Ultimate Behind-the-Scene Look At Steve McQueen, King Of Cool

Reform School and the Marines Saved Him

Just as his time at the Boy’s Republic set him on a path that took him away from a life of crime, his three years in the Marines eventually led him to a life of acting. He was still rebellious, evidenced by his demotion to Private seven times, but he also was a hero.

He rescued five Marines during an Arctic Excursion and was even assigned as an honor guard on President Truman’s yacht. Like most of the other jobs in his life, his stint as a Marine was short-lived, and he was honorably discharged in 1950. Just two years later, he would delve into the world of the acting, as he studied acting at Sanford Meisner’s Neighborhood Playhouse.