Terry McQueen was the daughter of the legendary Hollywood actor Steve McQueen, who starred in classic films such as “The Great Escape”, “Bullitt”, and “The Thomas Crown Affair”. She was born on June 5, 1959, and had a brother named Chad, who is also an actor. Terry followed her father’s footsteps and pursued a career in the entertainment industry, working as an artist management supervisor for various production companies. She was also a passionate animal lover and supported several animal welfare organizations.
However, Terry’s life was not as glamorous as it seemed. She had to deal with her father’s infidelity, drug abuse, and eventual death from cancer in 1980. She also struggled with her own health issues, such as diabetes, hepatitis C, and liver cirrhosis. She underwent two liver transplants in 1997 and 1998, but they failed to save her life. She died of respiratory failure on March 19, 1998, at the age of 38, at the UCLA Medical Center.
Contents
The Early Years of Terry McQueen
Terry McQueen was born to Steve McQueen and his first wife, Neile Adams, who was a dancer and actress. She grew up in a luxurious mansion in Beverly Hills, surrounded by celebrities and fame. She attended the prestigious Chadwick School in Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, where she excelled in academics and sports. She was also a talented pianist and singer.
Terry had a close relationship with her father, who taught her how to ride motorcycles, play chess, and shoot guns. She often accompanied him on his film sets and travels around the world. She admired his charisma and talent, but also witnessed his dark side. Steve was a notorious womanizer who cheated on his wife with many actresses, models, and fans. He also abused drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and barbiturates, which affected his mood and behavior.
Neile Adams tolerated her husband’s affairs for years, hoping that he would change. However, she finally filed for divorce in 1972, after discovering that he had impregnated his co-star Ali MacGraw, whom he later married. The divorce was bitter and traumatic for Terry and Chad, who were 13 and 12 years old at the time. They felt betrayed and abandoned by their father, who moved out of their home and rarely visited them.
The Career of Terry McQueen
Terry McQueen decided to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, following her father’s footsteps. She studied film production at the University of Southern California and graduated in 1981. She then worked as an artist management supervisor for various production companies, such as Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, and Walt Disney Studios. She was responsible for overseeing the contracts, budgets, schedules, and logistics of various film and television projects.
Terry also inherited her father’s passion for animals and became an avid supporter of several animal welfare organizations. She donated money and time to causes such as the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the Wildlife Waystation. She also adopted several dogs and cats from shelters and cared for them at her home in Malibu.
The Health Problems of Terry McQueen
Terry McQueen suffered from various health problems throughout her life. She was diagnosed with diabetes when she was a teenager and had to take insulin injections daily. She also contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion she received after a car accident in 1981. The virus damaged her liver and caused cirrhosis, which is a condition that causes scarring and inflammation of the liver tissue.
Terry’s health deteriorated rapidly in the mid-1990s. She experienced symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, jaundice, bleeding, swelling, and pain. She was placed on a waiting list for a liver transplant in 1997 but faced a shortage of donors. She finally received a donor liver in November 1997 but suffered complications from the surgery. She developed an infection that spread to her lungs and caused respiratory failure.
She underwent another liver transplant in February 1998 but it was too late to save her life. She died of respiratory failure on March 19, 1998, at the UCLA Medical Center. She was surrounded by her family and friends, including her mother Neile Adams, her brother Chad McQueen, her stepmother Barbara Minty McQueen (Steve’s third wife), and her longtime boyfriend Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was a famous NASCAR driver.
The Legacy of Terry McQueen
Terry McQueen left behind a legacy of love and compassion for animals and people. She donated her organs to other patients who needed them and helped save several lives. She also left a substantial amount of money to various animal welfare organizations, such as the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, the WWF, and the Wildlife Waystation. She also established a trust fund for her brother Chad and his children.
Terry McQueen was buried next to her father at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Her grave is marked by a simple plaque that reads “Terry Leslie McQueen, June 5, 1959 – March 19, 1998, Beloved Daughter, Sister, and Friend”. Her epitaph is a quote from her father Steve McQueen: “When I believe in something, I fight like hell for it”.
