For anyone knowledgeable about American film, actor Steve McQueen continues to be heralded as the consummate bad boy and definition of cool. Featured in movie classics like The Great Escape, Bullit, The Thomas Crown Affair and many more, McQueen played tough, streetwise personas that women adored and men wanted to emulate. But what made this Hollywood hero tick? Plainly there was a lot more to this man than his robust good looks and the powerful people that he portrayed on the big screen. Steve McQueen was a complicated man whose lifetime comprised many diverse parts, so let?s take a look at several of the most important areas of his life that made him the King of Cool.
Rebel from a Young Age
Possibly the largest part of what made Steve McQueen into the man he became was a hard early childhood. Born to a young alcoholic mother, McQueen had a difficult early beginning which commenced when his dad deserted the family when he was only half a year old. Discovering it difficult to take care of a child, McQueen?s mother left him with her parents and he would continuously move among family members through his early life. Eventually finding his way to Los Angeles California in his early teens, Steve McQueen was abused by his stepfather and shortly found his way into a street gang. Eventually, he served 18 months in a juvenile detention center that lead to developing a resilience and maturity that would be the cornerstone of his tough guy image later in life.
From Soldier to Actor
Upon completion of his army service in the late 1940s, Steve McQueen chose to pursue acting through the use of the GI Bill. After having held a variety of different jobs such as sailor, oil rigger and brothel janitor, McQueen had uncovered something in acting that appealed to him and began his acting career playing small rolls in a variety of productions. Having landed a number of TV roles, the actor?s first big break came about when he received the lead role in the low budget horror film The Blob and was later chosen by Frank Sinatra for the motion picture Never So Few. Thereafter, Steve McQueen took on roles that showcased his rugged good looks and penchant for speed which manifested into his reputation as the essential anti-hero. While there is no doubt that his standing as an actor was the driving force behind his status as an American King of Cool, it certainly wasn?t the only one.
Motor Racing
There?s no doubt that an element of danger must be present to make someone genuinely cool and Steve McQueen hand a penchant for driving fast. Starting with a love of motorcycles, McQueen took part in off-road contests that consisted of well-known races like The Baja 1000, The Mint 400 and The Elsinore Grand Prix., not forgetting representing the U. S. in the International Six Days Trial ? a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics. This desire for speed later developed into a love for auto racing for McQueen, who had thought about being professional racecar driver. A champion in the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring race, Steve McQueen had partnered with Peter Revson to win the 3 liter class and later thought about driving in the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year. Clearly, McQueen had an edge and loved taking risks which cultured an image of cool.
Bad Boy
Among the many components that led to Steve McQueen?s cool factor, his reputation for a chaotic personal life and his popularity among the Hollywood?s leading actresses was substantial. Apparently prepared to pursue a risky way of life, McQueen allegedly used drugs on a regular basis and had occasional run-ins with the law, as evidenced by his 1972 arrest for DUI in Alaska. Moreover, Steve McQueen had a series of relationships that placed him squarely among Hollywood?s elite leading ladies like Ali McGraw and Barbara Leigh, not to mention quite a few less popular actresses. Furthermore, his continual philandering embellished his image as a bad boy for both women and men alike and cemented his image as a cool character.
Shaped through his tough early years, as well as his pursuits as an actor, racing lover and Hollywood bad boy, it?s no real shock that Steve McQueen was an American original and the King of Cool.
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Source: http://www.freehowtofix.com/2012/02/17/steve-mcqueen-an-american-original/
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