Posted on 03/24/2010 1:06:39 PM PDT by Daffynition
Three Weeks in Steve McQueen's World
In the spring of 1963, Steve McQueen was on the brink of superstardom, already popular from his big-screen breakout as one of The Magnificent Seven and just a couple months away from entering the Badass Hall of Fame with the release of The Great Escape. Intrigued by his dramatic backstory and his off-screen exploits — McQueen was a reformed delinquent who got his thrills racing cars and motorcycles — LIFE sent photographer John Dominis to California to hang out with the 33-year-old actor and see what he could get. Three weeks and more than 40 rolls of film later, Dominis had captured some astonishingly intimate and iconic images, photos impossible to imagine in today's restricted-access celebrity world. Only a handful of those photos have ever been published… but now, in celebration of what would have been McQueen's 80th birthday (March 24), LIFE.com presents these never-before-seen gems from that legendary assignment, along with insights from Dominis about the time he spent with the man who would become known as the King of Cool.
Pictured: At his home in Palm Springs, McQueen practices his aim before heading out for a shooting session in the desert.
That is one valuable piece of equipment.
Me too. [But not in the same way as I imagine you mean, Andy! LOL] ;)
Very cool!
My daughter is currently going to college there just outside of Santa Paula. Whenever we drive down for a visit we see the dark green hanger just off the freeway off ramp and think of Steve McQueen.
Last summer we watched a bunch of McQueen films. My kids had never seen any of his films besides "The Great Escape".
With his dog, a Malamute named Mike
“...My family are...all Conservative, not one Leftie.”
I wish I could say the same but in my extended fam we seem to have a few that readily drink the Kool Aid.
I am pretty sure I saw that car in a show at the “Allure of the Automobile” show at the High Museum in Atlanta last weekend.
See my post 27.
Great photo! I thought at first that it was a wolf.
Steve McQueen...sigh.
sw
Let me fine tune my earlier post - I think I saw THAT VERY CAR in a show at the “Allure of the Automobile” show at the High Museum in Atlanta last weekend.
Here is just part of the collection. If you Google Steve McQueen ... and my last name, you’ll see much more.
http://public.fotki.com/wackydave/car_shows/car_shows_2006/the_brucker_collect/
My uncles and cousins still fly out of Santa Paula. I totally love Santa Paula.
Also, most of the Von Dutch stuff and Big Daddy Roth. My uncle owned Robbie the Robot and his “car”, the Bat mobile and lots of other cars.
He sold it years ago.
http://www.leatherneckmagazine-digital.com/leatherneckmagazine/200906/?pg=32#pg32
for info on his time in the Corps, click the link.
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