Steve McQueen’s biographer and his widow discussed the life and career of the late actor, took questions and signed books at a presentation at ASU’s Nursing and Health Innovation II building Thursday.
“He could do anything he wanted, and he did,” said Marshall Terrill, an information specialist at ASU and author of the new biographies, “Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon” and “Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool.”
Terrill was joined by widow Barbara Minty McQueen to celebrate the life and career of the well known actor of the 1960s and ’70s.
“It’s been so long since I’ve heard (McQueen) talk,” Minty McQueen said. “He believed that if you really, really, really wanted to do something and you put your nose to it you can do it.”
Though the two noted many of the anthems McQueen lived by, one phrase was consistently repeated.
“Be your own person, be a true original,” Terrill said. “We recognize individuals.” McQueen called it “hold(ing) your mud,” Minty McQueen said.
McQueen’s rise to fame came after a childhood filled with obstacles. He was quoted saying, “My life was screwed up before I was born.”
McQueen was raised early in his life by his grandparents, Victor and Lillian Crawford, in a 10-foot by 20-foot shack. He later taken in by his great uncle and worked as a farmhand.
“On the streets is where you perfected your con … you learned how to adapt and play different roles,” McQueen had said when asked about his life on the streets.
McQueen had many different jobs, like selling encyclopedias door-to-door and working as a towel boy for a brothel Eventually, McQueen gained notoriety as a TV actor and later successfully transitioned to films, becoming one of the most popular actors in the world.
Terrill credited McQueen’s acting abilities and competitive nature for his success, adding that the actor’s unique personality allowed him to capture both strength and compassion on the screen.
“McQueen was great because he reacted instead of acted … He always had someone he had to pit himself against,” Terrill said.
Minty McQueen recalled that he was never afraid to take a chance. “What’s the worst that could happen?” she said. “Somebody will say no. Keep on moving.”
Contact the reporter at ztalieh@asu.edu
