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Posted on 11/30/2013 9:23:44 AM PST by ReformationFan
Steve McQueen, who committed to Christ late in life, TV show 'Wanted: Dead or Alive' is now featured each weekend on the MeTv Network
From 1963 to 1978, Steve McQueen was considered by movie fans and big screen insiders as one of the main leading actors in Hollywood. The rugged faced actor's roles defined "cool" and his persona was idolized by men and women alike, yet he remained unfazed by Hollywood's glitter. Late in his life the famous actor finally realized his need for God and decided to commit his life to Christ.
Terrance Steven McQueen was born in Beech Grove, Indiana, in March 1930. When he was only six months old he was abandoned by his father and was raised for a few years by his uncle. His natural mother stepped in and eventually sent him to the Boy's Republic, a reform school based in Chino, California. The future actor later credited the Boy's Republic for helping him change the direction of his life, and in his later years he gave a very large endowment to the school.
After a stop in the military, McQueen decided to give acting a try. After attending the Actor's Studio in New York City, Steve got his first break in 1956 when he won a role in the film Somebody Up there Likes Me. It was also in New York that he met his first wife, actress and dancer Neile Adams. Eventually, he landed the lead role in the made-for-TV western series Wanted: Dead or Alive. That program which played for several years on television is now being shown every weekday on the MeTV (www.MeTv.com ) television network.
McQueen went on to take part in many big-screen successes of the day, including The Great Escape, Bullitt, The Towering Inferno, The Magnificent 7, Papillon, Le Mans, The Sand Pebbles (for which he received an Oscar nomination), The Getaway and The Thomas Crown Affair. McQueen co-starred with his second wife, Ali McGraw, in the action movie The Getaway.
Several years before his death in November of 1980 and before he knew he had cancer, the actor moved to Santa Paula, California where he took up flying bi-planes. The actor sought out the finest flight instructor in the region, whose name was Sammy Mason. Mason was a committed Christian who practiced his faith. Over time Mason shared with his new friend, Steve McQueen. Eventually Sammy took McQueen to church, where Steve committed his life to Christ.
The media relations department of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association told this writer in 2003 that Dr. Graham visited the actor in his home just prior to his death in 1980. The well-known evangelist wrote the forward to the book: Steve McQueen, the Final Chapter, written by Grady Ragsdale and published in 1983, and noted, "I had planned to minister to Steve, but as it turned out, he ministered to me." In the fifth Chapter of the newly released book – 16 Amazing Stories of Divine Intervention Steve McQueen's inspiring story is once again told by author James Lambert.
As for Iconic actor, one of his final wishes prior to his death was that his personal story would stir many of his fans to develop a relationship with our loving God. You can play a part in fulfilling that wish by sharing Steve's story with a relative or by passing on his story (in Chapter 5 of 16 Amazing Stories of Divine Intervention) to anyone who needs to hear the liberating message of God's good news from the Bible.
Awesome story. “The Sand Pebbles” was and remains one of my favorite movies of all time. If you never got a chance to see it, try to find it. Long but well worth it. “Stim goes here.”
“Live stim, dead stim”. It’s on Netflix, now. You are right, it’s a classic.
Great movie.
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Steve McQueen is to cool what Albert Einstein is to physics.
Oh....That’s nice....and I’m 70....sorry Steve....
MeTv is short for Memorable Entertainment Tv. They feature many of the old tv series from westerns, comedies, mysteries, etc.
A listing can be found here:
http://metvnetwork.com/programs.php
The Sand Pebbles is one of my all-time favorites. Just a great film.
Papillon is another favorite of mine. Kind of a different role for McQueen, but still great.
My favorite McQueen movie was The Great Escape.
As I recall, he died od mesothelioma, an awful cancer of the lining around the lungs. I think it’s often, if not always, associated with exposure to asbestos. Never understood, from what I know about his career, how he contracted it.
Thanks. Passed it on.
I had heard he contracted it from a device specifically manufactured to protect his lungs while he was racing motorcycles: the asbestos liner of his face mask.
“My favorite McQueen movie was The Great Escape.”
Mine too. That was just a fabulous movie in many respects, with lots of prime actors. McQueen’s scenes in “the cooler” and escaping on the motorcycle were classic.
a few episodes of “Wanted Dead or Alive “ are free here..
http://www.westernsontheweb.com/?page_id=382
A great movie no doubt, but for my money Bullitt overshadows it.
Mr. McQueen is in almost every scene. The stunt driving sequence is better than the motorcycle action in TGE. His romance with Jackie Bisset is touching.
Oh, and no matter how great a movie TGE is, it doesn't have anything like Jacqueline Bisset.
Bullit is a GREAT movie. Always fun to drive some some of the hilly parts of the chase scene when in San Francisco.
McQueen was just a cool guy.
Great to hear he gave his life to Christ.
I grew up in San Diego. I had an aunt and uncle who lived on Mulholland Drive, just down the road from the 20th Century Fox ranch. McQueen used to relax by tending bar now and again at a watering hole in the area. My uncle struck up a conversation about cross country motorcycling, etc., and riding down to San Diego a couple of times a month to visit family (us). McQueen expressed an interest in joining them for a ride. So, for a short time we faced the prospect of Steve McQueen spending a couple of days with us. Of course, my aunt and uncle told us that Mr. McQueen requested we not say anything. We could not tell anyone he was there. Alas, the visit never happened. I was crushed. I still watch The Great Escape every chance I get. My favorite McQueen role. He was just too cool. Would have been cool to have met him.
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