She Gave Up Hollywood Stardom For Love
Ali MacGraw became a Hollywood sensation in Love Story, but her real-life romance with Steve McQueen was far more complicated. Their passionate affair ended her marriage, and she soon gave up her flourishing acting career to be with him. But their glamorous romance concealed bitter jealousy, explosive fights, and a financial decision she would deeply regret.
How did one of Hollywood's biggest stars end up divorced, without a financial settlement, and struggling to revive her career?
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She Grew Up In A Troubled Household
Born in 1939 in Pound Ridge, New York, MacGraw was raised by two artists who struggled financially. Her father had a difficult temper, and she later recalled witnessing his harsh treatment of her younger brother. Determined to avoid conflict, she became obsessed with being the perfect daughter.
Her First Career Was In Fashion
After graduating from Wellesley College in 1960, MacGraw moved to New York and landed a job at Harper's Bazaar. She worked for legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland before becoming an assistant to photographer Melvin Sokolsky. Her demanding work behind the camera introduced her to New York's glamorous fashion world.
A Modeling Job Changed Everything
MacGraw's big break came when she agreed to model for a Chanel advertising shoot in Puerto Rico. The resulting photographs caught the attention of an agent who encouraged her to try acting. Despite having little experience, she landed a small role in the 1968 film A Lovely Way To Die.
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Her First Major Film Was A Hit
In 1969, MacGraw starred opposite Richard Benjamin in Goodbye, Columbus. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer and made Hollywood take notice. But her next film would turn her into an international sensation.
Screenshot from Goodbye, Columbus, Paramount Pictures (1969), Enhanced
She Fell In Love With A Movie Script
MacGraw became captivated by Love Story, a romantic screenplay written by Erich Segal. She helped bring it to Paramount executive Robert Evans, who agreed to back the project. Evans was also falling for MacGraw, and they married in October 1969.
Love Story Made Her A Superstar
Released in December 1970, Love Story featured MacGraw as Jenny Cavilleri, a working-class Radcliffe student who falls for wealthy Harvard student Oliver Barrett, played by Ryan O'Neal. Their heartbreaking romance became a box office phenomenon. Almost overnight, MacGraw was one of Hollywood's most recognizable actresses.
Screenshot from Love Story, Paramount Pictures (1970)
Hollywood Couldn't Get Enough Of Her
Love Story received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for MacGraw. She won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama and became a major fashion icon. Her distinctive style inspired countless women, while her sudden fame made her one of the industry's most sought-after stars.
She Seemed To Have Everything
By early 1971, MacGraw was married to a powerful Hollywood executive and had welcomed their son, Joshua. Evans was helping shape Paramount's future while his wife enjoyed extraordinary success. Their glamorous marriage appeared almost perfect, but another movie would soon tear it apart.
Her Next Film Came With A Warning
MacGraw was offered a role opposite Steve McQueen in the 1972 crime thriller The Getaway. Evans encouraged her to accept, believing the part would expand her range beyond romantic dramas. MacGraw initially hesitated because she didn't want to leave her young son, but McQueen had already made quite an impression on her.
Screenshot from The Getaway, National General Pictures (1972)
She Was Instantly Attracted To Steve McQueen
MacGraw later recalled being captivated by McQueen after seeing his 1968 film Bullitt. When they met to discuss The Getaway in 1971, she was immediately struck by his extraordinary blue eyes. She described the attraction as an overwhelming, almost electric experience. Afterward, she reportedly telephoned her former boss Melvin Sokolsky and admitted she was in trouble.
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Their Onscreen Chemistry Became A Real Affair
MacGraw and McQueen began an affair while filming The Getaway in Texas. Their attraction was obvious to people working on the production, even though MacGraw was still married to Evans. The relationship became so intense that it soon threatened everything she had built.
Their Relationship Was Already Explosive
Before marrying, MacGraw and McQueen rented separate cottages in Los Angeles, divided by an empty field. Their relationship was already turbulent, and the separate homes gave them somewhere to retreat after heated arguments. But they rarely stayed apart for long, often crossing the field to reunite when their anger faded.
Her Marriage To Evans Collapsed
MacGraw initially struggled with guilt over leaving Evans, and she briefly tried to save their marriage. But her feelings for McQueen proved too powerful, and she eventually chose the actor. Her divorce from Evans was finalized in June 1973, ending one of Hollywood's most prominent marriages.
The Getaway Became Another Hit
Released in December 1972, The Getaway starred McQueen and MacGraw as a criminal couple caught in a dangerous series of betrayals. Directed by Sam Peckinpah, the thriller became a commercial success. But the film's biggest lasting consequence was the real-life relationship between its two stars.
Screenshot from The Getaway, National General Pictures (1972)
Their Wedding Was Surprisingly Simple
On July 12, 1973, MacGraw and McQueen married in a public park in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Their children attended the intimate ceremony, with MacGraw and McQueen's daughter Terry wearing matching plaid skirts. The modest wedding reflected the uncomplicated family life McQueen wanted.
She Signed Away A Fortune
At McQueen's insistence, MacGraw signed an agreement waiving any claim to his money if they divorced. She later explained that she considered the decision a romantic demonstration of trust and commitment. She also acknowledged deeply regretting the agreement, particularly because of its implications for her son.
Steve Wanted Her To Stop Acting
Despite marrying one of Hollywood's biggest actresses, McQueen wanted a traditional family life. MacGraw later explained that he expected her to stay home and care for the children rather than pursue movie roles. Hoping to make their marriage work, she largely abandoned her acting career at the height of her popularity.
Her Agent Was Furious
MacGraw's decision frustrated her powerful Hollywood agent, Sue Mengers, who believed audiences still wanted to see her client onscreen. According to Mengers, McQueen was often rude when she called about potential work. Every year MacGraw spent away from Hollywood made rebuilding her career more difficult.
Their Marriage Had Wonderful Moments
Despite their growing problems, MacGraw remembered genuinely happy times with McQueen. They enjoyed family gatherings, neighborhood celebrations, and quiet evenings away from Hollywood. On one birthday trip, McQueen filled her motel room with hundreds of daisies and white roses, revealing the tenderness that had made her fall in love.
She Hid Who She Really Was
MacGraw later admitted that she had pretended to share McQueen's love of rugged, uncomplicated living. Although she enjoyed riding motorcycles with him, she also longed for art, culture, and trips to Paris. Afraid of losing him, she suppressed those desires and gradually became unhappy with the life she had chosen.
His Jealousy Reached A Breaking Point
McQueen's possessiveness became increasingly difficult, according to MacGraw's later accounts. When she traveled to New York for a photography session, he unexpectedly arrived because he suspected she was having an affair. She later recalled spending that night on a bathroom floor while he occupied the apartment's only bed.
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His Own Affairs Made Matters Worse
MacGraw also revealed that McQueen had relationships with other women during their marriage. She recalled that he maintained a suite at the Beverly Wilshire hotel where he sometimes went after their arguments. His suspected infidelity and persistent accusations against her created a painful double standard.
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One Argument Finally Ended Everything
In 1977, MacGraw returned to acting with Convoy, her first film in several years. After filming, she and McQueen traveled to Montana, where she briefly felt their romance rekindling. But when she spoke Italian with another guest at dinner, McQueen accused her of flirting. According to MacGraw, the argument continued during their drive home, convincing her that their marriage was beyond repair.
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Their Divorce Came At A Heavy Price
MacGraw and McQueen separated in 1977, and their divorce was finalized in August 1978. Because of the agreement she had signed before their wedding, she received no financial settlement from him. After years away from acting, she now faced the challenge of rebuilding her career without the security she might otherwise have expected.
Hollywood Had Moved On
Convoy reached theaters in June 1978, followed by Players in 1979 and Just Tell Me What You Want in 1980. MacGraw also appeared in the television miniseries The Winds Of War in 1983 and joined Dynasty in 1985. Although she continued finding work, she never recovered the extraordinary stardom she had enjoyed before marrying McQueen.
Screenshot from Dynasty, ABC (1985), Enhanced
Then Steve McQueen Died
On November 7, 1980, McQueen died of cancer at just 50 years old. Although their marriage had ended, MacGraw never forgot the man who had transformed her life. She would later reflect on their romance with a complicated mixture of affection, sadness, and regret.
She Faced Another Personal Crisis
MacGraw struggled with drinking and difficult relationships in the years following her divorce. In 1986, she entered the Betty Ford Center under an assumed name after reaching an emotional low point. She later credited treatment with helping her confront longstanding insecurities and begin rebuilding her life.
Losing Her Home Changed Her Life
In 1991, MacGraw published her candid autobiography, Moving Pictures, reflecting on fame, marriage, and personal struggles. Two years later, a devastating wildfire destroyed her Malibu home and many treasured possessions. The loss helped persuade her to make a permanent break from Hollywood and embrace life in New Mexico.
She Finally Found Peace Beyond Hollywood
MacGraw settled near Santa Fe, dedicating herself to yoga, community work, and a quieter lifestyle. In 2015, she reunited with Ryan O'Neal for a stage production of Love Letters, delighting audiences who still remembered their iconic romance. Although her marriage to McQueen had cost her dearly, MacGraw eventually found fulfillment far from the career she once sacrificed. Her remarkable story became a reminder that even Hollywood's greatest romances don't always have happy endings.
