Were the legend alive Steve McQueen would have celebrated his 80th birthday today.
He's always been a role model to me. Style, attitude, his need for speed and "No, cut those four lines of dialog. I'll say all that with a face expression" approach to acting is a big inspiration.
Steve McQueen was nicknamed "The King of Cool." His "anti-hero" persona made him one of the top box-office draws of the 1960s and 1970s. Addicted to all things fast he was an avid racer of both motorcycles and cars. He is recognized for performing many of his own stunts, especially the majority of the stunt driving during the high-speed chase scene in Bullitt.
McQueen received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Sand Pebbles. His other popular films include The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, The Getaway and Papillon.
McQueen was offered the lead role in Breakfast at Tiffany's but was unable to accept due to his Wanted: Dead or Alive contract (the role went to George Peppard). He also turned down Ocean's Eleven, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (his attorneys and agents couldn't agree with Paul Newman's attorneys and agents on who got top billing), The Driver, Apocalypse Now, California Split, Dirty Harry and The French Connection. (McQueen didn't want to do another cop film.)
