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don't have a great deal of scope. There's something about my shaggy dog eyes that makes people think I'm good. I'm not all that good."), it's impos- sible to look away from him when he enters a scene. The characters he portrayed in pictures such as "The Magnificent 7," "Bullit," "The Thomas Crown Affair," "Papillon," "The Great Escape" and "Le Mans" were typical- ly heroic but somewhat flawed men; not too far from his own persona. Born in 1930 in Beech Grove, Indiana, McQueen's first years were fair- ly rough-and-tumble. He never knew his father, and his mother was unfit for the job. The lad bounced between relative's homes and after a violent incident with a stepfather, landed at California Junior Boys Republic (now Boy's Republic) in Chino, California. Boy's Republic is a nonprofit private, nonsectarian community for at-risk boys and girls ages 13-17. That expe- rience set him on the path to a productive life, and he repaid the debt, returning often to the Republic and giving generously to the institution throughout his lifetime. THE CALL OF THE SILVER SCREEN McQueen ser ved a stint in the Marine Corps where he briefly returned to his rebellious ways, being demoted seven times and being tossed into the brig at least once. He f inally settled down, and follow- 152 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 4 McQueen's effects have skyrocketed in value in recent years. The Swiss Heuer watch he sported in "Le Mans" (Left) fetched $800,000 at auction. (Bottom) McQueen also loved motorcycles and was particularly fond of Triumphs. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Photo: Michel Descamps/Paris Match /Getty Images