasn’t the only actor that was an egomaniacal man-child. It appears from Mr. Eliot’s biography and the numerous others I’ve read about the arts that many of the men and women in the entertainment industry are emotionally needy people. They require constant validation like us non-celebrities need to breath. I found it interesting how Mr. McQueen frequently gauged his success on Paul Newman’s career. He also was jealous of up-and-coming actors such as James Garner. Mr. Eliot’s book shows a good public relations agent is key to a star maintaining an air of respectability, especially when they are otherwise. Mr. McQueen knew how to suck up to powerbrokers in the industry when it suited his goal of becoming famous. He was also an adrenaline junkie; racing cars and motorcycles were his passion. The author mentions in one paragraph about Mr. McQueen’s charity work but his generosity pales in comparison to his physical abuse of women. The book includes 16 pages of black-and-white photos.
If the internet had been around during Mr. McQueen’s lifetime, social platforms would’ve had a field day with his not-so-private life, the tabloids certainly did. Mr. Eliot’s Steve McQueen biography was an interesting but sad read. His constant need of validation and hair-trigger jealousy are symptoms of an emotionally damaged man. There’s no question that the actor was one tough hombre with sensibilities that are very outdated, and sexist compared to today’s values. ‘Steve McQueen’ was an interesting easy-to-read biography with a sprinkling of salacious tidbits. Much like when I read a two-volume biography about Frank Sinatra, I appreciate much of Mr. McQueen’s art but do not care for the man.
I’m not a Steve McQueen (1930-1980) fan as much as intrigued about his celebrity staying power after all these years. He died over forty years ago, yet his name keeps popping up in many books and articles I’ve read over the years. The only movies I’ve seen him in are ‘Papillon’ and ‘The Towering Inferno’ during their initial release when I was a teenager. A good biography will give you a well-rounded depiction and avoid either a hagiography or hit piece. Mr. Eliot’s Steve McQueen leans more towards the man’s many foibles but is sympathetic due to the actor’s upbringing. The various biographies I’ve read repeatedly show that the entertainment industry is willing to overlook horrible behavior by their artists as long as they keep making money for them. While it appeared Mr. McQueen was liked by many, he also had a reputation for being difficult on set and, as he’s depicted in Mr. Eliot’s book, the guy became even more difficult as his popularity grew.
Steve McQueen had charisma that translated well onto celluloid. Like many of his contemporaries in the movie/television industry, his childhood was a horror show. He hopscotched through numerous jobs and even a stint in the Marines before serendipity drew him into the entertainment industry. While he exuded a coolness with anger just below the surface when on screen, the real Mr. McQueen was an emotional basket case. His insecurities manifested themselves in his many sexual exploits as well as a need for control and validation. Drugs was one of his major food groups, especially pot. Even when he was married, the dude certainly couldn’t keep his pee-pee on the reservation and bragged about it. Mr. Eliot takes time to explain Mr. McQueen’s key television and movie jobs that helped propel him to stardom. The author also dwells upon his major movie successes and flops. There are interesting tidbits while McQueen was on location shooting a film. It should be noted that he wasn’t the only actor that was an egomaniacal man-child. It appears from Mr. Eliot’s biography and the numerous others I’ve read about the arts that many of the men and women in the entertainment industry are emotionally needy people. They require constant validation like us non-celebrities need to breath. I found it interesting how Mr. McQueen frequently gauged his success on Paul Newman’s career. He also was jealous of up-and-coming actors such as James Garner. Mr. Eliot’s book shows a good public relations agent is key to a star maintaining an air of respectability, especially when they are otherwise. Mr. McQueen knew how to suck up to powerbrokers in the industry when it suited his goal of becoming famous. He was also an adrenaline junkie; racing cars and motorcycles were his passion. The author mentions in one paragraph about Mr. McQueen’s charity work but his generosity pales in comparison to his physical abuse of women. The book includes 16 pages of black-and-white photos.
If the internet had been around during Mr. McQueen’s lifetime, social platforms would’ve had a field day with his not-so-private life, the tabloids certainly did. Mr. Eliot’s Steve McQueen biography was an interesting but sad read. His constant need of validation and hair-trigger jealousy are symptoms of an emotionally damaged man. There’s no question that the actor was one tough hombre with sensibilities that are very outdated, and sexist compared to today’s values. ‘Steve McQueen’ was an interesting easy-to-read biography with a sprinkling of salacious tidbits. Much like when I read a two-volume biography about Frank Sinatra, I appreciate much of Mr. McQueen’s art but do not care for the man.
April 23, 2025
Marc Eliot’s Steve McQueen: A Biography offers a gripping and, at times, sobering glimpse into the life of one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures. Known to millions as the “King of Cool,” Steve McQueen lived fast, pushed limits, and rarely took no for an answer. Through Eliot’s thorough research and straightforward prose, the reader is given a front-row seat to witness a man who lived entirely on his own terms—relentlessly, unapologetically, and often at the expense of those closest to him.
What becomes abundantly clear through Eliot’s telling is that McQueen was a man who didn’t concede easily, if at all. If a door was closed to him, he’d look for a window; if that didn’t work, he’d kick the door down. This mindset—equal parts tenacity and stubbornness—defined both his career and his personal relationships. The biography reveals McQueen as not just headstrong, but often domineering and controlling, especially in his marriages. His first two wives bore the brunt of his explosive temper and need for control, and ultimately, both women chose divorce over enduring his emotional volatility.
On screen, McQueen was the epitome of masculinity and independence. But off-screen, and especially during film productions, his behavior often crossed the line into difficult, even intolerable. Eliot doesn’t shy away from these truths, showing us a man whose charisma masked a deeply troubled, often abrasive, personality. Whether this demeanor was rooted in his traumatic childhood, tumultuous youth, or some deep-seated psychological scarring is left to the reader’s interpretation—but it undoubtedly shaped his relationships and reputation.
Despite these flaws—or perhaps because of them—McQueen’s story is an undeniably compelling one. From a turbulent upbringing, through his time in the military, to his nomadic drifting before landing in the acting world, McQueen’s path to stardom is as jagged and raw as the man himself. Eliot’s writing allows the reader to witness McQueen’s journey as a spectator, watching a man fueled by pain, pride, and an insatiable hunger for control carve out a legendary, if tumultuous, legacy.
In the end, the most accurate description of Steve McQueen that comes to mind after reading this biography is simple: it was his way or no way. And he lived, worked, and ultimately died with that very philosophy intact.
Overall, Steve McQueen: A Biography is a captivating read—unflinching, revealing, and rich with insight into a man who, for better or worse, always insisted on calling the shots.
What becomes abundantly clear through Eliot’s telling is that McQueen was a man who didn’t concede easily, if at all. If a door was closed to him, he’d look for a window; if that didn’t work, he’d kick the door down. This mindset—equal parts tenacity and stubbornness—defined both his career and his personal relationships. The biography reveals McQueen as not just headstrong, but often domineering and controlling, especially in his marriages. His first two wives bore the brunt of his explosive temper and need for control, and ultimately, both women chose divorce over enduring his emotional volatility.
On screen, McQueen was the epitome of masculinity and independence. But off-screen, and especially during film productions, his behavior often crossed the line into difficult, even intolerable. Eliot doesn’t shy away from these truths, showing us a man whose charisma masked a deeply troubled, often abrasive, personality. Whether this demeanor was rooted in his traumatic childhood, tumultuous youth, or some deep-seated psychological scarring is left to the reader’s interpretation—but it undoubtedly shaped his relationships and reputation.
Despite these flaws—or perhaps because of them—McQueen’s story is an undeniably compelling one. From a turbulent upbringing, through his time in the military, to his nomadic drifting before landing in the acting world, McQueen’s path to stardom is as jagged and raw as the man himself. Eliot’s writing allows the reader to witness McQueen’s journey as a spectator, watching a man fueled by pain, pride, and an insatiable hunger for control carve out a legendary, if tumultuous, legacy.
In the end, the most accurate description of Steve McQueen that comes to mind after reading this biography is simple: it was his way or no way. And he lived, worked, and ultimately died with that very philosophy intact.
Overall, Steve McQueen: A Biography is a captivating read—unflinching, revealing, and rich with insight into a man who, for better or worse, always insisted on calling the shots.
June 16, 2018
This book is as much filmography as biography. I took great pleasure in watching a few Steve McQueen movies, including Bullitt and The Getaway, while I was reading this book, and I loved finding out the details of how the films were made and the circumstances behind them, such as McQueen timing his sprint beneath the airliner during the final chase scene (no stunt man). He emerged from this feat with a big smile on his face, "I love this job!" Beginning with The Great Escape, he was a kind of God when I was growing up.
He was if anything an ambitious actor (he didn't just stick to prototypical "McQueen" roles), a force of nature, and a thrill seeker. The latter wasn't only expressed at LeMans or on a motorcycle, but by heavy womanizing and drug-taking, according to Eliot.
The book proceeds in chronological fashion through McQueen's life, including his damaged, neglected boyhood, his first wife Neile, who was an accomplished actress in her own right, the numerous celebrity adventures and mishaps (a friend of Sharon Tate's, McQueen was due at the party where she and her guests were murdered by Charles Manson's gang; McQueen was picked up earlier in the evening by a blonde instead, an encounter that probably saved his life).
I was particularly interested in his early Method actor training and escapades in Greenwich Village, where I went to school in the later 1970s (he was there in the late 50s). To the laughter of those in attendance at his funeral, Neile wryly said, according to this bio, "Steve liked to fuck blondes but he married brunettes."
Four point five stars.
He was if anything an ambitious actor (he didn't just stick to prototypical "McQueen" roles), a force of nature, and a thrill seeker. The latter wasn't only expressed at LeMans or on a motorcycle, but by heavy womanizing and drug-taking, according to Eliot.
The book proceeds in chronological fashion through McQueen's life, including his damaged, neglected boyhood, his first wife Neile, who was an accomplished actress in her own right, the numerous celebrity adventures and mishaps (a friend of Sharon Tate's, McQueen was due at the party where she and her guests were murdered by Charles Manson's gang; McQueen was picked up earlier in the evening by a blonde instead, an encounter that probably saved his life).
I was particularly interested in his early Method actor training and escapades in Greenwich Village, where I went to school in the later 1970s (he was there in the late 50s). To the laughter of those in attendance at his funeral, Neile wryly said, according to this bio, "Steve liked to fuck blondes but he married brunettes."
Four point five stars.
November 16, 2018
I reviewed two biographies of Steve McQueen back to back. First, the one by Marc Eliot and the second Greg Laurie's The Salvation of an American Icon. Both had similar facts about his life but both took very different paths and highlighted very different data points. Eliot's book was primarily focused on the secular facts of Steve McQueen's life. For example, when recounting the success or failure of a movie, many facts were given about the gross earnings of that movie and the relationships between actors and directors. Laurie's whole premise was to trace McQueen's life through to the end looking for elements of Christian faith. I'll admit I was a bit skeptical of Laurie's book but was willing to give it a try. Laurie's approach was less about the cold facts of McQueen's life and more about the similarities the author had growing up in a difficult childhood compared to a similar childhood that McQueen experienced. While I don't doubt that Eliot's book contain many facts about McQueen's life, I was shocked to find a huge part of his life missing in his account: that being his faith in Jesus Christ. That just seems like such a big part of his life at the end from Laurie's point of view and based on his many interviews with people. Eliot's only mention of this aspect of his life was to mention that McQueen "began attending a church and praying a lot." Chapters were devoted to this period of McQueen's life in Laurie's book, while Eliot gave it a minor mention in a sentence. Both had elements of interesting history. Eliot had a lot more relationship dynamics with people in Hollywood, while Laurie's book focused more on the man McQueen.
January 30, 2019
I had a poster in my room of Steve McQueen on his motorcycle from the movie "The Great Escape." He was my childhood crush. Everything I ever thought of him was literally crushed after reading this nicely flowing biography by Marc Eliot. It's funny how that old adage of meeting your heroes is not always advisable because they rarely live up to your imagination fits so well in this instance. After reading Steve's story, I mainly felt sorry, disappointed and embarrassed for him. Of course, he didn't have the best start in life and his addictions stunted what could have been a more balanced movie career before cancer finally took him out.
Marc does a clean job of showing the reader that even though Steve was deeply flawed as a man, a husband, and a friend, (hard to say about his fathering skills as his children adored him) his talent was absolutely God-given. However, the lengths his three wives went to stroke his ego, even through hundreds of known affairs, drugs, alcohol and abuse, definitely leaves me scratching my head. And these are women who were all successful in their own careers. I guess it was a different time in Hollywood. Thank God. I am thankful for the movies Steve left us to enjoy, over and over. Two of my faves, "The Great Escape" and "Love With a Proper Stranger." His work will always resonate.
I won't ruin the book for those who read this review, but for me, the best part of this biography was the very last line. And do not skip to it. You must read the whole book to get its full impact.
Marc does a clean job of showing the reader that even though Steve was deeply flawed as a man, a husband, and a friend, (hard to say about his fathering skills as his children adored him) his talent was absolutely God-given. However, the lengths his three wives went to stroke his ego, even through hundreds of known affairs, drugs, alcohol and abuse, definitely leaves me scratching my head. And these are women who were all successful in their own careers. I guess it was a different time in Hollywood. Thank God. I am thankful for the movies Steve left us to enjoy, over and over. Two of my faves, "The Great Escape" and "Love With a Proper Stranger." His work will always resonate.
I won't ruin the book for those who read this review, but for me, the best part of this biography was the very last line. And do not skip to it. You must read the whole book to get its full impact.
June 15, 2020
One of my favorite movies has always been The Great Escape. I've watched it dozens of time over the years. Having recently watched it again, I decided to pick up showbiz biographer, Marc Eliot's, fascinating portrait of the insecure, complex and haunted film icon who attracted women with his icy blue eyes and lopsided grin, but had a nasty habit of smacking them around and cheating on them.
McQueen was once the highest-paid film star in the world, a status earned through his roles in films like The Magnificent Seven, Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair and The Great Escape, but he also turned down many roles in top-rated films from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to The French Connection.
The author pointed out the difference between the acting philosophies of McQueen and Clint Eastwood. They were only months apart in age, both had lucrative careers in early TV westerns, and both formed their own production companies so they could produce the films they liked. Eliot says that Eastwood kept his eye on the franchise prize, especially with the Harry Callahan series. Instead of following up with more Bullitt movies, McQueen jumped around in genres, often coming up with critical and box office duds. In his forties he took to lazing around, eating junk food, letting his body go, and losing ambition.
It's always disappointing to find out that a favorite actor was really a self absorbed, abusive jerk but I guess many actors need to be narcissists to get ahead in that job.
I did enjoy the way the biography was written. It was well planned out, written in a logical format and very interesting for long time fans. Decades after he lost his battle against cancer, Steve McQueen still remains “The King of Cool.”
McQueen was once the highest-paid film star in the world, a status earned through his roles in films like The Magnificent Seven, Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair and The Great Escape, but he also turned down many roles in top-rated films from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to The French Connection.
The author pointed out the difference between the acting philosophies of McQueen and Clint Eastwood. They were only months apart in age, both had lucrative careers in early TV westerns, and both formed their own production companies so they could produce the films they liked. Eliot says that Eastwood kept his eye on the franchise prize, especially with the Harry Callahan series. Instead of following up with more Bullitt movies, McQueen jumped around in genres, often coming up with critical and box office duds. In his forties he took to lazing around, eating junk food, letting his body go, and losing ambition.
It's always disappointing to find out that a favorite actor was really a self absorbed, abusive jerk but I guess many actors need to be narcissists to get ahead in that job.
I did enjoy the way the biography was written. It was well planned out, written in a logical format and very interesting for long time fans. Decades after he lost his battle against cancer, Steve McQueen still remains “The King of Cool.”
December 30, 2023
I don't make a habit of reviewing books before I finish them, but seeing that biographies are meant to be factual, I'll make an exception to say that while I won't yet mark this bio as DNF, I will be taking the rest of the book with a hefty tablespoon of salt.
I appreciate that Mr. Eliot lists his references and seems to have put a lot of research and effort into this bio, but there are a lot of instances that feel too embellished and several flat out incorrect statements. For example, one of the most glaring and easy to check inaccuracies is a still erroneously labeled The Blob when it is in fact from The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery. This along with other mistakes are extremely small errors but unfortunately make one wonder about the accuracy of the rest of the book. If there could be such a blatant mistake with something so easy to fact check, what of the information that is harder to verify?
Still, I like that Eliot seems mostly neutral in his presentation of McQueen. You can tell he's a big fan, but he doesn't shy from showing the bad side of McQueen's character. There is sympathy for him and his certainly traumatic upbringing, but there are few excuses. McQueen was not a very good man, full of ego, anger, and a kind of childish selfishness that makes you feel for his wife... yet it seems he did want to be a good man in his own stumbling way. He seems to be a product of a lot of problems that went unaddressed due to the stigma and lack of information around mental health as well as the inherent damage that fame and toxic masculinity brings. I think this biography does a great job at portraying that—at least, it isn't afraid to highlight the possibility. It makes me wonder what could have been had McQueen lived in a different era where getting mental help was less stigmatized.
Anyway! Not a bad book so far and likely the best bio on McQueen to be found short of Neile's own memoir. It certainly has a lot of emotion and isn't too dry. Great for a McQueen fan, though I advise they take some of it with a bit of skepticism.
I appreciate that Mr. Eliot lists his references and seems to have put a lot of research and effort into this bio, but there are a lot of instances that feel too embellished and several flat out incorrect statements. For example, one of the most glaring and easy to check inaccuracies is a still erroneously labeled The Blob when it is in fact from The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery. This along with other mistakes are extremely small errors but unfortunately make one wonder about the accuracy of the rest of the book. If there could be such a blatant mistake with something so easy to fact check, what of the information that is harder to verify?
Still, I like that Eliot seems mostly neutral in his presentation of McQueen. You can tell he's a big fan, but he doesn't shy from showing the bad side of McQueen's character. There is sympathy for him and his certainly traumatic upbringing, but there are few excuses. McQueen was not a very good man, full of ego, anger, and a kind of childish selfishness that makes you feel for his wife... yet it seems he did want to be a good man in his own stumbling way. He seems to be a product of a lot of problems that went unaddressed due to the stigma and lack of information around mental health as well as the inherent damage that fame and toxic masculinity brings. I think this biography does a great job at portraying that—at least, it isn't afraid to highlight the possibility. It makes me wonder what could have been had McQueen lived in a different era where getting mental help was less stigmatized.
Anyway! Not a bad book so far and likely the best bio on McQueen to be found short of Neile's own memoir. It certainly has a lot of emotion and isn't too dry. Great for a McQueen fan, though I advise they take some of it with a bit of skepticism.
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