5 Decades Later: Ali MacGraw At 86—The Untold Truth About Her Life In New Mexico And The Love She Never Forgot

The legendary actress Ali MacGraw, who became the global face of 1970s cinema with her role in the timeless classic Love Story, continues to captivate the public imagination, even as she embraces a quiet life far from the Hollywood spotlight. As of late 2025, the star, who celebrated her 86th birthday in April, is experiencing a profound and reflective chapter, trading red carpets for the serene landscapes of New Mexico. Recent public appearances and candid interviews reveal a woman who has found peace, but who is also finally ready to speak openly about the tumultuous highs and devastating lows of her extraordinary life, including the "horrors" of her marriage to Steve McQueen.

The curiosity surrounding Ali MacGraw's life remains immense, fueled by her stunning beauty, her brief but explosive film career, and her three high-profile marriages. Today, the actress, model, and activist is redefining what it means to be a Hollywood icon in retirement, focusing her energy on personal growth, art, and animal rights activism, a journey that has replaced the glamour of Beverly Hills with the grounded reality of a small village cottage.

Ali MacGraw: A Biographical Profile and Career Overview

Elizabeth Alice MacGraw, known universally as Ali MacGraw, was a defining figure of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Her career trajectory was meteoric, launching her from a fashion model to a global superstar in just a few short years.

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• Full Name: Elizabeth Alice MacGraw
• Date of Birth: April 1, 1939
• Place of Birth: Pound Ridge, New York, U.S.
• Age (as of late 2025): 86
• Spouses:
  • Robin Hoen (m. 1960; div. 1962)
  • Robert Evans (m. 1969; div. 1972)
  • Steve McQueen (m. 1973; div. 1978)
• Child: Josh Evans (son with Robert Evans)
• Education: Wellesley College (B.A. in Art History)
• Notable Filmography:
  • A Lovely Way to Die (1968)
  • Goodbye, Columbus (1969) - Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer.
  • Love Story (1970) - Academy Award nomination for Best Actress; Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
  • The Getaway (1972)
  • Convoy (1978)
• Current Occupation: Author, Animal Rights Activist, and Ambassador at Large for Santa Fe.

The Enduring Legacy of Love Story and Her Brief, Explosive Career

Ali MacGraw’s impact on Hollywood was disproportionate to the length of her active film career, which essentially spanned only a decade. Her breakthrough came with the 1969 film Goodbye, Columbus, where her performance earned her a Golden Globe.

However, it was Love Story in 1970 that cemented her status as an international icon. Playing the sharp-witted, tragic Jenny Cavilleri opposite Ryan O'Neal's Oliver Barrett IV, MacGraw delivered the line that became a cultural touchstone: "Love means never having to say you're sorry." The film was a massive box-office success and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Her next major film, The Getaway (1972), was a pivotal moment not just for her career but for her personal life. On set, she met the "King of Cool," Steve McQueen. She famously left her second husband, powerful studio executive Robert Evans (the producer of *Love Story*), to marry McQueen in 1973, a decision that essentially derailed her career at its peak. This choice remains one of the most talked-about career moves in Hollywood history, highlighting the intense scrutiny and sacrifice that came with her fame.

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Despite a few later roles, including the TV miniseries *The Winds of War* (1983) and a stint on the soap opera *Dynasty*, MacGraw never returned to the cinematic heights of the early 70s. Her glamorous, bohemian style, however, remains an enduring source of fashion inspiration, defining the era’s aesthetic.

Candid Reflections at 86: Life with Steve McQueen and Her Greatest Love

In her mid-eighties, Ali MacGraw has offered her most poignant and revealing reflections yet, providing a clear-eyed perspective on the most dramatic periods of her life. These recent interviews, surfacing in 2024 and 2025, offer crucial insights into the cost of her celebrity and the deep emotional scars left by her marriage to Steve McQueen.

The marriage to McQueen, which lasted from 1973 to 1978, was famously volatile. MacGraw has described the period as one of intense passion mixed with deep professional and personal turmoil. She has spoken candidly about the "horrors" of being married to the action star, detailing a lifestyle marked by his controlling behavior and infidelity. This tumultuous relationship, which she has called a "deeply painful" experience, ultimately led her to step away from Hollywood to find a path toward self-healing and sobriety.

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However, recent headlines also suggest a softening of her perspective, with MacGraw reportedly confessing who she truly considered the "love of her life." While the identity is often debated—some sources suggest it was McQueen despite the pain, and others point to Robert Evans, with whom she maintained a deep, lifelong friendship—her willingness to discuss these complex emotional relationships shows a woman at peace with her past. The deep bond she shared with Robert Evans, the father of her son, Josh Evans, was a source of stability, even after their divorce.

Ali MacGraw Now: A Peaceful Life as an Activist in Santa Fe

The Ali MacGraw of today, photographed looking "stunning" in a sleek black suit in New York City in February 2025, is a far cry from the troubled star who left Hollywood. Her greatest transformation has been her conscious decision to embrace a simpler, more authentic life in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she has been a resident for decades.

She lives in a "tiny" village cottage, a deliberate choice that reflects her commitment to environmentalism and a less materialistic existence. This move was not a retreat but a deliberate pivot toward personal fulfillment.

Her current focus includes:

• Animal Rights Activism: MacGraw is a passionate advocate for animal welfare, serving as a dedicated activist and ambassador for various organizations.
• Cultural Ambassador: She serves as an "Ambassador at Large" for Santa Fe, leveraging her celebrity to support local arts and cultural initiatives. She is known for attending local events, such as the Muse Luncheon at the Hermitage Artist Retreat, where she shares her life philosophy and experiences.
• Writing and Art: MacGraw has channeled her experiences into writing, including her best-selling 1991 autobiography, *Moving Pictures*. She also continues to pursue her love of art, a passion she studied at Wellesley College.

At 86, Ali MacGraw embodies resilience and self-discovery. Her life today is a testament to the idea that true happiness lies not in the fleeting fame of Hollywood, but in the quiet pursuit of purpose and peace. She remains an enduring icon, not just for her beauty or her films, but for her courage to publicly navigate and overcome the complexities of a life lived intensely in the public eye. Her story, from the heights of *Love Story* to the serenity of her New Mexico home, continues to inspire a new generation.

Topical Entities and LSI Keywords: Jenny Cavilleri, Oliver Barrett IV, The Getaway, Robert Evans, Steve McQueen, Josh Evans, Wellesley College, Goodbye, Columbus, The Winds of War, Dynasty, Moving Pictures, Ryan O'Neal, New Mexico, Santa Fe, Animal Welfare, Fashion Icon, 1970s Cinema, Golden Globe Award, Academy Award, The King of Cool.