Ali MacGraw’s journey is one of brilliance, resilience, and reinvention. Once a Hollywood superstar, she captivated audiences with her beauty and talent before choosing a quieter, more meaningful life. Now 84, she thrives in a small town near Santa Fe, New Mexico, embracing simplicity, advocacy, and family.
Born Elizabeth Alice MacGraw in 1939, she grew up in modest circumstances with artist parents whose struggles left a lasting impression. After graduating from Wellesley, Ali entered the fashion world, first as an assistant at Harper’s Bazaar and later as a model. Her striking looks led to acting, and she quickly rose to fame.
Her breakthrough came with Goodbye, Columbus (1969), followed by her iconic role in Love Story (1970), which earned her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe. At the height of her fame, Ali epitomized Hollywood glamour. But her personal life, including marriages to producer Robert Evans and actor Steve McQueen, often overshadowed her career.
By the late 1970s, she stepped away from acting and later sought help for addiction, finding strength and purpose through recovery. After losing her California home to a wildfire in 1993, she moved to New Mexico, where she devoted herself to yoga, animal rights, and community work.
Though retired, Ali remains an icon of grace and resilience. She shares a close bond with her son, actor-director Josh Evans, and embraces life as a devoted grandmother. Her story is a reminder that reinvention—and true beauty—comes from within.