Why Was Chad McQueen’s Dutch Not in Cobra Kai? – Karate Kid Star and Steve McQueen’s Only Son Passes Away at 63

The actor was invited to reprise his role on the TV show, but he couldn’t make it due to his racing commitments. He passed away on September 11.

It’s safe to say Cobra Kai is one of Netflix’s fan-favorites, especially for those into martial arts and fighting. But it’s even more special for anyone who watched The Karate Kid back in the ’80s — the movie that sparked the whole series and kept the story going on streaming.

Turns out a key character never made it into the new series, and not many know why. Chad McQueen, who played the villain Dutch — the most ruthless member of the gang — would’ve been a huge addition to the show. While Cobra Kai isn’t over yet, sadly, any chance of seeing him return is now gone with the news of his passing.

Why Did Chad McQueen’s Dutch Never Show Up In Cobra Kai?

Cobra Kai is one of the series that has thrilled audiences the most, wrapping up its six-season run almost this year. It’s split into three parts, with the final one set to release in 2025, bringing the story to a close.

The Karate Kid trilogy has become a classic, telling the story of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence’s gang. Cobra Kai came about as a spin-off to pay tribute to and bring back a series that touched a whole generation. The original cast even joined the new show, but one of the main villains from the original story was notably missing.

Many wondered why Dutch didn’t return, and the truth is that Johnny’s gang member didn’t come back because the actor who played him left acting to pursue a career in racing. Chad McQueen hadn’t been involved in Hollywood for thirty years by the time he was invited to make a cameo on the show.

Apparently, actors William Zabka and Martin Kove, who played Johnny and John Kreese, reached out to McQueen in 2019 and encouraged him to come back. However, his commitments to his own company, McQueen Racing, got in the way. As a result, the show wrote Dutch’s character into the story as being in prison. (via Screen Rant)

The character’s return would have been a big deal for the series, especially since the show also revolves around bringing back the old characters and having them face off against each other once more. Dutch’s comeback would’ve fit perfectly with the series’ theme of revisiting and rivaling past characters.

However, it wasn’t entirely off the table at first. The showrunners hinted at the possibility of Dutch’s return, which is why they wrote him as being in prison. But as time went on, no one could have anticipated that fate would intervene with McQueen’s passing.

Chad McQueen Passes Away At 63

The former actor was the son of the legendary Steve McQueen and followed in his father’s footsteps in both acting and racing. From a young age, he had a strong passion for vehicles and speed — interests he clearly inherited. However, it was during his late teens that he began to make his first moves in the film industry.

He appeared in a few films like Skateboard and Hadley’s Rebellion, but it was his role in the first two The Karate Kid films that really put him on the map. After that, he took on a few more acting projects, but his true passion lay in motorsport, which he chose to pursue more seriously.

In a statement to Variety on September 11, McQueen’s family confirmed his passing. According to TMZ, the cause of death was organ failure. A few years earlier, he had suffered an injury that led to significant health complications.