PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Chad McQueen, who played Dutch in the "Karate Kid" franchise and was the only son of actor Steve McQueen, has died, his family confirmed. He was 63.
"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen. His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication," his wife Jeanie and children Chase and Madison wrote in a post on social media.
McQueen is best known for playing Cobra Kai student Dutch in 1984's "The Karate Kid" and reprising the role in the sequel, "The Karate Kid Part II," two years later. There were talks of McQueen returning to the role in the Netflix show "Cobra Kai," but Variety reports scheduling issues prevented it from happening.
He appeared in several other films, but like his father, his passion was auto racing. He founded McQueen Racing Company and competed professionally in events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was seriously injured in a crash in 2006 while practicing for the 24 Hours of Daytona Sports Car race, which nearly killed him and effectively ended his racing career.
"His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent, but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him," McQueen's family's statement reads. "He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfathers as well."
TMZ reports McQueen died of organ failure after he never fully recovered from an injury a few years ago.
