Terence Steven "Steve" McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7, 1980) was an American actor. Called "The King of Cool", his "
anti-hero" persona, developed at the height of the
counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw of the 1960s and 1970s. McQueen received an
Academy Award nomination for his role in
The Sand Pebbles. His other popular films include
The Cincinnati Kid,
The Thomas Crown Affair,
Bullitt,
The Getaway, and
Papillon, as well as the all-star ensemble films
The Magnificent Seven,
The Great Escape, and
The Towering Inferno. In 1974, he became the highest-paid movie star in the world, although he did not act in films again for four years. McQueen was combative with
directors and
producers, but his popularity placed him in high demand and enabled him to command large salaries.