Ali MacGraw traded her blossoming career for the love she found with Steve McQueen. She married him and hoped for everlasting happiness, a love story of her own.
Their union lasted five years, with each coming into the marriage with children from previous relationships, but they did not have any together.
Unfortunately, their love story unraveled, leaving Ali without a home or a penny from her marriage to McQueen.
Now 84, Ali is a grandmother who enjoys her millions.
Ali MacGraw always believed in love. She walked down the aisle three times – first with a Harvard student, then a Hollywood producer, and finally a movie star.
Aside from love, she was also an accomplished actress. Known for her versatile skills, she was someone who could embody both smooth strength and intense seriousness, much like actress Katharine Ross.
Ali was well-educated, having attended Rosemary Hall on a scholarship and later studying art history at Wellesley College.
However, it was her role in the 1970 film “Love Story” that catapulted her to fame, earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Interviewers always found her to be poised and intelligent. Her face adorned the covers of magazines like Time, Look, Harper’s Bazaar, and Paris Match. Critic Jayce Haber once dubbed her “the biggest female star since Marilyn Monroe.”
In the early 90s, Time Magazine highlighted her journey to success and wealth. Living in a Beverly Hills mansion, her career was thriving, and she was well-rooted in Hollywood. MacGraw herself acknowledged that her life was a modern fairy tale:
“I had it all. I had been in a blockbuster picture. I had style. I had an education. Taste. … I’d had a real-life — 15 years working in the real world. I hadn’t dreamed about being in the movies, and suddenly, I was the biggest thing walking.”
Sadly, her star began to fade with some negative reviews. After “The Getaway,” critic Pauline Kael harshly labeled her as “the worst actress in America.”
It was during this period that she met Steve McQueen, a man famous for his magnetism. Even his friend Garry Gibb noted that McQueen almost charmed away his wife, actress Linda Gray:
“One time we were at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, and Steve McQueen tried to take off with Linda on the back of his motorbike! She’s a very beautiful woman, and had just as many opportunities as me!”
Ali was captivated by McQueen, who exuded both charm and danger. She described their chemistry as instantaneous, yet acknowledged the risks:
“He was incredibly attractive most of the time but there was also danger, there was bad boy there.”
Their five-year marriage was a rollercoaster of joy and hardship.
MacGraw’s relationship with McQueen began on the first day of filming “The Getaway.” At the time, she was married to Robert Evans, a prominent producer with whom she had a son, Josh Evans.
After meeting McQueen, Ali divorced Evans and married McQueen. Her new husband was very possessive, and she ended up sacrificing her career for their marriage.
While Ali settled into the role of homemaker, McQueen’s career soared. By 1974, he was the highest-paid movie star in the world.
During their marriage, McQueen’s insecurity and controlling behavior became evident. As Ali put it, “When it was good it was very, very good, but when it was bad it was horrendous.”
Their troubles also affected their children. Aside from Josh, McQueen had two other kids, Chad and Terry, from a prior marriage. The family often found themselves in turbulent scenarios, with Chad sometimes dodging flying plates during heated arguments.
Despite her age, Ali has maintained her beauty. In 2008, she was named one of the sexiest women in film for her role in “The Getaway.”
Chad McQueen has said that despite his father’s aggressive behavior towards Ali, Steve was loving towards his children. He always wanted to ensure that Chad and Terry felt loved:
“If any good came out of him feeling so unwanted as a kid, it was that he always made sure me and my older sister, Terry, knew how much he loved us.”
However, McQueen’s jealousy stifled Ali’s acting opportunities. Her duty became to simply serve his needs. Sue Mengers, her agent, expressed frustration over this:
“I was really angry at her…It made me crazy. He was always very rude when I called, because it was a sign that I might have a job for her.”
After five years of being homemaker, Ali’s marriage to McQueen disintegrated. Mutual infidelity played a part, and Ali wanted to revive her acting career.
In 1977, she accepted a role in “Convoy” after her agent implored her. Sadly, when she returned home and informed McQueen, he demanded a divorce:
“In that case, we are filing for divorce.”
They divorced in 1978, and the prenuptial agreement left Ali penniless.
Reflecting on her third marriage, Ali described McQueen as deeply damaged with volatile mood swings:
“We both had work to do, but I know now that you don’t go into therapy to save your marriage; you do it to understand who you are.”
Ali regrets diminishing herself to please McQueen. She admitted that insecurity led her to alter her true self, attempting to be more desirable:
“…because he was the most desirable man on the planet, and I would think, I can’t possibly be desirable enough for this creature—every woman in the restaurant is looking at him!”
Despite the hard times, Ali cherished the beautiful moments they shared. Easter and the Fourth of July were special, filled with community potluck dinners. These peaceful and real experiences were incredible.
She also fondly recalled a dinner for McQueen’s film “The Towering Inferno” and one birthday where he left her motel room filled with daisies and white roses.
However, McQueen’s paranoia and possessiveness strained their relationship. He kept a suite at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel as a refuge after arguments, but would randomly show up at Ali’s borrowed apartment, convinced she was cheating.
Looking back, Ali realizes it was foolish to stop working at the height of her career without financial security. She barely had any assets:
“I’m much more famous than I am rich, but I’m able to scale back my lifestyle. I know a lot of people who were where I was who can’t imagine living any simpler, but I haven’t got a lot of expensive wants.”
Post-divorce, Ali embraced more acting roles in films like “Convoy,” “Players,” “The Winds of War,” and “Just Tell Me What You Want.”
Today, Ali leads a fulfilling and happy life. Her ex-husband, Steve McQueen, passed away from cancer three years after their divorce. She wishes they could have grown old and sober together.
Ali has been sober for over 30 years after battling alcoholism. She left the Hollywood buzz in 1994 and started anew in Santa Fe, New Mexico, diving into various ventures.
In 2018, she collaborated on a clothing line with Ibu, a fashion collective supporting female artists. Rewriting her past and fantasizing about the future has paid off for her:
“…now I believe in living fully to the very best of my ability. I feel blessed,” she shared.
Ali’s son, Josh Evans, is an actor and director known for movies like “The Doors,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” and “The Prince of Air.” Josh has been married twice, first to Charis Michelsen in 2003, and later to Rox Saint in 2012. He shares a son, Jackson, with Rox.
Thanks to Josh, Ali is a proud grandmother. She keeps a cherished photo of Josh and her grandson on her fridge. In the picture, their hands are covered in wet gray clay from a project – a square piece imprinted with the boy’s fingerprints and small palms. Ali finds the scene delightful, saying, “They were so covered in gunk.”
Another photo on Twitter shows Josh and his son relaxing on a sofa, engrossed in a TV screen – a picture of peace and connection.
Even at 84, Ali remains a beautiful icon. Her appearance at the Hearst Magazines’ Unbound Access MagFront in 2017 was stunning. Dressed in black, her outfit was accentuated with silver jewelry, demonstrating her enduring style.
Ali now spends much of her time giving back. She actively volunteers for numerous causes in Santa Fe, including the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market.
Despite her humble downsized lifestyle, Ali is worth millions, thanks in part to her yoga video, “Ali MacGraw: Yoga Mind and Body,” which became a bestseller.
She also worked with “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” and even designed a chic shoe line for baby boomers.
Ali’s life in Santa Fe is filled with meaningful projects. She’s not interested in easy money from sitcom guest spots; her focus is on smart, fulfilling endeavors.
