---
name: "Steve McQueen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/steve-mcqueen-13565"
fi1m_id: "steve-mcqueen-13565"
imdb_id: "nm0000537"
tmdb_id: 13565
wikidata_id: "Q159347"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "24 March 1930"
died: "7 November 1980"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-24T06:40:31.699470+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Steve McQueen

## Identity

Steve McQueen

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/steve-mcqueen-13565
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** steve-mcqueen-13565
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000537
- **TMDB ID:** 13565
- **Wikidata ID:** Q159347
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_McQueen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q159347, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000537/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13565

Actor. Born 24 March 1930 in Beech Grove, Indiana, USA. Died 7 November 1980.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 24 March 1930, Beech Grove, Indiana, USA
- **Died:** 7 November 1980
- **Active:** 1960–1974
- **Also known as:** Terrence Stephen McQueen, Stephen McQueen, Steven McQueen
- **Frequently works with:** [Charles Bronson](https://film.one/person/charles-bronson.md), [John Sturges](https://film.one/person/john-sturges.md), [Richard Attenborough](https://film.one/person/richard-attenborough.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 74 (2), 1970s 71 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 63 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 4 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, War 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Crime 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $201m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_McQueen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q159347, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000537/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13565

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Great Escape*](https://film.one/film/the-great-escape.md) (82)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Papillon*](https://film.one/film/papillon.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Steve McQueen

> Steve McQueen can make a man's confidence funny without giving him a joke. We rate his spare, physical acting, especially when John Sturges gives him other capable people to play against; the solitary action hero is less consistently rewarding.

In *The Great Escape* (1963), McQueen's Hilts treats confinement as a personal inconvenience rather than a reason to lose his composure. His confidence is funny without requiring a supply of jokes. The Cooler King nickname suits an actor who needs little dialogue, letting his body and eyes do much of the work. His ease is a considerable pleasure, though the film softens the hardships of captivity enough to make that composure easier to sustain.

The early screen work moved from *The Blob* (1958) and television's *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958–61) to the two John Sturges films that established him as a star. *The Magnificent Seven* (1960) came first, followed by *The Great Escape*. He relied on movement and a look more than talk. By *Bullitt* (1968), that restraint and physical assurance were central to his appeal. Cars and motorcycles suited a performer who could hold our attention without explaining what he was thinking.

Sturges gets something more useful from him by refusing to make everybody else an onlooker. In *The Great Escape*, Richard Attenborough's Bartlett supplies the seriousness and James Garner's Hendley a more companionable resourcefulness. McQueen remains the attraction, but the preparations give the others work that matters. We were gripped by the tunnel-building because Sturges lets us follow capable men solving practical problems. He allows us to enjoy McQueen without leaving us impatient whenever he is off screen.

The reservation is that McQueen did relatively little to move beyond that laconic action hero. The later *Papillon* (1973), pairing him with Dustin Hoffman in a prison-escape drama, still belongs to that familiar territory. We admire the control, but after enough self-contained men we would welcome a less familiar response. That is a reason to choose carefully, not to dismiss an actor who can convey emotion with so little speech. For a first encounter, choose *The Great Escape*, and save some of the admiration for Attenborough and Garner.

## Biography

Steve McQueen (1930–1980) was an American actor. Born Terrence Stephen McQueen in Beech Grove, Indiana, he served in the US Marine Corps before studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. His early film roles included *The Blob* (1958).

McQueen gained prominence with supporting parts in *The Magnificent Seven* (1960) and as Hilts, 'The Cooler King', in *The Great Escape* (1963). Subsequent leading roles included *The Cincinnati Kid* (1965), *The Sand Pebbles* (1966), *The Thomas Crown Affair* (1968), *Bullitt* (1968), *The Getaway* (1972), *Papillon* (1973) and *The Towering Inferno* (1974). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for *The Sand Pebbles*.

In 1974 McQueen was reported as the highest-paid movie star in the world. He had previously appeared in the ensemble cast of *The Great Escape* and later starred opposite Dustin Hoffman in *Papillon*.

*Sources: britannica.com, imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *The Towering Inferno* (1974), Fi1m 68, as Chief O'Hallorhan — [page](https://film.one/film/the-towering-inferno.md)
- *Papillon* (1973), Fi1m 74, as Henri "Papillon" Charriere — [page](https://film.one/film/papillon.md)
- *The Sand Pebbles* (1966), Fi1m 66, as Jake Holman — [page](https://film.one/film/the-sand-pebbles.md)
- *The Great Escape* (1963), Fi1m 82, as Hilts 'The Cooler King' — [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-escape.md)

## Complete filmography (52)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Man on the Run* (2026), as Hilts 'The Cooler King' (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *i and i* (2023), Executive Producer
- *The Unbeatable Bruce Lee* (2001), Actor
- *On Any Sunday: Revisited* (2000), Actor
- *Death In Hollywood* (1990), Actor
- *Creepy Classics* (1987), as Steve Andrews - (archive footage)
- *The Hunter* (1980), as Ralph "Papa" Thorson · Stunts
- *Tom Horn* (1980), as Tom Horn · Executive Producer
- *An Enemy of the People* (1978), as Dr. Thomas Stockmann · Executive Producer
- *Dixie Dynamite* (1976), as Dirt-Bike Rider · Stunt Driver
- *The Towering Inferno* (1974), as Chief O'Hallorhan · Stunts — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-towering-inferno.md)
- *Papillon* (1973), as Henri "Papillon" Charriere — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/papillon.md)
- *The Getaway* (1972), as Carter "Doc" McCoy · Executive Producer
- *Junior Bonner* (1972), as Junior Bonner · Associate Producer
- *On Any Sunday* (1971), Producer, Stunt Driver
- *Le Mans* (1971), as Michael Delaney · Executive Producer
- *Adam at Six A.M.* (1970), Executive Producer
- *The Reivers* (1969), as Boon Hogganbeck · Associate Producer
- *Bullitt* (1968), as Lt. Frank Bullitt · Stunts, Executive Producer
- *The Thomas Crown Affair* (1968), as Thomas Crown · Executive Producer
- *Mondo Hollywood* (1967), Actor
- *The Sand Pebbles* (1966), as Jake Holman · Executive Producer — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-sand-pebbles.md)
- *Nevada Smith* (1966), as Max Sand · Executive Producer
- *The Cincinnati Kid* (1965), as Eric Stoner ("The Cincinnati Kid") · Co-Producer
- *Baby the Rain Must Fall* (1965), as Henry Thomas · Executive Producer
- *Love with the Proper Stranger* (1963), as Rocky Papasano
- *Soldier in the Rain* (1963), as Eustis Clay · Executive Producer
- *The Great Escape* (1963), as Hilts 'The Cooler King' · Stunt Driver — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-escape.md)
- *The War Lover* (1962), as Capt. Buzz Rickson
- *Hell Is for Heroes* (1962), as Pvt. John Reese
- *The Honeymoon Machine* (1961), as Lt. Ferguson 'Fergie' Howard
- *The Magnificent Seven* (1960), as Vin
- *Never So Few* (1959), as Corp. Bill Ringa
- *The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery* (1959), as George Fowler
- *The Blob* (1958), as Steve Andrews
- *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Josh Randall
- *Never Love a Stranger* (1958), as Martin Cabell
- *Trackdown* (1957), series, as Josh Randall, Wes & Mal Cody
- *Tales of Wells Fargo* (1957), series, as Bill Longley
- *The Defender (Studio One)* (1957), as Joseph Gordon
- *West Point* (1956), series, as Rick
- *Somebody Up There Likes Me* (1956), as Fidel (uncredited)
- *The 20th Century Fox Hour* (1955), series, as Kinsella
- *Playwrights '56* (1955), series, Actor
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Gambler, Bill Everett
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Henry Reeves / Anthony Reeves
- *Girl on the Run* (1953), as Young Man Trying to Ring the Bell
- *The United States Steel Hour* (1953), series, as Bushy
- *Family Affair* (1952), as Freddie
- *Goodyear Television Playhouse* (1951), series, Actor
- *Armstrong Circle Theatre* (1950), series, as bit role (uncredited)
- *Studio One* (1948), series, as Joseph Gordon

## Gallery

- ![1931 Panther motorcycle once owned by actor Steve McQueen and restored by Von Dutch, at the Lyon Air Museum (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-7fab1d3464d2.jpg) 1931 Panther motorcycle once owned by actor Steve McQueen and restored by Von Dutch, at the Lyon Air Museum (2019) — Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/1931_Panther_motorcycle_once_owned_by_actor_Steve_McQueen_by_Don_Ramey_Logan.jpg/1280px-1931_Panther_motorcycle_once_owned_by_actor_Steve_McQueen_by_Don_Ramey_Logan.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![500px provided description: 1939 Steve McQueen Indian- previously owned by McQueen, and his choice paint color to match his favorite French cigarettes. [#americ](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-8e9b2cf8002c.jpg) 500px provided description: 1939 Steve McQueen Indian- previously owned by McQueen, and his choice paint color to match his favorite French cigarettes. [#americ — Markus Cuff, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/1939_Steve_Mcqueen_Indian_%28260137313%29.jpeg/1280px-1939_Steve_Mcqueen_Indian_%28260137313%29.jpeg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Baseline Drive-In theater advertisement for the double feature, Sci-fi films: The Blob (1958) and I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958). from the 10 Septe](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-d10f65c11e88.jpg) Baseline Drive-In theater advertisement for the double feature, Sci-fi films: The Blob (1958) and I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958). from the 10 Septe — Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Baseline_Drive-in_Ad_-_10_September_1958%2C_Highland%2C_CA.jpg/1280px-Baseline_Drive-in_Ad_-_10_September_1958%2C_Highland%2C_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Campus theater advertisement for the double-featuresci-fi/horror films, The Blob (1958) and I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958). From the 30 October 195](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-c48a4e908367.png) Campus theater advertisement for the double-featuresci-fi/horror films, The Blob (1958) and I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958). From the 30 October 195 — Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Campus_Theatre_Ad_-_30_October_1958%2C_Denton%2C_TX.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Steve McQueen](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-e707922447cd.jpg) Steve McQueen — Image via TMDB
- ![Steve McQueen](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-4006b5e0b002.jpg) Steve McQueen — Image via TMDB
- ![Steve McQueen](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-c8a2a1b75d07.jpg) Steve McQueen — Image via TMDB
- ![Caricature of Steeve Mac Queen (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-2f681e7119c9.jpg) Caricature of Steeve Mac Queen (2019) — Caricatures par Maurice Tournade (originaux en ma possession numérisés), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Caricature_de_Steve_McQueen.jpg/1280px-Caricature_de_Steve_McQueen.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Havi Schanz celebrates the Golden Age of cinema with striking portraits of Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Cary Grant, Marlon Brando, Rock Hudson, Montgomery Clift (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-154b1fd6cef7.jpg) Havi Schanz celebrates the Golden Age of cinema with striking portraits of Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Cary Grant, Marlon Brando, Rock Hudson, Montgomery Clift (2014) — Haviart, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Divos_Collection_by_Havi_Schanz.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Steve McQueen](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-609c98544027.jpg) Steve McQueen — Image via TMDB
- ![Steve McQueen](https://film.one/media/person/103616/gallery-2e02defd020b.jpg) Steve McQueen — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1967: Best Actor (nominated), for *The Sand Pebbles*

### Other awards — 1 won

- Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame 1978: Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/steve-mcqueen-13565