Ali MacGraw shot to stardom almost overnight, becoming one of Hollywood’s brightest stars. But just as swiftly as her fame arrived, she quietly stepped away from the spotlight.
Now 85, the former actress lives peacefully in a small, secluded town—embracing a graceful aging journey, complete with her natural grey hair.
Getty Images
Ali MacGraw
Ali MacGraw—originally named Elizabeth Alice MacGraw—was born on April 1, 1939, in Pound Ridge, New York. Her mother, Frances, was an artist who once worked at a school in Paris before moving to Greenwich Village. She later married fellow artist Richard MacGraw. That same year, Ali was born.
Richard, Ali’s father, was said to have carried emotional scars from his own upbringing, which made him a bit different from most people.
View this post on Instagram
He had endured a rough childhood in an orphanage, eventually fleeing at 16 to join life at sea. Later on, he pursued studies at an art academy in Munich, Germany.
“Daddy was scared and incredibly angry. He never forgave his biological parents for abandoning him,” Ali shared, explaining that much of his adult life was spent “bottling up the fury that masked all his pain.”
Ali MacGraw – childhood
Money was tight for the family. Frances and Richard, along with Ali and her brother Richard Jr., ended up living in a home on a Pound Ridge nature preserve—shared with an elderly couple.
“There were no doors—we had to share the kitchen and bathroom with them,” Ali said. “It felt like there was zero privacy. It was awful.”
Francis took on commercial art jobs to support the family. Meanwhile, Richard struggled to sell his artwork, growing more and more frustrated. That tension often fell on Ali’s brother, Richard.
“On his good days, he was wonderful, but on the bad ones—he was awful,” she remembered. “Daddy would beat my brother badly. I saw it happen—it was heartbreaking.”
Raised by artists, Ali knew early on that she wanted to follow a creative path herself. She earned a scholarship to the prestigious Rosemary Hall prep school, and in 1956, she went on to study at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
View this post on Instagram
At just 22, Ali MacGraw made the move to New York City, landing her first gig as an assistant editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where she worked closely with photographers behind the scenes.
Breaking into fashion in New York
Iconic fashion editor Diana Vreeland brought Ali on board in what MacGraw jokingly referred to as a “flunkie” role. If you’ve seen The Devil Wears Prada, you’ll get the picture.
“It was, ‘Girl! Get me a pencil!’” MacGraw recalled with a laugh.
She worked tirelessly as an assistant for several months until, about six months in, fashion photographer Melvin Sokolsky took notice of her striking looks. Soon after, Ali was promoted to stylist with a better paycheck—a position she’d hold for six years.
“I don’t know where she got that kind of dedication, but Ali would show up at eight in the morning, and sometimes when I came back at one a.m., she’d still be there prepping for the next day,” remembered Ruth Ansel, former art director for Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar.
Ali excelled as a stylist, but before long, her natural beauty drew attention—and she found herself in front of the camera as a model. It didn’t take long before her face graced magazine covers around the globe, and she began appearing in television commercials.
One opportunity led to another, and just like that, Ali MacGraw was swept into the world of acting.
Youtube/MikelNavarro
few years before her rise to fame, Ali MacGraw had posed nude for Salvador Dalí. But when the eccentric surrealist began sucking on her toes, Ali decided modeling might not be her forever path—and that maybe acting was more her speed.
Ali MacGraw – Film Career
From a behind-the-scenes stylist to a rising star on the big screen, Ali’s leap into acting was anything but subtle.
She had no formal training in acting, but that rawness brought something special to her performances. Combined with her breathtaking looks, it was a recipe audiences couldn’t resist.
After landing a minor role in A Lovely Way to Die (1968), Ali was cast in Goodbye, Columbus the following year. The film was a hit, and she was awarded the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Female.
But it was the role that followed that truly defined her career.
Ali was handed a script by her agent, and after reading it, she admitted to crying—twice. The story moved her so deeply, she knew she had to be part of it. She arranged a meeting with the film’s producer, Robert Evans, who was also the head of production at Paramount Pictures. They met at the iconic Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills.
Evans didn’t just think she was perfect for the role in Love Story—he fell for her completely.
In Love Story, Ali starred opposite Ryan O’Neal, portraying Jenny, a strong-willed working-class college student. The romantic drama became a massive success and cemented MacGraw as a household name.
Youtube/MikelNavarro
Love Story hit theaters in 1970—and audiences absolutely adored it. It skyrocketed to become the No. 1 movie in the U.S., and at the time, it ranked as the sixth highest-grossing film ever in the U.S. and Canada.
Award-winning actress
MacGraw scored an Oscar nomination for her powerful role, and the film brought in five Academy Award nods in total. She also took home a second Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.
Producer Robert Evans didn’t just admire her on screen—he’d fallen deeply for her in real life, and the feeling was mutual. They tied the knot in 1969, and two years later, their son Josh Evans was born.
Ali MacGraw lit up the ‘70s as a breakout star, but her personal life—and marriage to Evans—wouldn’t last. When Steve McQueen visited to offer her a role in The Getaway, sparks flew instantly.
“I looked into those blue eyes, and my knees went weak,” MacGraw remembered. “I was completely hooked.”
Youtube/MikelNavarro
MacGraw and McQueen began an affair, and it wasn’t long before she left Robert Evans to move in with the actor at his Malibu home, bringing her son Josh along.
“Steve was such a unique, principled man who seemed completely outside the Hollywood machine—and I was drawn to that,” she once shared.
Ali MacGraw – Life with Steve McQueen
But over time, Ali came to see that Steve McQueen carried deep emotional wounds. After his father walked out on his mother, Steve was sent to a reform school at just 14 years old. According to MacGraw, that experience left him with a lasting mistrust of women.
Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw in a scene from the 1972 movie “The Getaway.”
Getty Images
Youtube/Parisvideostars
Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images for Chanel
I live in a small village called Tesuque, just north of Santa Fe, New Mexico,” she shared last year.
According to MacGraw, the locals don’t treat her like a former Hollywood icon—they value her for the contributions she makes to the community.
One example: she’s volunteered at the International Folk Art Market held annually in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Though Ali MacGraw stepped away from acting, she returned to the stage in 2006, reuniting with Love Story co-star Ryan O’Neal in the Broadway version of the Danish film Festen.
Outside of that production, MacGraw has mostly stayed out of the limelight in recent decades. She’s focused on animal welfare efforts—and released several successful yoga videos.
Youtube/OWN
In a 2019 interview with the Herald-Tribune, Ali MacGraw shared that she remains open to new experiences and opportunities.
“One of the blessings of being my age is that I’m still curious and willing to try new things,” she said. “There isn’t just one passion I cling to—but I do know I’m not fulfilled unless I’m doing something creative.”
Josh Evans – Ali MacGraw’s Legacy
Although Ali stepped away from acting, her family stayed connected to the entertainment world. Her son, Josh Evans, has built a solid career as both an actor and director, making his own mark in Hollywood.
And he’s the spitting image of his famous mom!
Growing up as the son of Hollywood icons Robert Evans and Ali MacGraw came with its fair share of expectations.
But for Josh Evans, born in January 1971, the entertainment world always felt like the path he was meant to follow.
Interestingly, the first career he dreamed of wasn’t in film. Acting wasn’t a goal he chased—it just sort of unfolded that way.
In 1989, Josh landed a small role in Dream a Little Dream, but he had bigger ambitions. As a fearless teen, he’d regularly visit a manager’s office to check out casting calls for upcoming films.
Josh Evans – Actor & Director
That’s when Josh crossed paths with someone he instantly recognized—renowned filmmaker Oliver Stone. At the time, Stone was working on Born on the Fourth of July, starring Tom Cruise. And Josh was eager to be part of it.
“I only knew Oliver from Platoon,” Josh recalled. “He was making a film with Tom Cruise, and there was a role for the younger brother. I really wanted that part, so I managed to get a meeting with him.”
“When I sat down with Oliver, he asked, ‘Oh, so you think you look like Tom Cruise?’ Now that I know him better, I realize he was teasing me—but I said, ‘Yeah, I do.’ He replied, ‘We’ll see.’ Four months later, I got a call to audition—and I landed the role. It was thrilling. You could tell that movie was going to be something special.”
Josh went on to build a solid career in both acting and directing. He appeared in the 1991 biopic The Doors, and has continued to make his mark in the film world ever since.
Facebook/CathyScott
With eight directing credits to his name, Josh Evans cast Michael Madsen in his 2015 film Death in the Desert. But what role does he enjoy most?
“I definitely feel more at ease behind the camera than in front of it,” Evans shares.
“If something cool comes along, I’m open to it. But honestly, I think there are others out there who are more driven and better suited. Directing, telling stories—that’s something I’d do for free. Acting feels more like a job, though I end up enjoying it once I’m in it.”
Josh Evans – family
Josh is a strikingly handsome guy, and he really favors his mom, Ali MacGraw—especially those expressive, beautiful eyes.
In 2019, his dad—Ali’s ex, Robert Evans—passed away. But the family shared a special moment back in 2012 when they all came together to celebrate his Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
Josh has tied the knot twice. In October 2012, he married American musician and singer Roxy Saint. At that point, their son Jackson was already two—Grandma Ali MacGraw adores spending time with her beloved family.
❤️ pic.twitter.com/n72r0yAxRu
— @roxysaint, October 30, 2019
“He’s absolutely amazing,” MacGraw said of her son. “He’s my favorite person in the whole world, and he’s dating someone I completely adore. Their relationship is built on so much—especially friendship and mutual respect.”
Ali MacGraw and Josh Evans clearly share a deep bond and a love for their family. We wish them nothing but happiness in the years ahead—and who knows, maybe one day we’ll see the two of them share the screen or stage together.
