On November 7, 1980, Steve McQueen — the massive movie star whose minimalist swagger earned him the nickname “The King of Cool” — died at the age of 50 following complications from cancer surgery. A countercultural icon who bridged old Hollywood and the rebellious New Hollywood era, McQueen embodied a new kind of leading man: taciturn, restless, and unmistakably modern. From his breakout role in The Magnificent Seven to era-defining performances in Bullitt, The Great Escape, and Papillon, McQueen reshaped action cinema with a raw physicality and anti-authoritarian edge that made him one of the biggest stars in the world.
Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman
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