Forty years ago, on November 7, 1980, legendary actor Steve McQueen passed away from heart failure in a Juárez clinic while recovering from surgery to remove cancerous tumors from his neck and stomach. El Paso Times reporter Ramon Renteria detailed the event from Juárez.
Dr. Cesar Santos Vargas, a renowned surgeon and kidney specialist known for treating injured bullfighters, was sympathetic towards McQueen, who used the alias Sam Sheppard. “He was a man sure of himself and very sincere,” Santos recalled. McQueen’s unexpected death at 2:50 a.m. Friday brought national attention to Dr. Santos and his clinic, marking a tragic end to the actor’s battle with cancer.
How old was Steve Mcqueen when he died?
Steve McQueen, who was 50 when he died, sought relief from terminal cancer at Dr. Cesar Santos Vargas’ Clinica de Santa Rosa in Juárez. Known there as Sam Sheppard, McQueen hoped for a reprieve from his suffering. He had previously spent time in El Paso in 1972 while filming “The Getaway.”
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McQueen checked into the clinic at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday after signing an agreement for surgery. Dr. Santos, along with his assistant Dr. Guillermo Bermudez, performed the operation on Thursday from 8 to 11 a.m., aiming to remove the advanced cancerous tumors from his neck and stomach.
Post-surgery, McQueen’s condition initially appeared to stabilize. However, by late Thursday, he developed respiratory problems and tragically succumbed to heart failure a few hours later. McQueen’s death highlighted the desperate measures he took in his final days and brought significant attention to Dr. Santos and his clinic.
Risky Surgery: Steve McQueen’s Final Hours in Juárez
Dr. Cesar Santos Vargas noted that Steve McQueen, using the alias Samuel Sheppard, was aware of the risks involved in his surgery. “If it hadn’t been for the heart failure, I believe something could have been done to make his remaining days more pleasant,” Santos remarked.
According to Santos, McQueen might have lived another two or three months without the operation. The Juárez doctors had removed a 5-pound tumor from McQueen’s abdomen. “The cancer caused him serious pains. Unfortunately, the disease was too advanced in this case,” Santos explained.
On Friday afternoon, Santos addressed a crowd of reporters in his small office, discussing why McQueen chose Mexico for treatment. “He and his wife asked for the surgery because he suffered intolerable pain,” Santos said. McQueen had been under constant sedation and lived for about 13 hours post-operation.
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He was conscious, able to talk, and even ate small chunks of ice. “He had a desire to live when he knew the race (against death) was at a short distance,” Santos noted. Despite some relief, McQueen still experienced pain, though it was less severe than before the surgery. Ultimately, McQueen passed away in his sleep due to heart failure, without saying anything.
Conclusion
Steve McQueen’s final days were marked by a desperate battle against advanced cancer, culminating in a risky surgery in Juárez. Despite the procedure’s temporary stabilization, McQueen’s heart ultimately failed, ending his life at 50. Dr. Cesar Santos Vargas and his team had removed a significant tumor, hoping to alleviate McQueen’s severe pain and extend his life slightly.
McQueen’s choice to undergo surgery in Mexico highlighted his intense suffering and determination to seek relief. Although he experienced some comfort post-surgery, the disease’s progression proved insurmountable. McQueen’s death underscored the relentless nature of his illness and the extraordinary measures he took in his quest for peace.
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