The Hunter

The Hunter is a 1980 American biographical action thriller film directed by Buzz Kulik and starring Steve McQueen. The film was McQueen's final role before his death in November of that year at age 50. The cast also features Eli Wallach, Kathryn Harrold, LeVar Burton, Ben Johnson, and Richard Venture. This was the last theatrical film made by director Buzz Kulik. Plot Ralph "Papa" Thorson (Steve McQueen) arrives in a small town in Illinois where, despite being a terrible driver (a running joke used throughout the film), he captures fugitive Tommy Price (LeVar Burton) for fleeing on his bail. Thorson next drives to Houston to bring in a dangerous hooligan named Billie Joe, whose kinfolk include Sheriff Strong (Ben Johnson), a corrupt redneck lawman who warns Thorson not to get involved. Papa ignores him and ends up in a destructive fight with the enormous fugitive but succeeds in apprehending him. Thorson drives both Tommy Price and Billie Joe back to Los Angeles, where he collects his reward for bringing them back. However, Thorson vouches for Price, who soon begins fixing things at Thorson's house and becomes one of Thorson's many acquaintances who hang out there.