ACTOR STEVE McQUEEN'S ASBESTOS HISTORY
Mesothelioma victim Steve McQueen’s California ranch listed at $1.95M

Actor Steve McQueen died of a heart attack in 1980 following surgery for asbestos-related mesothelioma cancer. He was 50. McQueen’s fatal exposure to asbestos could have occurred during his military service in the Navy (before he began his acting career), or in pursuit of his off-screen passion for race cars and motorcycles. Automotive asbestos exposure was common during his heyday, before asbestos regulations were enacted.

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MESOTHELIOMA IN THE NEWS

October 23, 2009 – A Santa Paula, Calif., ranch once owned by the late actor Steve McQueen and his third wife, Barbara Minty, has come on the market for $1.95 million.

The couple moved to the 15.3-acre Ventura County ranch in 1979 and were married in the home’s living room in January 1980, shortly before his death from asbestos-related mesothelioma cancer.

The 1892 Victorian-style house has antique stained-glass windows, mountain views and a ranch that includes several acres of vineyards and fruit trees, an equestrian facility and a 4,500-square-foot hangar where McQueen kept his car and motorcycle collection, which eventually included about 130 bikes.

Steve McQueen’s California – No. 1 state for mesothelioma

California and Los Angeles have the highest rates of asbestos-related mortalities of any state or city in the nation, according to a study by the EWG Action Fund, a non-profit environmental research group based in Washington, D.C.

California has 12 counties on the government’s list of the Top 100 U.S. Counties recording deaths due to asbestos – a statistic of great concern to any state, and matched only by Florida and New Jersey.

Steve McQueen’s mesothelioma history

In addition to his stint in the Navy, the actor’s passion for race cars and motorcycles could also have contributed to the asbestos exposure that finally killed the Hollywood legend.

Wearing frayed fire-proof asbestos racing uniforms inside airtight cockpits may have contributed to the inhalation of asbestos fibers. So may have working around automobile and motorcycle engines and brakes, known to abundantly utilize asbestos materials to reduce heat and friction.

This double-barreled asbestos exposure – Naval service and race car activities – undoubtedly contributed to his death at the age of 50, relatively early for a mesothelioma victim. Mesothelioma has a long latency period and usually claims the lives of older men.

The workplace dangers of asbestos

Industries that place workers at a great risk for asbestos exposure are the automobile, construction, electrical, power plant and shipyard industries.

Government sources estimate that in the next decade more than 35,000 people nationwide will be diagnosed with the deadliest form of asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma.

Time to seek justice

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and seek a free case review, please notify us through the communication form on this page. We will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you pay for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.

Please know, the firm works on a contingency basis so there is no cost to you until we obtain a verdict or negotiate a settlement in your favor.