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Steve McQueen: King of Cool

  • 20 Sep — 27 Oct 12

Photographs by John Dominis

In the spring of 1963, actor Steve McQueen was on the brink of superstardom, already popular from his big-screen breakout as one of The Magnificent Seven and just a couple of months away from international acclaim with the release of The Great Escape.

Intrigued by his dramatic back-story and his off-screen exploits — McQueen was a reformed delinquent from a very poor family who got his thrills racing cars and motorcycles — LIFE magazine sent the great photographer John Dominis to California to hang out with the 33-year-old actor in his Palm Springs home.  

Three weeks and more than 40 rolls of film later, Dominis had captured some astonishingly intimate and now iconic images of McQueen and his then wife, Neile Adams — photos impossible to imagine in today’s restricted-access celebrity culture. Dominis followed McQueen through every action of daily life during their time together; the photographs that resulted lend insight into the life of an icon and reflect both his on-screen and off-screen personae – anti-hero, non-conformist, rebel, ladies-man and suddenly the hottest star in Hollywood.   

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen after motorcycle race, Mojave Desert, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
16 x 20 in.

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen aiming pistol in the desert, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
16 x 20 in.

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen aims a pistol in his living room, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print

Request print details

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen and his wife, Neile Adams, at home, Hollywood, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print

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John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen and his wife, Neile Adams, in sulphur bath, Big Sur, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
16 x 20 in.

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen and his wife, Neile Adams, in target practice, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
16 x 20 in.

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen and his wife, Neile Adams, laying on chair, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
11 x 14 in.

John Dominis
AG_Exhibition_John-Dominis_8
John Dominis

Steve McQueen and his wife, Neile Adams, in sulphur bath, Big Sur, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print

Request print details

John Dominis
AG_Exhibition_John-Dominis_9
John Dominis

Steve McQueen in black Jaguar at studio, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print

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John Dominis
AG_Exhibition_John-Dominis_10
John Dominis

Steve McQueen laughing, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
11 x 14 in.

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen lifting weights in his home, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
16 x 20 in.

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen sleeping in the back of his pick up truck, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
20 x 24 in.

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen smoking while talking on the phone, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print

Request print details

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen swinging from rope in his gym, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
16 x 20 in.

John Dominis
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John Dominis

Steve McQueen with wife Neile on motorbike, CA, 1963
Gelatin silver print
11 x 14 in.

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