Classic Celebrity Auto Racers
The thrill, adrenaline rush, speed, challenge, and escape of auto racing has been a seductive lure of a ‘real life experience’ for many movie stars and celebrities. Below are some of the best know classic actor race car drivers. Today there are dozens of American and European actors in the auto racing world.
Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen (1930-1980) was the most popular and the top box office draw actor in the 1960s and 1970s. An A-list actor of film and TV westerns, film noir thrillers, drama, romance, and action. He was also a celebrated auto and motorcycle racer. McQueen was called the “King of Cool” and was the highest paid actor in the world. He is known for the Wanted Dead or Alive TV show and films Le Mans, The Magnificent Seven, Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair, Sand Pebbles, Getaway The Great Escape, and others.
McQueen raced in numerous auto races and was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He came in second at the 1970 12 Hours Sebring and third in the British Touring Car Championship. He raced at Le Mans, Sebring, Baja 1000, Mint 400, Elsinore Grand Prix, and others.
James Garner
James Garner (1928-2014) played leading roles in over 50 films. He is known for his roles in the TV shows Maverick and Rockford Files. He had an Oscar nomination and won 3 Golden Globes and 2 Emmys.
Garner raced in the 1960s and 1970s. He also owned a professional racing team that competed at Le Mans, Daytona, Sebring, Baha 500, Indy 500, and many others.
Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper (1922-2011) was an Oscar nominated actor and director in film and TV. He is famous for being a child actor and then in adult roles. Known for The People’s Choice TV show, Hennessey TV show, and Superman films.
Cooper raced in Sports Car Club of America-SCCA races at Bonneville competing at all levels. He set a record in D class racing.
James Dean
James Dean (1931-1955) is the original celebrity auto racer. Popular culture icon and Oscar winning actor James Dean, known for his films Rebel Without a Cause, Giant, and East of Eden. His career was cut short at the age of 24 when he died in a car crash.
Dean owned several cars and motorcycles. He placed first in class at the Palm Springs Road Race and first in class at Bakerfield. He was scheduled to race Salinas and the Indy 500.
Paul Newman
Super hip and cool Paul Newman was one of the greatest actors of all time. He was awarded an Oscar, BAFTA, Emmy, and 3 Golden Globes. He is known for The Hustler, The Sting, Harper, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and many other films.
Newman was a serious auto racer who was inducted into the Motor Sports Hall of Fame and the Sports Car Club of America Hall of Fame. He co-owned an Indy Car racing team which won 10 races and 8 championships.
Gene Hackman
Famed actor Gene Hackman is a champion auto racer. Gene Hackman (b.1930) is an actor of film, TV, and stage who has been awarded 2 Oscars, 2 BAFTA, and 4 Golden Globes. He is known for many successful films, including The French Connection, Bonnie and Clyde, Unforgiven, Mississippi Burning, The Royal Tenenbaums, and others.
Hackman did his own auto racing stunts in The French Connection movie. He competed in SCCA races for decades and raced at Daytona, Sebring, and won the Long Beach Grand Prix.
Walter Cronkite
Celebrated TV newsman Walter Cronkite (1916-2009) was an avid race car driver. He was a radio and TV journalist from 1937 to 1981, covering major historical events. He was the anchorman for the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981.
He auto raced in the 1940s and 1950s, including races at Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, Bridgehampton, and Sebring. After auto racing he switched to sailboat racing.
References
IMDB
People
Zero to 60
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