Who Was Chad McQueen in ‘The Karate Kid’? ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6 Dedicates Episode to Late Actor

The first episode of Cobra Kai season 6 part 2 was dedicated to Chad McQueen, an original cast member of The Karate Kid who died in September 2024. The touching dedication card at the end of the premiere, which featured a photo of Chad in the 1984 film and the phrase “Cobra Kai never dies,” left many fans wanting to learn more about the late actor.

Who Was Chad McQueen?

Chad, whose full name was Chadwick Steven McQueen, was an actor, film producer, martial artist and race car driver. He was also the son of actor Steve McQueen, who died in 1980.

After launching his acting career with the Karate Kid movies, Chad took on roles in films like Martial Law, Death Ring, Red Line and more. His final acting role was in 2001’s Fall: The Price of Silence. In addition to his work in front of the camera, Chad produced several projects, including the 2001 documentary Filming at Speed, which earned him a Telly Award.

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Following his retirement from acting, Chad moved on to a pro racing career with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). He comPeted in multiple different types of racing, including Motocross and the Baja 1000.

Unfortunately, Chad’s days as a racer were cut short when he was severely injured with a broken lower left leg, two fractures to his vertebrae and multiple rib fractures in an accident at the Daytona International Speedway in January 2006. He announced in 2007 that he hoped to become a team owner. Chad later launched McQueen Racing, LLC, a company dedicated to developing custom cars, motorcycles and accessories, in 2010.

Who Did Chad McQueen Play in ‘The Karate Kid’?

Fans of The Karate Kid may remember Chad as Dutch, a student of John Kreese’s Cobra Kai dojo and a friend of Johnny Lawrence’s (William Zabka). Dutch helped Johnny beat up Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) multiple times as a kid. Chad reprised his role in The Karate Kid Part II.

Though Dutch has not made any appearances in Cobra Kai, Johnny has spoken fondly about his old friend several times and revealed in season 6 that he was serving time in prison.

After Chad’s death, Cobra Kai cocreator Jon Hurwitz revealed that he and cocreators Josh Heald and Hayden Schlossberg “always wanted” to have the actor on the Netflix series.

“And it almost happened a couple of times,” Jon wrote on X. “Chad was torn. His racing injuries limited his capabilities, but he loved the idea of playing again with his pal, @william_zabka. They had so much fun together while making Karate Kid.”

Jon continued, “Before Season 6, word got to us that Chad had decided he was ready to join the party. Josh, Hayden, and I drove out to his ranch to meet him in person for the very first time. He and his family greeted us warmly. He was as unique and hilarious as we’d heard from Billy all these years. He took us on a tour of his property and showed us some of the most incredible film and racing memorabilia we’d ever seen in person. The love and respect he had for his father’s work was beautiful to witness.”

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The screenwriter added that they planned to “make Dutch’s return special.”

“We wrote a scene for him much later in the season. Dutch was still badass. The scene had pathos. It would have blown young Jon, Josh, and Hayden’s minds. Unfortunately, Chad was unable to join us when it came time to shoot,” Jon wrote. “At the end of the day, it wasn’t meant to be. But Dutch will always be remembered as a badass’ badass in the Miyagiverse. He kicked ass. He hated ‘Danielle.’ And he loved riding bikes with his boys.”

How Did Chad McQueen Die?

Chad died from organ failure at his Palm Desert, California, ranch at 63 years old on September 11, 2024. Arthur Barens, his friend of 40 years, told The Hollywood Reporter that the actor had been injured in a fall in 2020 and never fully recovered.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen,” his children, Chase and Madison, wrote on Instagram. “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.”