Elizabeth Alice MacGraw, known as Ali MacGraw, was born on April 1, 1939, in Pound Ridge, New York. She grew up in an artistic family, with both her parents being commercial artists. Her mother, Frances, was a Hungarian Jewish artist, while her father, Richard, was a talented artist who studied in Munich.

She attended Rosemary Hall in Greenwich, Connecticut, and later graduated from Wellesley College in Massachusetts in 1960.

Ali MacGraw began her career in the fashion industry, working as a photographic assistant at Harper's Bazaar and as a fashion model at Vogue. Her striking looks and natural talent soon caught the attention of Hollywood, leading her to make her acting debut in television commercials.

She gained widespread recognition for her role in the 1969 film "Goodbye, Columbus," for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

Her breakthrough came with the 1970 romantic drama "Love Story," where she starred opposite Ryan O'Neal. The film was a massive success, and Ali received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, as well as a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama.

In 1972, she was voted the top female box office star in the world and had her handprints and footprints immortalized at Grauman's Chinese Theatre after just three films.

Her personal life has been as eventful as her career. She was married three times, first to Robin Hoen, then to film producer Robert Evans, and finally to actor Steve McQueen. Her marriage to McQueen was particularly well-publicized, and their relationship became the subject of much media attention.

Ali MacGraw and Steve divorced in 1978, and she has since lived a relatively private life in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Throughout her career, she starred in several notable films, including "The Getaway" (1972), "Convoy" (1978), and "Players" (1979). She also appeared in the TV miniseries "The Winds of War" (1983). In 1991, she published her autobiography, "Moving Pictures," where she candidly discussed her struggles with addiction and relationships.