Today Steve McQueen would have been eighty years old, had he not departed this earth so soon on November 7th, 1980. In tribute to this mesmerizing actor and unique individual, actress Lee Purcell granted an in-depth interview of her time spent with McQueen.
McQueen launched Purcell's career in Adam At 6 A.M., a 1970 coming-of-age drama he produced, also starring a fresh-faced Michael Douglas. It rarely comes on television, with no dvd available, but folks can check it out via YouTube.
If you missed Part One of this interview and wish to catch up, go here. If not, then keep reading to learn why McQueen is so missed by the celebrated, Emmy-nominated, actress Lee Purcell.
Was McQueen often on the set of ADAM AT 6 A.M.?
No, that’s what producers, directors, and assistant directors are for! We were shooting in Missouri, and he was in California. The dailies (the footage of what was shot each day) were shipped back to Solar (McQueen's production company) every day, so he could see what was shot, and we would all get his comments and what adjustments he wanted.
What was McQueen like during your conversations with him? Was he similar to his film persona?
I was not very familiar with his film persona, as I didn’t see a lot of movies growing up, and Steve was of my parents’ generation. Steve would be 80 now, if he had lived, the same as my parents. Hard to believe!
I have seen many of his films since, and my memory of him is very different from the roles he so brilliantly played. He was very kind to me and very helpful.
He knew I knew nothing from nothing, so he wanted to help me live through the publicity fire-storm that was coming as a result of his having cast me personally. And, it was a firestorm!
- Fast Cars, Kindred Spirits
He also liked me because I rode motorcycles and liked fast cars. We had a lot in common. I think we recognized each other as kindred souls, and he always said I was a rebel like him.
He told me a few things about his background, no big secrets or anything, but enough to let me know that we both followed a similar path in life, even though from outward appearances it probably seemed to some that I’d had a cushy time of it. He knew differently about me and even talked to the press about how much like him I was.
- McQueen: Like a Laser Beam
He was far more inquisitive about other people than anyone I had ever met. His curiosity about other people enhanced his natural talent and made him a great actor. He was so gifted in so many different areas.
One of Steve’s great gifts was his ability to focus on what was in front of him. When you were in a room together, you felt as if you were in a different universe just with him. He had the ability to focus like a laser beam, and not be distracted by anything else, and I'd never met anyone like that before.
You never got the feeling that you were pestering him or that you made him feel rushed, or that he would rather spend that time with someone more important than you.
You just felt like all of his attention was on you, and therefore, all of your attention was on him. It made for some very deep and meaningful conversations and life lessons. Even today, those lessons reverberate for me.
Could you elaborate on this “publicity fire-storm” a bit more? How did it affect you?
Eventually, the big day arrived for his introduction of me to the press. It was a huge press conference held in the beautiful Solar offices, very glamorous, very intimidating.
It was a special introduction to the media by Steve McQueen to say, “I have discovered this young lady, and I want you to meet her.” He tried to warn me what I was in for; he chose my outfit, he decided how my hair would be done, and he tried to prepare me for what was in store, but no one really can.
You just can’t know what it’s going to be like unless you've grown up in the spotlight, and I certainly hadn’t. I had never been exposed to that type of scrutiny and frenzy before.
All the print and television media were there as well as Rona Barrett, who was the gossip maven of that era. If she was where you were, it meant that you were very, very important in “The Industry.” She was very kind to me.
- A Mob of People, Blinding Lights
Steve’s introduction of me to the press received international coverage. Before we entered the press conference, Steve spoke to me alone in a private room, and said, “The press will be here, and this is what they're going to ask you, and here's how you should respond. Keep your cool, and be friendly no matter what they say.”
Then we walked out arm in arm into a mob of people and blinding lights. Walking into that room was like walking into July 4th fireworks. I was overwhelmed, because I couldn't see anything for a moment due to the camera flashes and TV lights. But Steve was holding my hand, so I managed to appear calm.
There seemed to be hundreds of people in the room. I don’t know how many people were actually there, but it was certainly more people than I’d ever been questioned by in my life.
When he said there'd be a lot of people there, I had no idea of the magnitude. I thought maybe ten people...who would come out to see me, right? But, they were very curious about me, as Steve had never introduced a young actress to the press before, or after that, as his personal choice for a film of his.
- "Lee Seemed To Jump Out Of The Screen"
Steve introduced me to the media crowd and spoke about Adam At 6 A.M. and my role in it. He told the media, “My partners and I interviewed close to 500 girls for the lead in this picture. It wasn't easy. We kept narrowing down the field over a period of a few weeks until it came time to give screen tests to six of them."
"All of them were good, but Lee seemed to jump out of the screen. There's no way to explain it, but Lee has soul, and it comes through loud and clear. I think this girl and the picture are both going to be hits.” What an introduction! I was stunned.
- McQueen: A Master At Handling The Media
The press asked many questions about the film, my role, how I got the job, but also some rude questions about my relationship with Steve, which he quickly stepped in and squelched. They only asked me polite questions after that! He was very protective of me.
He really knew how to handle the press. He may have not liked them, but he understood they came with the territory of being a movie star, and he had learned exactly how to deal with it.
We posed for pictures, which are the publicity stills you see today. My favorite picture from that photo session is where we're standing, laughing, and pointing at each other. To me, that photo personifies our relationship and brings back so many warm memories
Did you run into McQueen again after the movie wrapped?
There was a lot more to the experience than just all that led up to the film and the filming itself. So, of course, I saw him after the film wrapped. There was post-production, the very long publicity tour Solar sent Michael and me on all over the country, screenings, and finally, the film’s release.
Steve gave me a beautiful gift after he saw the final cut of the film and a lovely note complimenting my performance. Things changed for both of us radically after that, as I moved to Europe, and he was involved in huge upheavals in his life.
Have you watched Adam At 6 A.M. since its premiere in September 1970?
I haven’t seen the movie since the film’s release, as I don’t watch my own work after the first (and usually the only) time I’ve seen it. It’s not that I don’t like my own work, but once I’ve done the work and seen it once, if at all, it has no further interest for me.
I wouldn’t enjoy sitting in the dark watching my old films, far too Sunset Boulevard/Norma Desmond-ish for me! I prefer looking forward, not back. This interview and the one in Marshall Terrill’s new biography on Steve are the only ones I’ve ever done on the subject of McQueen.
Do you remember where you were when Steve passed? Did you know he was ill?
Ironically, I was back in Hollywood and in a screening room with a handful of people, watching dailies from a new film I was in. The lights came up, and somebody came in and whispered something in the director's ear.
The director announced to the room that Steve had died, and I just lost it. I absolutely lost it....it was so hard because my whole experience with Steve came rushing back to me at that moment. Only ten years had passed from the filming of Adam At 6 A.M. to his death. He had only had ten more years. That is so tragic. It was such a loss.
- McQueen: He Never Forgot A Friend
I knew he was ill, but I didn’t know how serious it was. Steve and I had a mutual friend who had visited Steve at some time during his illness. Shortly after Steve passed away, this friend told me something that really got to me: “You know, when I saw Steve, he asked me where you were and what you were doing. And I told him everything you're up to.”
It just broke my heart. I had so badly wanted to go see him. But, in no way did I think he was going to die. I thought I would get in touch with him after he recovered. Something held me back from seeing him when he was ill.
In hindsight, I don't think that he would have wanted me to see him in that condition. And I would never have intruded in his private time with his family during his illness.
One of my great regrets is having not seen him before he passed, not thanking him again for what he did for me, and never saying good-bye, but I never thought he was going to die – after all, he was Steve McQueen!
Today is the 30th anniversary of McQueen’s passing…..
I cannot believe he’s been gone 30 years. How can that be? It seems like just yesterday. I appreciate the opportunity to thank him publicly here and to acknowledge what he did for me.
He was a good guy with a generous heart. He did more for me than he ever knew. With all that Steve had to do in his very big life, he took the time to mentor me. He was the first person to do so.
Steve was a huge, bright meteor across the sky of my life. I am very fortunate to have known him.
To visit actress Lee Purcell's official website, click here.
If you wish to follow writer Jeremy Roberts, his Twitter profile is @jeremylr.
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