William Zabka Pays Tribute toKarate KidCastmate Chad McQueen: 'He Was the Baddest of the OG Cobras'

Mar. 15, 2025

William Zabka and Chad McQueen.Photo:GETTY (2)

GETTY (2)

William Zabkais paying tribute to hisKarate Kidcastmate,Chad McQueen.

McQueen’s family announced his deathon Thursday, Sept. 12, confirming that the actor and race car driverdied Wednesday, Sept. 11, in Palm Springs. He was 63.

Zabka, 58, posted histributeto the late actor on Friday, Sept. 13. He included photos of McQueen as Dutch in 1984’sThe Karate Kidand 1986’sThe Karate Kid Part II.Zabka also included photos of the cast behind the scenes.

In one sweet image, castmembers McQueen, Zabka,Rob Garrison, Ron Thomas and Tony O’Dell posed in their costumes. Another photo shows the five actors withPat Morita(who played Mr. Miyagi) enjoying ice cream with one another.

Chad McQueen on May 24, 2005 in Los Angeles, California.Michael Buckner/Getty

Michael Buckner/Getty

“Sadly, we lost the legendary Chad McQueen yesterday. I have so many great memories of him when we were filming the ‘Karate Kid,’” Zabka began. “He was truly one of [a] kind. He marched to the beat of his own drum and always made me laugh.”

Zabka said McQueen would arrive to theKarate Kidset “in his silver Porsche, music blasting,” and Zabka would roll “in [his] badass Honda Accord.”

“He was the baddest of the OG Cobras in the most fun and entertaining way,” he wrote.

“I’m so thankful I had the chance to reconnect with him over the past few years,” he noted.

Zabka and McQueen’s costar Ron Thomas commented on Zabka’s post: “❤️. The brotherhood we share. The memories. The stories— like the one with a certain sock 😆. R.I.P. brother Chad. 🙏.”

Thomas also penneda tribute to McQueen.

“I’m incredibly saddened to hear about Chad’s passing. He embodied the spirit of Dutch. He was a true ‘Wild Child,’ but with a heart of gold and so much fun to be around,” Thomas wrote in his Sept. 12 Instagram post. “We could always count on Chad to liven it up on those long shoot days if things got too boring. So many fond memories. So many stories. My deepest condolences to his entire family. 🙏.”

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The late actor was the son of Hollywood iconSteve McQueen. He followed in his father’s footsteps and worked as both an actor and a race car driver. He starred inDeath Ring,Firepower,andRed Linebefore leaving the movie industry to pursue sports car racing starting in the 1990s. He made one final appearance in 2001’sFall: The Price of Silence.

source: people.com