Never before seen pictures of Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen is a legend and rebel; a reformed delinquent who got his thrills from racing cars and motorcycles. Girls swooned and guys wanted to be as rugged as him.

Now imagine, it is spring of 1963 and Steve McQueen was making his mark with his big-screen release 'The Magnificent Seven' and a few months from here he would include 'The Great Escape' to his list of achievements.

This was when LIFE sent their photographer, John Dominis, to hang with the 33-year-old actor for three weeks and capture his life. What he did get are amazing, intimate and iconic photos. Only a handful of these images have been published, but to celebrate (what would have been) McQueen's 80th birthday (today), LIFE are releasing additional images that came about from this shoot.



For more images and great information on each of the images go to LIFE.