Photo: Steve McQueen taking delivery of a Ford Cobra Roadster. Although he did most of his own driving and many of the stunts in his films, his contract barred him from competing in races while in production on a film.

Steve McQueen was born Terrence Steven McQueen, March 24, 1930, in Beech Grove, Indiana. Shuttled between party-girl mother, pious grandmother and obstinate wild-man uncle, he ran away with a carnival at age 14. He ended up in a reform school at age 15. He joined the Marine Corps two years later, drove a tank, went AWOL, spent a lot of time in the brig. He held a variety of jobs, including swab boy at a brothel, and worked as a semi-professional motorcycle racer.

He took up acting in Manhattan in the early 50's and moved to Hollywood in 1956, marrying a young starlet, Neile Adams. He landed starring role as bounty hunter Josh Randall in the TV series Wanted: Dead or Alive.

As McQueen made successful and gritty movies like Magnificent Seven, Hell is For Heroes and The Great Escape, his name became more bankable and his rebel mystique (both on and off the set) grew. He was the man of few words and strong actions, adored by women, respected by men. He was the star who fought with directors, and was usually right.

Long before Jackie Chan, McQueen was known as the leading man who did his own stunts. He did most of the driving in his movies. He even stood in as one of the Nazi guards in The Great Escape when he noticed how poorly they rode while chasing him. (Ironically, the two stunts McQueen is remembered for, the motorcycle jump in The Great Escape and the car jump in Bullitt, were both performed by his friend, stuntman Bud Ekins.)

Bruce Brown, the director of Endless Summer and On Any Sunday said, "It was often overlooked how good a rider Steve was. He was a member of the International 6-Day Trials Team in 1964, a top-ten ranked amateur in the desert at one time, and a very good amateur motocrosser. He respected his fellow racers, and they respected him."

Right: One of the stunts McQueen is most famous for, from The Great Escape. Ironically, this was one of the stunts he actually didn't perform himself. It was McQueen's friend, stuntman Bud Ekins.

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