Steve McQueen

Terrence Stephen McQueen, more commonly known as Steve McQueen, was an American actor, born on March 24, 1930, in Beech Grove, Indiana. His antihero persona, which was emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw. Notably, he garnered an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Sand Pebbles (1966). Some of his other popular films include The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Nevada Smith (1966), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Bullitt (1968), The Getaway (1972), and Papillon (1973). In 1974, McQueen became the highest-paid movie star in the world, even though his behavior towards directors and producers was known to be combative. He was also heavily involved in motorcycle and car racing, which was reflected in his film career as many movie stunts were performed by him. McQueen unfortunately was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, a cancer associated with asbestos exposure, and died on November 7, 1980.