Years after his death, Steve McQueen is still the King of Cool. In the late 70’s, he bought a vintage bi-plane and hired an experienced pilot named Sammy Mason to train him to fly it. Mason was a devout Christian and the Holy Spirit used him to lead Steve and his wife Barbara to Christ. They began attending church with Mason.
By September, 1980, Steve was battling advanced cancer. Grady Ragsdale, McQueen’s ranch manager, contacted Billy Graham. “Steve really wants to talk to you,” he said, “he’s in a bad way.” The next day, Billy met with Steve. Billy said he looked “all wrinkled and shrunk, but his eyes sparkled above the oxygen mask he was using.” McQueen sat up in the bed and greeted Graham warmly, telling him of his spiritual experience. About 3 months before he knew he was ill, he accepted Christ as his savior and started reading his Bible and praying. He had undergone a total transformation of his life. Billy read Romans 8 from his Bible, the two men prayed and visited and Steve asked numerous questions. Billy gave him his Bible.
Steve then left on a private jet to Mexico for a last-hope surgery not available in the U.S. The next morning his heart failed and the actor made his ultimate “great escape” into the presence of Jesus. Billy’s well-marked Bible was resting on his chest.
Steve’s wife said that being born again in Christ helped him find the inner peace that eluded him so long.