Awards and nominations followed every movie Steve McQueen made during the peak of his career. He was the Midas of films from 1960 to 1973, collecting nine awards and 12 nominations for unforgettable roles.
In 1967, McQueen was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a leading role for his critically acclaimed portrayal of a naval machinist in the epic film “Sand Pebbles.” The prized nomination was the first and last time McQueen received a nod from the Academy.
McQueen was recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association with multiple Golden Globes nominations for Best Actor from 1964 to 1974. The nominations recognized McQueen’s performances in “Love with the Proper Stranger,” “The Reivers,” “Sand Pebbles,” and “Papillon.”
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Roles that McQueen turned down appear to have cost him more potential awards and critical acclaim. For reasons ranging from timing to failed negotiations for salary, McQueen rejected,
according to NotStarring.com, leading roles in some of the best films of the 1960s and 1970s: “Apocalypse Now,” Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Dirty Harry,” “The French Connection” and ensemble roles in “Jaws” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
The industry’s recognition of McQueen’s acting performances ended in 1973 with “Papillon” co-starring Dustin Hoffman. His later films received little critical praise,
according to Biography.com, including his role in the box office smash, but critical failure: “The Towering Inferno,” made in 1974.
McQueen’s health began to decline in the late 1970s. He was diagnosed with lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure in 1979, and died a year later at age 50.
Posthumously, McQueen received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and the Jules Verne Legendaire Award in 2010.
Awards and recognition for McQueen, the man, continued after his death.
In 2012, McQueen was awarded the Warren Zevon “Keep Me in Your Heart” Memorial Tribute Award
by the Asbestos Awareness Association, in recognition of his battle against the devastating disease, mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
The iconic actor was also praised during his lifetime for his philanthropy, and simple but meaningful actions off-screen.
In 1971, Los Angeles Times columnist Joyce Haber wrote: “A few seasons ago, the owners of Four Oakes, a local restaurant, invited 50 black orphans for a free Thanksgiving Day dinner. They also invited several celebrities. McQueen arrived promptly on his cycle. He was the only star to show. I call that the act of a good man.”
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