The short answer
Steve McQueen, the 'King of Cool,' was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in late 1979, a cancer of the lung lining tied to asbestos exposure. He believed his exposure came from asbestos in the military, film, and racing settings. He died on November 7, 1980, at age 50.
Steve McQueen was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in December 1979, a cancer strongly linked to asbestos exposure.
He believed his asbestos exposure came from sources such as insulation aboard a Marine Corps ship and materials used in film and racing.
Mesothelioma often appears decades after asbestos exposure and is usually diagnosed at a late stage.
He pursued unconventional treatment in Mexico after being told the cancer was advanced.
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The full explanation.
Who he was
Steve McQueen was Hollywood's "King of Cool," the magnetic star of "Bullitt," "The Great Escape," and "The Getaway," and a genuine racing enthusiast who did many of his own stunts. At the height of his fame he seemed unstoppable. But in his late 40s he developed a cough and shortness of breath that turned out to be a rare and serious cancer tied to a hidden, decades-old danger: asbestos.
The diagnosis
McQueen began experiencing shortness of breath and a persistent cough, and in December 1979, a biopsy revealed pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining around the lungs. Mesothelioma is strongly linked to asbestos, a fibrous mineral once common in insulation and countless products. Because the disease typically develops decades after exposure and causes vague early symptoms, it is usually found at a late, hard-to-treat stage, as McQueen's was.
He reportedly believed his exposure came from several sources, most notably asbestos insulation he handled while serving in the Marine Corps, and possibly asbestos used in movie sound-stage insulation and in protective racing gear.
The story
Told by U.S. doctors that his cancer was advanced and could not be cured with standard treatment, McQueen sought unconventional therapies in Mexico. In late 1980 he underwent surgery there to remove tumors from his neck and abdomen, against the advice of some physicians who felt his body could not withstand it. He died of a heart attack in the early hours of November 7, 1980, at age 50, hours after the operation. His death drew wide attention to mesothelioma and to the dangers of asbestos.
What his story teaches
McQueen's illness is one of the most famous examples of the link between asbestos and cancer. Breathing in asbestos fibers can, years or decades later, cause mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining around the lungs and other organs. The long delay between exposure and disease is why people who worked with asbestos, or served on older ships or in older buildings, may face risk long after the exposure itself.
His experience also shows how quietly mesothelioma can begin. Early symptoms like breathlessness and a nagging cough can be mistaken for less serious problems, and the cancer is often advanced by the time it is found. Finally, McQueen's turn to unproven treatments abroad is a gentle caution: when facing a frightening diagnosis, it is worth weighing experimental options carefully with a trusted medical team, since not all promised therapies are safe or effective. If you know you were exposed to asbestos, telling your doctor can help put any future symptoms in context.
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The bottom line
Steve McQueen died in 1980 of pleural mesothelioma, an asbestos-linked cancer that surfaced decades after his exposure and was found only when it was already advanced. His story is a lasting reminder of how dangerous asbestos can be, how slowly mesothelioma reveals itself, and how important it is to approach unproven treatments with care.
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Common questions
▸What kind of cancer did Steve McQueen have?
Steve McQueen had pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining around the lungs. It is strongly associated with exposure to asbestos, a mineral fiber once widely used in insulation and other materials.
▸How did he get it?
McQueen reportedly believed his mesothelioma came from asbestos exposure, and he suspected several sources, including asbestos insulation he handled while serving in the Marine Corps, as well as asbestos used in film sound-stage insulation and in racing gear. Exact sources can be hard to prove.
▸Why was it found so late?
Mesothelioma often develops decades after asbestos exposure and causes vague early symptoms like shortness of breath and a persistent cough. By the time McQueen was diagnosed in late 1979, the cancer was advanced and considered incurable.
▸What treatment did he try?
After U.S. doctors told him the cancer was advanced, McQueen traveled to Mexico for unconventional treatments. He later underwent surgery there to remove tumors and died of a heart attack shortly afterward, in November 1980.
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