Where is Barbara Minty now? More about Steve McQueen’s third wife

Barbara Minty is a former model, author and photographer who graced the front cover of several magazines such as Cosmopolitan in her prime. Likewise, Minty is popular as the late Hollywood icon’s third wife Steve McQueen†

Unfortunately, Minty withdrew from the entertainment industry after the death of her then-husband Steve. For now Barbara is married to her second husband David Burnsvold and lives a happy life in Idaho.

Here we will talk about Barbara Minty’s life after McQueen’s death. Why did Minty leave the modeling industry? Where is the ex-celebrity husband now? Find out below.

How old is Barbara Minty now? Her College

Barbara Minty was born on June 11, 1953 in Seattle, Washington, USA under the birth sign Gemini. She turned 69 years old as of June 2022.

Minty holds American nationality and is of white ethnic origin. She spent most of her childhood in Corvallis, Oregon, where she attended Corvallis High School and graduated in 1971.

Minty went after her career right after high school

Barbara was discovered by modeling agencies Eileen Ford and Nina Blanchard when she was 18. Shortly after, she signed a contract with a modeling agency and began her career in show business.

As we said before, Minty was a household name in the 1970s and also did commercials for many brands/companies. She then quickly became one of the in-demand models and also appeared on numerous magazine covers.

Some of the magazines Barbara posed for are Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Sports Illustrated and Harper’s Bazaar to name a few. Unfortunately, the model started taking fewer jobs after meeting her first husband Steve.

How did Barbara meet her late husband Steve?

According to sources, Minty grew up watching McQueen’s CBS show Wanted dead or alive and has been a fan of his husband ever since. Fast forward to when she became a model, she got a call from Steve’s manager about work.

The former model agreed to meet and talk to the actor. According to Steve himself, he had first seen Minty in a Club Med commercial. McQueen was then with his second wife Ali MacGraw.

After some time, Minty and her then boyfriend Steve started dating and dated for two years before getting married.

How long was Barbara Minty married to Steve? Their short-lived marriage

After a two-year relationship, Barbara and her then-husband Steve were married on January 16, 1980, surrounded by family and friends. At the time of their marriage, Minty was just 27, while her husband Steve was 50.

After her marriage, Barbara stopped working completely as they traveled a lot because of McQueen’s work. And while everything was going well, The Great Escape actor was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

And sadly, after 10 months of their marriage, Steve died of a heart attack on November 7, 1980. He was just 50 years old when he died.

What disease did Barbara Minty’s husband Steve McQueen have?

The late action movie icon suffered from pleural mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. According to reports, there is no known cure for the disease.

Steve first developed a persistent cough in 1978 that caused him to give up cigarettes and undergo antibiotic treatments, but with no improvement. After the cough became more persistent, McQueen underwent a biopsy to find out he had pleural mesothelioma.

Though Steve tried to keep his condition a secret, National Investigator revealed he had terminal cancer on March 11, 1980.

Barbara’s first husband Steve went to Mexico for treatment – how did he die?

When McQueen’s illness was publicly announced, he traveled to Rosarito Beach for treatment after US doctors told him they couldn’t help him. He went to get help from William Donald Kelly, an American orthodontist who was promoting Gerson therapy at the time.

He spent three months in Mexico for his treatment. Steve reportedly paid $40,000 a month (now $132,000) during his stay and returned to the US in early October.

Upon returning home, Steve’s condition began to deteriorate and massive tumors developed in his abdominal area. After a few days, he flew back to Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua to have an abdominal tumor on his liver removed.

Despite warnings from doctors in the US, McQueen insisted on having the tumor removed under the name ‘Samuel Sheppard’. Although the surgery went well, Steve suffered a heart attack 12 hours later and died in a hospital in Juarez on November 7, 1980.

The final rituals were done by Leonard DeWitt of the Ventura Missionary Church. Steve was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Barbara Minty had a hard time moving on after Steve’s death

Barbara was only widowed 27 after McQueen’s death. The couple separated for eternity, less than a year into their marriage. In addition, after his final rituals, Barbara said goodbye to the industry and began to focus on raising Chad and Terry McQueen.

After 27 years after McQueen’s death, Minty published a book called: Steve McQueen – The Last Mile where she talks about the couple’s relationship.

The book features some unseen photos of Steve and Barbara from their three-year relationship. It is available on Amazon for $49 each.

Likewise, in honor of McQueen, Minty has joined forces with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization to raise awareness about asbestos. There is also a fierce fight to ban the import and export of asbestos in the US.

Barbara Minty’s Life After Steve’s Death – Who Is Her Second Husband?

Years later, the former model found comfort in her second husband David Burnsvold. The couple has been married for quite some time, although they have not released any information about their marriage or how they met.

Barbara Minty and her second husband now live in Twin Falls, Idaho and lead a quiet lifestyle. After leaving the showbiz industry, Minty makes rare public appearances.

How rich will Barbara Minty be in 2022?

According to several online tabloids, Minty is worth about $2 million as of mid-2022. She makes her million dollar fortune as a photographer and former model.

Minty learned photography to move on from the tragedy. As of 2022, she has held art exhibitions of her work in places such as London, Liverpool, Tokyo, San Francisco, Nashville, Boise, Paris, Hamburg and Phoenix.

In addition, while she was married to Steve, they lived on a ranch in Santa Paula worth $1.95 million† It is the same house where they got married in January 1980.

Not to mention, Minty also owns a mall in Twin Falls, Idaho, which she bought after selling a piece of land left behind by her late husband Steve McQueen.