Probably the coolest actor ever

Did several really good films

The Magnificent Seven (1960)
The Great Escape (1963)
The Sand Pebbles (1966)
Bullitt (1968)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
Le Mans (1971)
The Getaway (1972)
The Towering Inferno (1974)

Strange how the makers of Apocalypse Now (1979) wanted him to play the lead but he was more interested in playing Colonel Kurtz and demanded $3 Million for it, the producers refused but they paid Marlon Brando a lot more than that for the role, don't understand that really.

McQueen did seem difficult, especially when filming The Towering Inferno (1974), him and inferior actor Paul Newman, argued over billing, salery, even number of lines.

He's certainly got my attention, 12 Years a Slave was fantastic and Shame looks equally interesting. Looking forward to seeing what he does next.

I'm talking about the actor

He was a pretty cool cat too.

I agree, Marlon Brando is the greatest actor ever.

This is about Steve McQueen.

The cool actor.

No, it's about Brando.

You're a wanker, you're a wanker, you're a wank, wank, wank, wank wanker.

That is the most obnoxious, idiotic, pathetic attempt at an insult I've ever seen. Does it feel good to consistently shame yourself with such fail?

LEAVE

Says the man who specialises in obnoxious, idiotic, pathetic attempts at insults. I do feel consistently good though thanks to you. Muchos gracias amigo.

Definitely cool in many roles, but also kinda dumb in his later film choices. He turned down the leads in Butch & Sundance because he wouldn't get top billing, French Connection because he didn't feel like playing another cop, and Apocalypse because he didn't feel like shooting in the Philippines for several months. He had some interest in Kurtz, but Coppola never considered him for that role at any price; he only wanted him to play Sheen's.

He was smart to turn down these roles, some of them didn't fit and as the biggest box office draw he deserved to be billed above Paul Newman. Also, though the film is cool as ice, he had been looking almost too old to play the kid in Cincinnati Kid - to do it (play character titled as kid) again 7 years from then would have been ludicrous.

he deserved to be billed above Paul Newman

Opinion, not fact.

He could have easily pulled off Sundance. And it would have helped his career immensely down the road. Dumb choice, IMO

He was a true rebel who sought justice.

Pretty much got a clear view from the peak of the coolness pyramid. Shame about The Hunter though, kind of a dud to end his career with.

So long as he's straight, right?

McQueen was super competitive and that defined his relationship with Newman when they made The Towering Inferno. Both men were stars in demand and fought for first billing, number of lines, screen time, etc. The fact that they worked it out is all to the good.

Much of it goes back to Somebody Up There Likes Me, in which Newman had the lead and McQueen, just beginning, played a minor role. The jealousy was mostly from McQueen. Newman was probably more secure about himself. However, I don't remember reading about any open rancor on the set.

I've always believed The Cincinnati Kid was McQueen's consolation prize for losing (or turning down) The Hustler. I've seen both several times. The former is the better movie, but I own the latter, chiefly because of Edward G. Robinson's hypnotic performance. I understand his mere presence on the set rattled and intimidated McQueen (not an easy thing for anyone to do at that stage of McQueen's career).

Dustin Hoffman, who co-starred with McQueen in Papillion, was once quoted as saying that he (Hoffman) was doing all these actor tricks while McQueen just sat there and soaked up all the atmosphere. That is genuine star power.

McQueen wasn't above stealing moments, himself, which he did to Yul Brenner in one scene in The Magnificent Seven. When Brenner saw it, he went ballistic.

Of all McQueen's films, however, I still have a soft spot for the loopy delight, The Blob, which I saw in '58 in a drive-in. McQueen and Aneta Corseaut were two of the oldest teenagers, ever. He is accused of aping James Dean in that movie, and there may be some truth to it. As for Corseaut, she wasn't beautiful in the general sense, but I fell in love with those large liquid eyes. The impression remains today when I watch the movie.

My favourite of his films is Bullitt.

I really like Hunger and Three years a slave ;).
Sorry bad joke, Mcqueen is the epitome of coolness. I adore The Magnificent Seven, and The Great escape.

Sam Peckinpah's road / rodeo movie junior bonner (1972) is McQueen's unsung film, and features his most natural and understated performance. I think it's his best role.

A list
papillon
bullitt
junior bonner

very good..
the cincinnati kid
love with a proper stranger
the getaway
the magnificent seven
the great escape

good..
the thomas crown affair
the sand pebbles
hell is for heroes
somebody up there likes me

ok..
le mans
the reivers
nevada smith
baby the rain must fall
the towering inferno

pass..
tom horn
the war lover
never so few
an enemy of the people
the hunter
the blob

Good guy.