Ali MacGraw shot to fame in Hollywood almost instantly. However, just as swiftly as she gained stardom, she stepped away from the entertainment industry completely.
Now at 85, the actress enjoys a peaceful life in a small, secluded town, embracing her silver hair as she ages gracefully.
Ali MacGraw, originally named Elizabeth Alice MacGraw, entered the world on April 1, 1939, in Pound Ridge, New York, USA. Her mother, Frances, was an artist who spent time working at a school in Paris before eventually moving to Greenwich Village. She was married to Richard MacGraw, who was also an artist. It was in 1939 that Ali was born.
Richard, Ali’s father, reportedly faced challenges from his own childhood, which contributed to his unique personality.
He endured a challenging childhood in an orphanage, escaping at 16 to pursue a life at sea. Eventually, he would attend an art school in Munich, Germany.
“Daddy was scared and extremely angry. He never forgave his biological parents for abandoning him,” Ali shared, noting that her father spent his adult years “bottling up the anger that masked all his pain.”
Ali MacGraw – childhood
Their family also faced financial struggles. Frances and Richard, along with Ali and her brother, Richard Jr., relocated to a house in a wilderness preserve in Pound Ridge, sharing it with an elderly couple.
“There were no doors; we had to share the kitchen and bathroom with them,” Ali recounted. “It was a complete invasion of privacy. It was awful.”
Mom Frances took on various commercial art projects to support the family, while Richard struggled to sell his paintings, leading to significant frustration. Ali’s brother Richard often bore the brunt of that anger at home.
“On good days, he was wonderful, but on bad days, he was unbearable,” she remembered. “Daddy would really hurt my brother. I witnessed it, and it was horrific.”
Being the daughter of artists, Ali realized she wanted to pursue a creative career as she grew older. She received a scholarship to the prep school Rosemary Hall and, in 1956, moved on to study at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
At 22, Ali MacGraw relocated to New York City, landing her first role as an assistant editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where she supported photographers in their work.
In the fashion scene of New York, she was brought on by fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who referred to her as a “flunkie.” If you’ve seen The Devil Wears Prada, you can imagine the vibe.
“It was always, ‘Girl! Get me a pencil!’,” MacGraw reminisced.
After several months in her assistant role, fashion photographer Melvin Sokolsky took notice of her striking looks, leading to her promotion as a stylist with a better salary. She would remain in that role for six years.
“Ali had an incredible work ethic. She would arrive at eight in the morning, and I’d often return at one in the morning to find her still working on tasks for the next day,” recalled Ruth Ansel, a former art director at Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar.
Ali excelled as a stylist, but soon she was invited to step in front of the camera as a model. It wasn’t long before she graced magazine covers worldwide and appeared in television commercials. One opportunity led to another, and Ali found herself diving into the world of acting.
She had posed nude for Salvador Dali a few years prior. However, when the surrealist artist began to suck on her toes, MacGraw realized she preferred pursuing a career in acting over modeling.
Ali MacGraw – films
Ali transitioned from being an unknown stylist to making a splash in the film industry, and she did it spectacularly.
With no formal training in acting, she brought a unique flair to her performances. Her natural beauty captivated audiences everywhere.
After a minor role in A Lovely Way to Die (1968), she was invited to star in the 1969 film Goodbye, Columbus. This decision proved to be a fantastic one, as MacGraw earned a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Female. The following year marked her significant international breakthrough with a role that would define her career.
Ali MacGraw received a script from her agent that moved her to tears on two occasions due to its beauty. Determined to land a role, she arranged a meeting with the film’s producer, Robert Evans, who was then the head of production at Paramount Pictures, at the Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel. Evans not only believed she was the ideal choice for the film Love Story but also fell head over heels for her.
In Love Story, MacGraw portrayed Jenny, acting alongside Ryan O’Neal. This American romantic drama, where she played a working-class college student, became an enormous success.
Love Story premiered in 1970, and it truly captivated audiences. It quickly rose to become the top film in the United States and was, at that time, the sixth highest-grossing film ever in both the US and Canada.
Ali MacGraw, the award-winning actress, received an Academy Award nomination for her performance, and the film garnered her another win along with five additional nominations. She also secured her second Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.
Film producer Robert Evans was not only enchanted by her on-screen presence but also fell in love with her off-screen, and she felt the same way. The couple married in 1969, and two years later, they welcomed their son, Josh Evans.
Ali MacGraw emerged as the shining star of the 1970s, but her personal life and marriage to Evans would soon face challenges. When Steve McQueen visited their home to invite her to star in The Getaway, an instant connection sparked between the two Hollywood icons.
“I looked into those blue eyes, and my knees started shaking,” MacGraw reminisced. “I became completely captivated.”
Ali MacGraw and Steve McQueen had a romantic relationship, leading her to leave Evans and move to Malibu with her son, Josh, to be with the actor.
“Steve was such a unique and principled person who felt outside the norm, and I found that incredibly appealing,” she shared.
However, Ali eventually came to understand that Steve McQueen carried his own burdens. After his father left his mother, a young Steve, just 14 at the time, was placed in a school for troubled youth. MacGraw noted that this experience left him with a deep mistrust of women.
Ali felt constrained by her husband’s disapproval of her career. For a time, she dedicated herself to raising their sons at home. However, the expectations placed on her by her husband became increasingly unbearable.
He would react explosively if she so much as glanced at another man. Additionally, he insisted on a prenuptial agreement that would prevent her from claiming anything in the event of a divorce. Ali adhered to that agreement when they separated in 1978.
“I couldn’t even attend art class because Steve expected his ‘old lady’ to be home every evening with dinner ready,” she remembered.
“Steve’s type wasn’t me. He preferred blondes, and they were always around.”
This marked the beginning of a rather challenging period for MacGraw. When she showed up on set to film the 1978 movie Convoy, she was both intoxicated and under the influence, which led her to decide to quit drugs.
Stepping away from the industry
During this time, many of her films, including Players (1970) and Just Tell Me What You Want (1980), did not perform well at the box office.
“It’s tough for women,” MacGraw shared with The Guardian regarding her return to the entertainment industry in the late 1970s.
I believe that any woman over 40 who has been in the public eye has likely grown tired of the relentless scrutiny from the media and the fashion world. It can be quite harsh.
Ali MacGraw enjoyed a brief period as a Hollywood leading lady before shifting her focus to interior design. However, she didn’t completely step away from acting, making appearances in the miniseries The Winds of War (1983) and China Rose (1985). Unfortunately, her life took a downturn soon after.
Ali found herself struggling to land film roles and began to feel worthless. At the same time, she realized she didn’t feel whole without a partner, likening the experience of being in love to the exhilaration of a drug high.
She experienced feelings of isolation and despair, leading her to drink excessively. In 1986, she made the decision to enter the Betty Ford Clinic in California.
“The worst things happened when I was drinking,” she reflected. “I lost my sense of judgment; I found myself attracted to other women’s husbands.”
Family hardships
At that time, her son Josh Evans was just 15 and struggled to see his mother in pain. MacGraw participated in 30 days of group therapy, emerging as a more resilient individual.
In 1993, another family misfortune struck when her home in California was destroyed by a wildfire. Following this, she chose to leave Los Angeles and moved to a town near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She shared last year, “I reside in a quaint village called Tesuque, located just north of Santa Fe, New Mexico.”
According to McGraw, her neighbors don’t view her as a former Hollywood star; instead, they value her dedication to community service.
For instance, she has been actively volunteering at the annual International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Although Ali MacGraw stepped away from acting, she made a return to the stage in 2006, reuniting with her Love Story co-star Ryan O’Neal for the Broadway adaptation of the Danish film Festen.
Aside from her Broadway appearance, MacGraw has largely stayed out of the limelight over the past few decades. She has devoted herself to animal rights advocacy and has produced numerous successful yoga videos.
In a 2019 interview with the Herald-Tribune, MacGraw expressed her enthusiasm for embracing new experiences and opportunities.
“One of the fortunate aspects of being my age is that I remain open and curious,” MacGraw shared. “I don’t have just one passion that I feel lost without. However, I do realize that I’m not truly happy unless I’m engaged in something creative.”
Josh Evans – Ali MacGraw
Although Ali has stepped away from acting, her family continues to be involved in the industry. Her son, Josh Evans, is both an actor and director, and he has established a solid reputation in Hollywood.
Plus, he bears a striking resemblance to his mother!
Growing up as the son of Hollywood icons Robert Evans and Ali MacGraw certainly brought its share of expectations.
For Josh Evans, who was born in January 1971, the allure of show business was evident from an early age.
Interestingly, his first career aspiration wasn’t in acting. He didn’t initially envision himself in front of the camera; it just kind of unfolded that way.
In 1989, he landed a minor role in Dream a Little Dream, but he was eager for more. As a teenager with nothing to lose, he frequently visited the manager’s office to check out the latest movie breakdowns.
Josh Evans – actor & director
It was during one of those visits that he encountered the renowned director Oliver Stone, who was working on Born on the Fourth of July with Tom Cruise. Josh was determined to be a part of it.
“I only knew Oliver from Platoon at that point. He was directing a film with Tom Cruise, and there was a role for the younger brother. I was eager to audition, so he arranged a meeting for me with Oliver Stone,” Josh recalls.
“When I sat down with him, Oliver asked, ‘Oh, do you think you resemble Tom Cruise?’ Looking back, I realize he was teasing me, but I confidently replied, ‘Yeah, I do.’ He said, ‘We’ll see what happens.’ Four months later, I received a call to audition, and I landed the role. It was thrilling, and you could sense that the film was going to be something special.”
Since that pivotal moment, Josh has enjoyed a successful career in both acting and directing. He appeared in the biographical film The Doors in 1991 and has continued to pursue both passions ever since.
With eight directing credits to his name, he had Michael Madsen featured in his 2015 film, Death in the Desert. But what does he enjoy the most?
“I definitely feel more at ease on the side of the camera that doesn’t involve me being in front of it,” shares Josh Evans.
“If a compelling opportunity comes my way, I’m open to it. I believe there are others who are more suited and eager for those roles than I am. When it comes to directing and sharing my stories, I would do that for free, while acting feels more like a job, though I do enjoy it once I’m in the moment.”
Josh Evans – family
Josh is quite the handsome man, and he bears a striking resemblance to his mother, Ali MacGraw, especially with his big, beautiful eyes.
In 2019, his father, Robert Evans, who was Ali’s ex-husband, passed away. Nevertheless, the family cherishes the wonderful memory of being together to honor him when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.
Josh has been married twice. In October 2012, he tied the knot with American singer and musician Roxy Saint. At that time, their son Jackson was already two years old, and Grandma Ali MacGraw loves spending quality time with her lovely family.
MacGraw expressed her admiration for her son, saying, “He’s truly amazing. He’s my favorite person in the world, and he’s dating a girl I absolutely adore. Their bond is built on friendship and mutual respect, among other things.”
Ali MacGraw and Josh Evans must be incredibly proud of their lovely family. We wish them all the best moving forward, and who knows, perhaps we’ll see them collaborating on a stage or film together someday!
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