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Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon
"Steve McQueen" takes us on a journey as his harrowing and painful childhood is laid bare, through his glittering career, and right up to his heroic battle with cancer and dramatic death in Mexico. It chronicles the good with the ugly, revealing the great power McQueen wielded. It features numerous behind-the-scenes stories from some of his (and cinema's) greatest films, including "The Magnificent Seven," "The Great Escape," "The Sand Pebbles," "The Thomas Crown Affair," "Bullitt," "The Getaway," and "Papillon." The book's triumph is the way in which the author explores McQueen in full through his larger-than-life exploits but as important, the lesser known, humanitarian side of the Hollywood legend. It also captures the fundamental essence of what made McQueen cinema's King of Cool.
657 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 29, 2020
Exhaustive, well-researched, pretentious, hyperbolic, fun, dull, repetitive and sometimes fascinating account of the life and times of actor Steve McQueen. Marshall Terrill provides a mixed-bag of treats and duds in "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon." On the plus side, the author's enthusiasm and passion for his subject is considerable. On the minus side, the book overstays its welcome.
In theory, I very much appreciate the time, effort and energy it took Marshall Terrill to create "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon." It inspired me to look further into Steve McQueen's work on television, and re-watch a number of Steve McQueen movies I had not seen in a while, as well as watch movies like SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME, NEVER SO FEW and JUNIOR BONNER for the first time.
I appreciated reading about McQueen's rough early life in Indiana and Missouri, his troubled parents, his great uncle and his dysfunctional upbringing to better understand how he became the man he turned out to be. Steve McQueen's formative years as an unwanted only child of wayward parents must have done a number on him, as it would anyone. Thankfully, fate pulled him through his time in the midwest, California, New York, the Marines and back to New York again where he began his legendary career as an actor.
The author thankfully takes great pains to chronicle Steve McQueen's New York life. From his time studying acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse, being welcomed into the Actors Studio, performing in plays in and out of town and eventually (with mixed results) on Broadway, and starring in live television, to his friends and lovers and eventually the mother of his children: Neile Adams.
I enjoyed reading about Steve McQueen's rise to stardom in California. From starring in TV's 'Wanted: Dead or Alive" to his first films in the 1950's through his escalation to movie stardom with 1960's THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, 1963's THE GREAT ESCAPE, 1966's THE SAND PEBBLES and his 1960's career peak BULLITT, from 1968. Through it all, McQueen would take no bullsh*t, raised a whole lot of trouble, and increasingly sought control of his projects.
The author goes into great detail about McQueen's infidelities, vanity, hubris and bad boy behavior, enhanced by his use of marijuana and cocaine, culminating in 1971 with McQueen's disastrous pet project LE MANS, a film that cost him his friends, his agent, his money, and his wife. LE MANS could have been McQueen's auto racing masterpiece, yet his desire for power and control mixed with his arrogance got the better of him.
During 1970's, McQueen's star rose again with THE GETAWAY, his marriage to superstar Ali McGraw, PAPILLON, and his giant payday and triumph in 1974's blockbuster THE TOWERING INFERNO, after which he took time off, grew his hair long, and grew a scraggily beard. McQueen stepped away, not realizing he'd never be on top again...not that he cared, or did he?
As presented "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon," McQueen was a difficult, complicated man, whose ambition led him to achieve great success beyond his wildest dreams. He was rich, famous and had wife and two children. He liked to party, drive fast, and roar off on his motorcycle and bed countless beautiful models, actresses and whomever else suited him. McQueen wanted to be on top, yet loathed the perils of fame. He wanted great fame, yet also wanted to be a normal guy, drinking beer and talking shop.
Steve McQueen's last four years and and final movies are impressively explored by Marshall Terrill. The author's research and extensive access to people, paper and audio files reveals incredible details about Steve McQueen's final year on Earth, his late-in-life devotion to flying planes, Christianity, and willingness to do whatever it took to try to eliminate the cancer that was killing him. Steve McQueen's painful last days in Mexico are chronicled with great detail, making his death even more tragic than what one previously had thought.
Yes, "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon" is very impressive, but...there are problems. The idea of psychoanalyzing Steve McQueen's life and actions in a biography is an interesting one. Yet in practice, its down right silly. Every time the author wrote "As Psychologist Peter O. Whitmer says..." I wanted to put down the book, or throw it across the room in disgust. It's is not that I am vehemently against using a psychologist's diagnosis when presenting a biography, it's just that the way Marshall Terrill presents the findings of Peter O. Whitmer got annoying fast. The reason? The author has Peter O. Whitmer pontificate what might have been going on in Steve McQueen's psychology in almost every friggin chapter. After a while, I could not help but think
"ENOUGH with the psychology! Get back to the story!"
There are some holes in the author's version of Steve McQueen's story that left me scratching my head. Was Don Gordon really a friend of Steve McQueen? They were in three movies together, yet the author barely mentioned how they met, and what kind of friendship they had. The author writes about what a victory McQueen had with TOWERING INFERNO, and how he triumphed over rival Paul Newman. Yet why no mention at all that many of Steve McQueen's scenes had him acting as boss to Scott Newman, Paul Newman's son? You would think that would be a big deal...McQueen's character outranking both Paul Newman and his son.
Much worse, the author goes overboard in his praise of Steve McQueen, championing the 35-year-old actor's ridiculous turn as a half-breed teenager in the awful 1965 movie NEVADA SMITH. I get it, Marshall Terrill's a Steve McQueen fan. Yet there has to be some objectivity when it comes to authoring a comprehensive biography. McQueen was not perfect, and he did plenty things wrong...in addition to doing many things right. Praise of Steve McQueen is fine, yet not when the author writes in dull hyperbole.
The editors of "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon" seem to have let the author run wild. After Steve McQueen dies in November 1980, the author goes on and on and on for page after page about the largesse of McQueen's ongoing legacy, and how important his image, style, and movies have been to fashion, motor raving, motorcycles, actors, movies, etc...WE GET IT! I mean, after having read over 600-pages of Marshall Terrill's book, I do not need him to continue to go on and on about the global impact of Steve McQueen. I already got that point 300 pages ago.
So, yes. "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon" is great...and not so great. I am glad to have read it, and enjoyed much of it. Can't help yet note the irony. Steve McQueen on screen was about using less, as more. If only the author was able to heed Steve McQueen's style, he could have achieved so much more.
In theory, I very much appreciate the time, effort and energy it took Marshall Terrill to create "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon." It inspired me to look further into Steve McQueen's work on television, and re-watch a number of Steve McQueen movies I had not seen in a while, as well as watch movies like SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME, NEVER SO FEW and JUNIOR BONNER for the first time.
I appreciated reading about McQueen's rough early life in Indiana and Missouri, his troubled parents, his great uncle and his dysfunctional upbringing to better understand how he became the man he turned out to be. Steve McQueen's formative years as an unwanted only child of wayward parents must have done a number on him, as it would anyone. Thankfully, fate pulled him through his time in the midwest, California, New York, the Marines and back to New York again where he began his legendary career as an actor.
The author thankfully takes great pains to chronicle Steve McQueen's New York life. From his time studying acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse, being welcomed into the Actors Studio, performing in plays in and out of town and eventually (with mixed results) on Broadway, and starring in live television, to his friends and lovers and eventually the mother of his children: Neile Adams.
I enjoyed reading about Steve McQueen's rise to stardom in California. From starring in TV's 'Wanted: Dead or Alive" to his first films in the 1950's through his escalation to movie stardom with 1960's THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, 1963's THE GREAT ESCAPE, 1966's THE SAND PEBBLES and his 1960's career peak BULLITT, from 1968. Through it all, McQueen would take no bullsh*t, raised a whole lot of trouble, and increasingly sought control of his projects.
The author goes into great detail about McQueen's infidelities, vanity, hubris and bad boy behavior, enhanced by his use of marijuana and cocaine, culminating in 1971 with McQueen's disastrous pet project LE MANS, a film that cost him his friends, his agent, his money, and his wife. LE MANS could have been McQueen's auto racing masterpiece, yet his desire for power and control mixed with his arrogance got the better of him.
During 1970's, McQueen's star rose again with THE GETAWAY, his marriage to superstar Ali McGraw, PAPILLON, and his giant payday and triumph in 1974's blockbuster THE TOWERING INFERNO, after which he took time off, grew his hair long, and grew a scraggily beard. McQueen stepped away, not realizing he'd never be on top again...not that he cared, or did he?
As presented "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon," McQueen was a difficult, complicated man, whose ambition led him to achieve great success beyond his wildest dreams. He was rich, famous and had wife and two children. He liked to party, drive fast, and roar off on his motorcycle and bed countless beautiful models, actresses and whomever else suited him. McQueen wanted to be on top, yet loathed the perils of fame. He wanted great fame, yet also wanted to be a normal guy, drinking beer and talking shop.
Steve McQueen's last four years and and final movies are impressively explored by Marshall Terrill. The author's research and extensive access to people, paper and audio files reveals incredible details about Steve McQueen's final year on Earth, his late-in-life devotion to flying planes, Christianity, and willingness to do whatever it took to try to eliminate the cancer that was killing him. Steve McQueen's painful last days in Mexico are chronicled with great detail, making his death even more tragic than what one previously had thought.
Yes, "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon" is very impressive, but...there are problems. The idea of psychoanalyzing Steve McQueen's life and actions in a biography is an interesting one. Yet in practice, its down right silly. Every time the author wrote "As Psychologist Peter O. Whitmer says..." I wanted to put down the book, or throw it across the room in disgust. It's is not that I am vehemently against using a psychologist's diagnosis when presenting a biography, it's just that the way Marshall Terrill presents the findings of Peter O. Whitmer got annoying fast. The reason? The author has Peter O. Whitmer pontificate what might have been going on in Steve McQueen's psychology in almost every friggin chapter. After a while, I could not help but think
"ENOUGH with the psychology! Get back to the story!"
There are some holes in the author's version of Steve McQueen's story that left me scratching my head. Was Don Gordon really a friend of Steve McQueen? They were in three movies together, yet the author barely mentioned how they met, and what kind of friendship they had. The author writes about what a victory McQueen had with TOWERING INFERNO, and how he triumphed over rival Paul Newman. Yet why no mention at all that many of Steve McQueen's scenes had him acting as boss to Scott Newman, Paul Newman's son? You would think that would be a big deal...McQueen's character outranking both Paul Newman and his son.
Much worse, the author goes overboard in his praise of Steve McQueen, championing the 35-year-old actor's ridiculous turn as a half-breed teenager in the awful 1965 movie NEVADA SMITH. I get it, Marshall Terrill's a Steve McQueen fan. Yet there has to be some objectivity when it comes to authoring a comprehensive biography. McQueen was not perfect, and he did plenty things wrong...in addition to doing many things right. Praise of Steve McQueen is fine, yet not when the author writes in dull hyperbole.
The editors of "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon" seem to have let the author run wild. After Steve McQueen dies in November 1980, the author goes on and on and on for page after page about the largesse of McQueen's ongoing legacy, and how important his image, style, and movies have been to fashion, motor raving, motorcycles, actors, movies, etc...WE GET IT! I mean, after having read over 600-pages of Marshall Terrill's book, I do not need him to continue to go on and on about the global impact of Steve McQueen. I already got that point 300 pages ago.
So, yes. "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon" is great...and not so great. I am glad to have read it, and enjoyed much of it. Can't help yet note the irony. Steve McQueen on screen was about using less, as more. If only the author was able to heed Steve McQueen's style, he could have achieved so much more.
February 11, 2022
Terrill does more than tell the story of Steve's life. He shows who Steve was. Peter Whitmer makes the case in the forward, that Steve's movie career mirrored his own life. To know who Steve was, one simply has to watch his films. Terrill seems to provide the proof of that in his book.
Terrill is honest in his story, not flinching at the dark or sad moments, but he handles those parts of the story with respect for Steve and his family.
At the end, Steve wanted to share with others the story of how the Lord saved him and changed his life. Terrill's biography does just that.
Terrill is honest in his story, not flinching at the dark or sad moments, but he handles those parts of the story with respect for Steve and his family.
At the end, Steve wanted to share with others the story of how the Lord saved him and changed his life. Terrill's biography does just that.
February 27, 2013
Well so it turns out he was a bastard and a bit psychotic, he's still one of the three coolest mothers ever in movies.
July 14, 2013
Egad! Such an interesting life and such a... crazy character, but what bland writing. Will stick to the movies.
May 21, 2019
Folks this book is out of print and unavailable other than used internet or public library. The biography is VERY over detailed and cumbersome to read. The co author is a psychologist so he often over reached in his analysis ,but has some contributions to explain the behaviors of Steve McQueen. I preferred to read the authors other offerings so I bought the Profile of an American Rebel and then could not locate the King of Cool edition. A lot of work to read about Steve McQueen.
February 18, 2022
Steve McQueen has always been one of my favorite actors and this biography digs deep into his past to figure out the origin of his drive to superstardom. A bit heavy on the psychobabble at times, but overall a great portrait of a fascinating man.
November 24, 2025
DNF
Disjointed, I liked the therapist waying in on potential motives etc but found the story telling all over the place especially when it jumped back and forth between time filming different movies.
Great actor but sounds like he was a pretty horrible person.
Disjointed, I liked the therapist waying in on potential motives etc but found the story telling all over the place especially when it jumped back and forth between time filming different movies.
Great actor but sounds like he was a pretty horrible person.
September 6, 2022
Excellent account of the life and death of the king of cool, including what appears to be a genuine conversion right before he got sick.
October 13, 2022
Excellent! Well-researched and very in-depth account of the life of Steve McQueen.
December 2, 2015
marginal at best
August 2, 2013
Ugh, not what I expected
August 3, 2013
insightful, interesting and jolly good read
May 1, 2021
I was totally aghast at the behaviour of this actor. I never knew what he was really like and I found the book to be shocking
December 27, 2022
Enjoyed the read. One of my favorite actors.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews