Hollywood star retired from acting & now lives in the tiny town where people respect her privacy
Now at 85 years old, the actress has found peace in a quiet, remote town, embracing her natural aging with grey hair.
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 worked in Paris before settling in Greenwich Village, where she married fellow artist Richard MacGraw. Ali was born into this creative family.
Richard MacGraw, Ali’s father, had a troubled childhood, having spent time in an orphanage before running away to sea at 16. He later attended art school in Munich, Germany. Ali described him as a man who ‘never forgave his real parents for giving him up,’ expressing the anger and fear he carried through his life.
Ali MacGraw – childhood
The family struggled financially, forcing them to live in a shared house on a wilderness preserve in Pound Ridge with an elderly couple.
Ali recalled, ‘There were no doors; we shared the kitchen and bathroom with them. It was utter lack of privacy. It was horrible.’
Frances took on various commercial art jobs to support the family while Richard struggled to sell his paintings, leading to frustration that often turned into anger directed at Ali’s brother, Richard Jr.
‘On good days he was great, but on bad days he was horrendous,’ Ali recounted. ‘Daddy would beat my brother up, badly. I was witness to it, and it was terrible.’
Growing up among artists, Ali developed a passion for the creative arts herself. She earned a scholarship to the prep school Rosemary Hall and in 1956, she moved to Massachusetts to study at Wellesley College.
By 22, she had moved to New York and landed her first job as an assistant editor at Harper’s Bazaar, working alongside photographers.
Fashion work in New York
Fashion editor Diana Vreeland brought Ali on as what she refers to as a ‘flunkie’, reminiscent of the dynamic in The Devil Wears Prada.
‘It was ‘Girl! Get me a pencil!” MacGraw remembered.
After a few months in her assistant role, fashion photographer Melvin Sokolsky recognized her beauty and hired her as a stylist, significantly increasing her salary and keeping her in that role for six years.
‘I don’t know where she got this work ethic, but Ali would come in at eight a.m., and many times I’d come back at one in the morning and she would still be doing things for the next day,’ recalled Ruth Ansel, a former art director.
Ali excelled as a stylist but soon found herself in front of the camera as a model, quickly appearing on magazine covers and in commercials, which eventually led her to acting.
Having been sketched nude by Salvador Dali, she realized that she preferred acting to modeling after a peculiar encounter with the artist.
Ali MacGraw – films
Ali transitioned from stylist to actress with remarkable speed.
With no formal training, her unique approach brought a captivating quality to her performances, winning over audiences.
Following a minor role in A Lovely Way to Die (1968), she starred in the 1969 film Goodbye, Columbus, earning her a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer.
The next year, she landed a pivotal role in Love Story, which would define her career.
After reading the script and being moved to tears, she pursued a meeting with producer Robert Evans at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he instantly recognized her as the perfect fit for the role.
Released in 1970, Love Story became a cultural phenomenon, earning the title of the highest-grossing film in the U.S. at that time.
Award-winning actress
MacGraw received an Academy Award nomination for her performance and the film garnered five nominations overall, along with a second Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.
Her on-screen chemistry with Evans blossomed into a real-life romance, leading to their marriage in 1969 and the birth of their son, Josh Evans, two years later.
Despite being a rising star in the 1970s, her marriage to Evans fell apart after she met Steve McQueen, who proposed that she join him in The Getaway.
‘I looked in those blue eyes, and my knees started knocking,’ MacGraw recalled, expressing her immediate attraction.
Their affair led Ali to leave Evans and move in with McQueen and her son, Josh.
‘Steve was this very original, principled guy who didn’t seem to be part of the system, and I loved that,’ she reflected.
Ali MacGraw – Steve McQueen
However, Ali soon recognized that Steve had his own challenges stemming from a troubled past, which made him distrustful of women.
He struggled with Ali’s career and often expected her to adhere to traditional gender roles, leading her to feel stifled.
His jealousy would erupt if she even glanced at another man, and he insisted on a prenuptial agreement that she honored during their divorce in 1978.
‘I couldn’t even go to art class because Steve expected his ‘old lady’ to be there every night with dinner on the table,’ she shared.
‘Steve’s idea of hot was not me. He liked blond bimbos, and they were always around.’
Ali’s life took a darker turn, arriving at the set of Convoy in 1978 under the influence, prompting her to quit drugs.
Leaving show business
In addition, several of her films, including Players (1970) and Just Tell Me What You Want (1980), did poorly at the box office.
‘It’s brutal for women,’ MacGraw reflected on her return to acting in the late 1970s.
‘I don’t think there’s a woman over 40 who’s ever been conspicuously in the spotlight who doesn’t get sick of the kind of questioning the media lays on you, the fashion industry, all of it. It’s cruel.’
After a brief period of fame, MacGraw shifted her focus to interior design, although she made cameo appearances in projects like The Winds of War (1983) and China Rose (1985). However, her career stagnated.
Feeling lost and unfulfilled, she battled loneliness and turned to drinking. In 1986, she sought help at the Betty Ford Clinic.
‘The worst stuff happened when I drank,’ she admitted. ‘I lost my judgment; I fancied other women’s husbands.’
Family tragedies
Her son Josh was deeply affected by her struggles, and after 30 days of group therapy, Ali emerged with newfound strength.
In 1993, her home was lost to a wildfire, prompting her to relocate from Los Angeles to a village near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
‘I live in a little village north of Santa Fe, New Mexico called Tesuque,’ she shared last year.
In her new home, her neighbors see her as part of the community, not just as a former star. They appreciate her contributions, including her volunteer work at the International Folk Art Market.
Though Ali stepped away from acting, she returned to the stage in 2006, reuniting with Ryan O’Neal for a Broadway adaptation of the film Festen.
In recent years, MacGraw has kept a low profile, focusing on animal rights and producing successful yoga videos.
Josh Evans – Ali MacGraw
Despite her departure from acting, Ali’s family remains connected to the industry. Her son, Josh Evans, is an accomplished actor and director with a successful career.
He bears a striking resemblance to his mother.
Born in January 1971, Josh grew up with the legacy of his Hollywood parents.
His first role came in Dream a Little Dream (1989), but he craved more and actively sought opportunities.
During this time, he met the famed director Oliver Stone, who was working on Born on the Fourth of July with Tom Cruise, and Josh wanted to be a part of it.
Josh Evans – actor & director
He approached Stone for an audition for a brother role in the film. Stone, who recognized him from Platoon, set up a meeting.
During their meeting, Josh jokingly claimed to resemble Tom Cruise, which led to his audition and subsequent casting.
From then on, Josh grew his career, both in acting and directing.
He starred in The Doors (1991) and has directed eight films, including Death in the Desert (2015) featuring Michael Madsen.
‘I am definitely more comfortable on the side of the camera that does not show myself,’ Josh admitted.
‘If an interesting opportunity presents itself, I am not opposed to it, but directing is where my passion lies.’
Josh Evans – family
Josh shares a striking resemblance to his mother, particularly in his expressive eyes.
In 2019, his father, Robert Evans, passed away, but the family cherished memories from his 2012 Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
Josh has been married twice, and he and his second wife, Roxy Saint, welcomed their son Jackson, with Grandma Ali often spending quality time with her family.
‘He’s so wonderful,’ MacGraw said of her son. ‘He’s my favorite human being on the planet, and he goes out with a girl I’m nuts about.’
Ali MacGraw and Josh Evans take pride in their family and look forward to the future, with hopes of possibly working together again.