Ali MacGraw rose to Hollywood stardom almost overnight. But just as quickly as fame found her, she stepped away from the spotlight altogether.
 |
| Getty Images |
Now 85, the legendary actress lives quietly in a small, remote town, embracing a peaceful life and aging gracefully with silver hair and a sense of contentment far removed from Hollywood glamour.
Early Life and Family Struggles
Ali MacGraw, born Elizabeth Alice MacGraw on April 1, 1939, grew up in Pound Ridge, New York. Her mother, Frances, was an artist who once worked at a school in Paris before settling in Greenwich Village. She later married Richard MacGraw, also an artist, and together they raised Ali and her brother, Richard Jr.
Ali’s father carried deep emotional scars from a traumatic childhood. Abandoned and raised in an orphanage, he ran away at 16 to work at sea before eventually studying art in Munich. According to Ali, he never forgave his parents for giving him up, spending his adult life suppressing anger and pain.
The family struggled financially and lived in cramped conditions, sharing a house with an elderly couple and lacking even basic privacy. Frances supported the household through commercial art work, while Richard’s frustration over his stalled career often spilled into the home. Ali witnessed her father’s violent outbursts toward her brother, memories that stayed with her for life.
Education and Entry Into Fashion
Despite the challenges, Ali showed early creative promise. She earned a scholarship to Rosemary Hall, a prestigious prep school, and later attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts. At 22, she moved to New York City and landed a job as an assistant editor at Harper’s Bazaar.
Fashion editor Diana Vreeland hired her as an assistant—a demanding role Ali later compared to something straight out of The Devil Wears Prada. Her work ethic quickly stood out. Photographer Melvin Sokolsky noticed her striking looks and promoted her to stylist, a position she held for six years.
Soon, Ali began modeling as well, appearing on magazine covers and in television commercials around the world. That exposure eventually opened the door to acting.
 |
| Youtube/MikelNavarro |
A Meteoric Rise in Film
Ali’s transition to film was swift and powerful. After a small role in A Lovely Way to Die (1968), she starred in Goodbye, Columbus (1969), earning a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer.
Her career-defining moment came with Love Story (1970). She was deeply moved by the script and personally sought out producer Robert Evans, then head of production at Paramount Pictures. Not only did Evans cast her, but he also fell in love with her.
 |
| Youtube/MikelNavarro |
Starring opposite Ryan O’Neal, MacGraw played Jenny, a working-class college student whose tragic love story captivated audiences worldwide. The film became the highest-grossing movie in the U.S. that year and one of the most successful films in cinema history.
Ali received an Academy Award nomination and won a Golden Globe for Best Actress, cementing her status as a Hollywood icon.
Love, Marriage, and Turmoil
Ali married Robert Evans in 1969, and the couple welcomed their son, Josh, two years later. But the marriage unraveled after Ali met Steve McQueen while filming The Getaway. Their instant connection led to an affair, and Ali left Evans to live with McQueen in Malibu.
 |
| Youtube/MikelNavarro |
While deeply drawn to McQueen’s rebellious nature, Ali soon found the relationship suffocating. He struggled with jealousy, distrusted women, and expected her to abandon her career. She eventually agreed to a prenuptial agreement and walked away from the marriage with nothing when they divorced in 1978.
That period marked a low point in her life. Substance abuse affected her work, and several films failed at the box office. Disillusioned with Hollywood and its treatment of aging women, Ali stepped back from acting.
 |
| American actor Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980) with Ali MacGraw, circa 1972. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images) |
Struggles and Recovery
Feeling lost and emotionally dependent on relationships, Ali turned to alcohol. In 1986, she checked herself into the Betty Ford Clinic, determined to regain control of her life. Her teenage son, Josh, witnessed her struggle, which only strengthened her resolve to heal.
Another blow came in 1993, when her California home was destroyed in a wildfire. Soon after, Ali left Los Angeles and relocated to Tesuque, a small village near Santa Fe, New Mexico—a place where she found peace and purpose.
 |
| Getty Images |
A Quiet, Meaningful Life
In New Mexico, Ali embraced community life, volunteering at events like the International Folk Art Market. Though largely out of the public eye, she briefly returned to the stage in 2006, reuniting with Ryan O’Neal in a Broadway adaptation of Festen.
She also devoted herself to animal rights activism and created popular yoga videos, channeling her creativity in healthier ways. In a 2019 interview, Ali shared that curiosity and creative work continue to sustain her.
 |
| Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images for Chanel |
Her Son’s Hollywood Path
Though Ali left acting, her son Josh Evans followed a successful path in film as both an actor and director. He appeared in Born on the Fourth of July and The Doors, later directing multiple films, including Death in the Desert.
 |
| Facebook/CathyScott |
Josh prefers working behind the camera, finding greater fulfillment in storytelling than in acting. He has built a respected career on his own terms.
Josh married musician Roxy Saint in 2012, and they share a son, Jackson. Ali treasures her role as a grandmother and speaks with pride and affection about her family.
A Legacy of Strength
Ali MacGraw’s journey is one of extraordinary success, painful lessons, and quiet resilience. From Hollywood superstardom to a grounded life of creativity and service, she has redefined what it means to step away—and still live fully.
— roxysaint (@roxysaint) October 30, 2019
We wish Ali MacGraw and her family continued happiness and peace. And who knows? Perhaps one day, we’ll see their paths cross again on stage or screen.
Please share this story with friends and family on Facebook.
Post a Comment