Ali MacGraw: Biography, Relationships & Life After Hollywood

Few films still spark the kind of raw emotion that Love Story did in 1970. And the actress who played Jenny Cavalleri, Ali MacGraw, became a star overnight. But her life off-screen was just as dramatic as any script Hollywood could write. Here’s how her choices, marriages, and quiet retreat shaped a legacy that goes far beyond that one famous line.

Born: April 1, 1939 ·
Age: 85 (as of 2024) ·
Spouse: Steve McQueen (m. 1973–1978), Robert Evans (m. 1969–1972) ·
Children: 1 (Josh Evans) ·
Notable Films: Goodbye, Columbus (1969), Love Story (1970)

Seven key facts, one pattern: MacGraw’s life is a story of early fame, intense relationships, and a deliberate exit from the spotlight.

Why did Ali MacGraw leave Steve McQueen?

The turbulent marriage of Ali MacGraw and Steve McQueen

• MacGraw married McQueen in 1973 after an affair on the set of The Getaway (Woman’s World (celebrity news))
• McQueen reportedly had a controlling and jealous nature (Vanity Fair (culture magazine))
• MacGraw said in her autobiography that she felt “smothered” by the marriage (Woman’s World (celebrity news))

Reasons for the divorce

• McQueen’s infidelity was a major factor (Vanity Fair (culture magazine))
• MacGraw wanted to regain her independence and career (Oprah (media platform))
• The divorce was finalized in 1978 (Woman’s World (celebrity news))

The implication: For MacGraw, leaving McQueen was a choice between a high-profile marriage and personal freedom. She chose herself.

Who was Ali MacGraw’s love of her life?

Her relationships with Robert Evans, Steve McQueen, and Ryan O’Neal

• She married producer Robert Evans in 1969; they divorced in 1972 (Oprah (media platform))
• She had a long friendship with Ryan O’Neal, her co-star in Love Story (Vanity Fair (culture magazine))
• She also had brief relationships with Warren Beatty and Peter Weller (Vanity Fair (culture magazine))

The question of her true love

• MacGraw has stated publicly that her son Josh Evans is her greatest love (Oprah (media platform))
• She has said she never considered any of her husbands her “one true love” (Vanity Fair (culture magazine))
• Her autobiography Moving Pictures (1991) explores her search for genuine connection (Who’s Dated Who (celebrity relationship database))

The pattern: MacGraw’s romantic life reflects a woman who sought intense partnerships but valued her independence and her son above all else.

Did Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw get along?

Their on-screen chemistry in Love Story

• They co-starred in Love Story (1970), which became a cultural phenomenon (Golden Globes (official awards body))
• Their chemistry was praised by critics and audiences alike (IMDb Biography (industry database))
• MacGraw received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the role (Golden Globes (official awards body))

Off-screen friendship and later years

• They remained close friends after filming ended (Vanity Fair (culture magazine))
• O’Neal later had a long-term relationship with Farrah Fawcett, but he and MacGraw stayed in touch (Vanity Fair (culture magazine))
• MacGraw described O’Neal as a “dear friend” in interviews (Oprah (media platform))

The catch: While their on-screen romance defined a generation, their real-life friendship proved more lasting than any of MacGraw’s marriages.

What has happened to Ali MacGraw?

Life after Hollywood

• She retired from acting in the 1990s, with her last credited film role in Glam (1997) (Woman’s World (celebrity news))
• She moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and embraced a quieter lifestyle (IMDb Biography (industry database))
• She published a yoga video, Ali MacGraw: Yoga Mind & Body, in 1994 (Woman’s World (celebrity news))

Recent public appearances and current status

• She is still alive as of 2024 and lives privately (Woman’s World (celebrity news))
• She has rarely given interviews in the last decade (Vanity Fair (culture magazine))
• Her son Josh Evans, a film producer, has spoken about her well-being (Oprah (media platform))

The implication: MacGraw deliberately stepped away from the industry that made her famous. For a woman who once said “I don’t want to be a movie star,” she meant it.

How much older was Steve McQueen than Ali MacGraw?

Age difference and its impact on their relationship

• Steve McQueen was born March 24, 1930 (Wikipedia (biography reference))
• Ali MacGraw was born April 1, 1939 (Wikipedia (biography reference))
• He was 9 years older (Wikipedia (biography reference))
• Biographers have noted that the age gap contributed to a power imbalance in the marriage (Vanity Fair (culture magazine))

The trade-off: A nine-year gap may not seem large, but for a woman who was already a star before meeting McQueen, it meant she was often cast as the younger, less experienced partner — a role she eventually refused to play.

For Ali MacGraw, the choice between being a Hollywood star and being a person was never really a choice. She walked away from the fame, the marriages, and the roles that defined her — and in doing so, she found a life that was quieter but entirely her own. MacGraw’s legacy proves that for any actress facing the same crossroads, the spotlight can wait, but selfhood cannot.