The Prince Of Cool: Chad McQueen

The Prince Of Cool

Chad McQueen

Belongs To The Ages

1960-2024

Rolex Submariner

Reference 5512

I am sad to report that Chad McQueen, the only son of legendary actor, Steve McQueen passed away. Chad is pictured below with his father, Steve McQueen who completely adored his son:

The family of Chad McQueen published this statement today:

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen...

His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication. His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent, but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him. He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfathers as well. As a family we need to navigate this difficult time and we kindly ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life."

With heartfelt gratitude,

Jeanie, Chase, and Madison

Below is a story I originally published years ago on Chad McQueen:

I recently interviewed Chad McQueen. Chad mentioned to me that his father gave him two Rolex Submariner watches when he passed away—a Reference 5512, as well as a Reference 5513. Chad has his father's charisma is one really cool dude!!! In many ways, Chad followed in his father's footsteps as we will learn in this story...

Chad McQueen in the 1980s wearing his father's Rolex Submariner

The photo below appears courtesy of Charles Tearle and shows Chad's actual Rolex Submariner Reference 5512 that his father Steve McQueen gave him before he passed away in 1980. The provenance of this watch is beyond refuting and as real as the real-deal gets.

The Queen Of Cool

Neile Adams McQueen

Chad's mother, Neile Adams McQueen (The Queen of Cool) is pictured below, and when I interviewed her she told me that her husband, Steve McQueen purchased the two Rolex Submariner models in Zurich, Switzerland around Christmas of 1969. 

In the next photo, we see Neile Adams McQueen waiting with her husband Steve McQueen as he prepares to race at Sebring in 1970.

In the photo below we see Steve and Neile McQueen with Chad and his sister, Terry McQueen.

Below is a photo of Steve McQueen at Sebring with wife Neile, son Chad, and daughter Terry talking with Steve during a break.

In the photo below we see Chad with his father Steve McQueen on the set of Le Mans, and notice Steve is wearing his Rolex Submariner.

Steve McQueen is pictured below with his son Chad McQueen in September of 1971 at the California 500 Indycar race in Ontario, California.

In this next photo taken many years later, we see Chad McQueen with his mother, Neile, and sister Terry.

Chad's sister Terry wore a yellow gold Rolex Lady-Date as seen in the photo below on the left side. In this photo, Terry is holding her daughter Molly, who is also pictured on the right photo being held by her grandmother Neile. 

Unfortunately, Terry passed away years ago but was raised by her grandmother Neile. When I recently interviewed Neile, she mentioned that Molly has her mother's Rolex Lady-Date today. Terry and Molly are pictured again below with Terry wearing her Rolex Lady Date.

Neile is pictured below in a recent photo with her granddaughter Molly.

In this next photo, we see Chad with his mom and his first wife. Notice Chad is wearing one of his dad's Rolex Submariner models.

Chad McQueen and I also discussed how in the future he will share more details with me about his father's Rolex Submariner watches, which is very exciting!! 

Chad McQueen in the 1980s wearing his father's Rolex Submariner

The King Of Cool

Steve McQueen

Chad's dad, Steve McQueen, known as The King Of Cool is pictured below wearing his Rolex Submariner with his super-cool fold-up Person Sunglasses. I first began chronicling Steve McQueen wearing Rolex Submariner models back in 2008 in a 4-Part Profiles In Coolness series I wrote on Steve McQueen.

It is interesting to note that Chad wears his dad's Submariner on his right wrist—just like his father did.

Below we see a photo of Neile McQueen with her son Chad and grandson Steven McQueen, who is Chad's son.

Speaking of COOL—below is a photo of Steven McQueen who is Neile & Steve McQueen's grandson, and his parents are Stacey Toten and Chad McQueen. Steven McQueen is a talented actor and appears to be down to earth and very friendly.

I've written so much in the past about Steve McQueen, yet I am still in awe of how cool he really was. Long LIVE THE KING OF COOL!!!!

The Queen of Cool—Neile Adams McQueen

The Queen of Cool

Neile Adams McQueen

Steve McQueen remains the undisputed King of Cool, and Every King has a Queen, especially if your last name is McQueen. 

I recently interviewed Neile Adams McQueen, who was married to Steve McQueen from 1956 to 1972 and is the matriarch of the McQueen family today. We spoke about many things including the provenance of Loren Janes Rolex Submariner, which I will be including details of in my next update on that subject coming later this week.

Neile Adams McQueen's life journey is absolutely amazing! It has been said that behind every great man there is a great woman, and that certainly was the case with Steve McQueen as Neile helped him every step of the way with his early and middle career. Even after Steve and Neile were divorced Steve McQueen still heavily depended on her opinions and instincts.

1965 Monaco Grand Prix 

Neile supported her husband Steve in many of his endeavors and hobbies. We see Neile and Steve McQueen in this next set of photos attending the 1965 Monaco Grand Prix where Steve was absolutely fascinating with the racers.

In the photo below we see Grand Prix racers Graham Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart chatting with Steve McQueen. This photo is interesting as they both seem equally fascinated with each other.

In this next photo, we see Steve McQueen wrapping out with legendary Formula One race car driver, Sir Stirling Moss.

The McQueen Family

Steve McQueen was a dedicated family man and was madly in love with his two children. 

In particular, his daughter Terry was the apple of his eye and we see Terry pictured above with Neile and Steve as well as in the photo below where Steve is walking with Terry in Los Angeles in 1964.

In the family portrait below from the early 1970s we see Chad, Steve, Neile and Terry McQueen.

Steve McQueen's Love of Rolex

Neile and I had a great conversation about The King Of Cool and his appreciation of Rolex. Neile said, "Steve was very fond of Rolex." I mentioned to Neile that I have spent thousands of hours over the past decade searching for photos of Steve McQueen wearing his Rolex Submariner and that the first time I was aware of him wearing one was when he was racing at Sebring in 1970. 

Neile said, "I remember when we were on Christmas vacation in Switzerland in 1969 Steve bought some Rolex watches, which he was very fond of."

Below is a photo of Steve McQueen at Sebring with wife Neile, son Chad, and daughter Terry talking with Steve during a break.

In the photo above and below we see Steve McQueen at Sebring in 1970 wearing his Rolex Submariner he wore while he performed in the endurance race.

Below we see a photo of Steve and Neile on the set of Sand Pebbles, taken in 1966 in Hong Kong.

In the photos below, we see Neile and Steve McQueen in a convertible Mercedes 300SL in New York.

The next set of photos below were taken on the set of The Thomas Crown Affair, and the first one shows Neile McQueen with Steve.

Neile has worn a Rolex Lady-Date for many decades and mentioned that her son Chad wears his father's Submariner and her granddaughter, Molly wears her daughter Terry's Rolex today. Terry McQueen who was Steve & Neile McQueen's daughter is pictured below on the left with her daughter Molly, and notice Terry is wearing her Rolex LadyDate. Unfortunately Terry passed away from a rare disease when Molly was ten years old, so her grandmother Neile raised her. Neile and Molly are pictured on the right and notice Neile wearing her ladies Rolex two-tone Datejust.

In the photo below we see Steve & Neile's daughter Terry McQueen with her daughter Molly on her lap, and we also see Terry wearing her yellow gold Rolex Ladydate.

Neile is pictured below in a more recent photo with her granddaughter Molly.

This means that the entire McQueen nuclear family wore Rolex watches! Neile mentioned "Recently I have really been enjoying wearing my Cartier watch!" 

Neile Adams McQueen is an amazing lady who as achieved so much in her life, and she has played a strong role as being the matriarch of her family and has had a strong influence on her children and grandchildren. Since Steve McQueen was The King of Cool, that makes Neile the Queen of Cool in my mind! Neile is pictured below with her daughter Terry and son Chad.

Steve & Neile McQueen's son Chad is pictured below with his mother Neile and his first wife, Stacey Toten notice Chad is wearing his father's Rolex Submariner. Today Chad McQueen owns two different Rolex Submariner models that belonged to and were worn by his father.

Below we see a photo of Neile McQueen with her son Chad and grandson Steven McQueen, who is Chad's son.

Speaking of COOL—below is a photo of Steven McQueen who is Neile & Steve McQueen's grandson, and his parents are Stacey Toten and Chad McQueen. Steven McQueen is a talented actor, and appears to be down to earth and very friendly.