Ali MacGraw, an overnight Hollywood sensation, captivated audiences with her natural beauty and acting talent. Despite her swift rise to fame, she eventually withdrew from the limelight. Now at 84, she enjoys a peaceful life in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with grey hair and a more private existence.
Born on April 1, 1939, in Pound Ridge, New York, Ali was raised by artists. Despite financial struggles and a difficult family dynamic, Ali pursued creativity and earned a scholarship to Wellesley College. After moving to New York, she worked as an assistant editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where her beauty led to modeling and later acting roles.
Ali’s transition from stylist to actress was swift. After a small role in A Lovely Way to Die (1968), she earned a Golden Globe for Goodbye, Columbus (1969). Her breakthrough came in Love Story (1970), where her portrayal of Jenny made her a household name and garnered critical acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination.
MacGraw’s personal life became as famous as her career. She married film producer Robert Evans in 1969, but her affair with co-star Steve McQueen led to a tumultuous marriage and eventual divorce. Her relationship with McQueen, filled with passion and conflict, deeply impacted her.
As her acting career waned, MacGraw faced personal challenges, including substance abuse. After a stint at the Betty Ford Clinic, she gradually withdrew from Hollywood. Her later career included volunteer work and yoga videos, and in 2006, she reunited with Love Story co-star Ryan O’Neal for a Broadway show.
After a series of family tragedies, including a house fire in 1993, MacGraw moved to Santa Fe, where she embraced a quieter life. Despite stepping away from acting, her son, Josh Evans, continued the family’s Hollywood legacy, becoming a successful actor and director.
Ali MacGraw may have left the spotlight, but her legacy in Hollywood and her close-knit family remain central to her life. Now living in Santa Fe, she enjoys the simple pleasures of community work and family, with a renewed focus on creativity and personal fulfillment.
