Steve McQueen was born March 24, 1930, in a suburb outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. His father was a stunt pilot for a barnstorming flying circus. Makes you wonder where Steve got his sense of adventure...

As a child he moved around a lot. He spent time in gangs and was caught doing some petty crimes. Trouble always seemed to find him, or maybe he successfully found trouble.

At 16 years old, while living in New York City, he met some Merchant Marine sailors. They must have made an impression on him, because he signed on to a ship headed for the Dominican Republic. Though he eventually abandoned his post and got a job in a brothel. Classic Steve.

After a few years drifting and working his way across North America, he was a Marine from 1947 to 1950. He credits the discipline of the marine corps with helping him to get his life in order. But this is Steve McQueen, so you can expect many twisty roads on the way to being straightened out, including some time in the brig.

After his time with the marines, Steve stayed in New York City to pursue acting. To earn money to support his new passion, he participated in motorcycle races at the Long Island City Raceway.

By 1960, Steve's acting career took off. He was a household name acting opposite Frank Sinatra in "Never So Few" and Charles Bronson in "The Magnificent Seven." In 1963 he rocketed to super stardom on the back of a 1962 Triumph TR6 650 Special in "The Great Escape."

The famous motorcycle jump in "The Great Escape" was actually performed by motorcycle racing legend Bud Ekins, who was McQueen’s good friend and stunt double. But Steve got all the credit, something he said he always regretted.

Steve started using the alias "Harvey Mushman" to sign up for races. Mostly so the Hollywood studios wouldn't find out about the danger he was putting himself in on the weekends.

The motorcycle racing documentary "On Any Sunday" is required viewing for anyone with a passion for motorcycles. Especially the segment about Steve McQueen as Harvey Mushman in the Elsinore Grand Prix.

Legend has it that Steve owned around 100 classic motorcycles and around 100 exotics and vintage cars — not to mention numerous planes.

He was also an avid race car driver. In 1961, he took third place in the British Touring Car Championship, driving a BMC Mini. He took second place in a Porsche in the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race in 1970 — driving with a broken left foot.