Michael Madsen's challenging final years revealed including nasty divorce and young son's tragic suicide
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
ACTOR Michael Madsen suffered through years of family struggles before his sudden death on Thursday.
The Kill Bill star was found unresponsive at his Malibu home just months after he filed for divorce from his third wife and three years after the tragic suicide of his son.
Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter
Sign up
3
Actor Michael Madsen's young son, Hudson Madsen, seen in 2011, died just years before the star's death
Credit: Getty
3
Hudson was just 26 years old when he died by suicide in 2022
Credit: Instagram
3
Madsen filed for divorce from his wife DeAnna Madsen in September and accused her of enflaming their son's mental health struggles, but later took back the claims
Credit: AFP
Los Angeles County deputies rushed to Madsen's home in Malibu, California, after getting a 911 call that he was unresponsive.
They said he was dead by the time they arrived, and believed that he died from natural causes. No foul play is suspected.
According to the actor's manager, Madsen died from cardiac arrest.
His death came as a shock, as the Hollywood star was working on many independent film projects when the tragedy struck.
Just months before he collapsed, Madsen celebrated a career highlight by becoming the new face of a cigar company and was pictured on the front page of Hollywood Times.
But amid his professional success, the actor was waging a bitter legal war with his estranged wife DeAnna Madsen after 28 years of marriage.
Madsen filed for divorce from DeAnna in September, court documents show, and the couple had been separated since January 2022.
In the documents, the actor alleged that the two parted ways shortly after their 26-year-old son Hudson died by suicide, People reported at the time.
He blamed his wife for inflaming their son's mental health battle with her "neglect, drinking, and alcoholism" and said they had "irreconcilable differences" in the docs.
The actor even got a domestic violence restraining order against DeAnna.
The filing came one month after Madsen was arrested for battery of a spouse.
His lawyer claimed at the time that he had "confronted" DeAnna and "asked her to leave" their house.
'Michael has shown immense compassion and restraint during this period towards his estranged wife,' his lawyer Perry Wander told The Hollywood Reporter days after the arrest.
'He's definitely not guilty of domestic violence."
Meanwhile, DeAnna accused her estranged partner of "struggling with his own personal issues."
"Myself and our children have been supporting him to the best of our ability. We would request privacy at this time," she told the outlet.
Weeks after the filings were made public, Madsen released an emotional statement on social media, saying that he wished his "wife no harm or embarrassment."
"Losing a child is the hardest and most painful experience that can happen in this world," he wrote.
"I deeply apologize for not correcting this earlier but I love my wife and our other 4 children and have no desire for divorce or blame."
Madsen clarified that his wife has "absolutely nothing to do with what happened to our son" and described the death as a "horrible loss."
"I don't think my son is dead, I think he escaped from a life that didn't make sense anymore," he wrote.
More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
34 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Meghan opens up about July 4 ‘tradition' and second date with Harry
The pair now include children Archie and Lilibet in the tradition, Meghan added. Posting a picture of seven cupcakes on social media, Meghan wrote: 'Our second date was the 4th of July 2016 and H brought me cupcakes to celebrate. 'Now, all these years later, our two children are in on the tradition. 'Happy Independence Day! May your day be as sweet as these cupcakes'. The duchess was also seen smiling in the kitchen and preparing fruit platters in a reel posted by her As Ever brand to mark the US holiday. A video on As Ever's Instagram account, captioned 'Happy 4th of July!' showed Meghan preparing boards of fruit and jam. Earlier this week, the duchess' new rose wine, which is said to 'capture the essence of sun-drenched outdoor moments' and costs more than £20 a bottle, sold out within an hour. Meghan launched her As Ever Napa Valley Rose 2023, described as having 'soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish', on Tuesday. The beverage, priced at more than £65 for a minimum three-bottle order, had only appeared to be available for US customers to buy, with shipping addresses limited to America. The duchess made her social media return in early 2025 and regularly shares personal milestones and professional updates through her Instagram account. Harry and Meghan have been raising their children in Montecito, California, since announcing they were stepping back as working members of the royal family on January 8 2020. The couple have since been at the centre of tensions with other royals, with the duke becoming estranged from his father, the King, and his brother, the Prince of Wales. In a recent interview, Harry said he 'would love a reconciliation' with his family, claiming Charles will not speak to him and expressing concern that he does not know 'how much longer my father has'.
Rhyl Journal
35 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Meghan opens up about July 4 ‘tradition' and second date with Harry
In an Instagram post, Meghan said the couple began marking Independence Day in the United States with sweet treats after the duke brought themed cupcakes to celebrate their second date in 2016. The pair now include children Archie and Lilibet in the tradition, Meghan added. A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) Posting a picture of seven cupcakes on social media, Meghan wrote: 'Our second date was the 4th of July 2016 and H brought me cupcakes to celebrate. 'Now, all these years later, our two children are in on the tradition. 'Happy Independence Day! May your day be as sweet as these cupcakes'. The duchess was also seen smiling in the kitchen and preparing fruit platters in a reel posted by her As Ever brand to mark the US holiday. A video on As Ever's Instagram account, captioned 'Happy 4th of July!' showed Meghan preparing boards of fruit and jam. Earlier this week, the duchess' new rose wine, which is said to 'capture the essence of sun-drenched outdoor moments' and costs more than £20 a bottle, sold out within an hour. Meghan launched her As Ever Napa Valley Rose 2023, described as having 'soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish', on Tuesday. The beverage, priced at more than £65 for a minimum three-bottle order, had only appeared to be available for US customers to buy, with shipping addresses limited to America. A post shared by @aseverofficial The duchess made her social media return in early 2025 and regularly shares personal milestones and professional updates through her Instagram and Meghan have been raising their children in Montecito, California, since announcing they were stepping back as working members of the royal family on January 8 2020. The couple have since been at the centre of tensions with other royals, with the duke becoming estranged from his father, the King, and his brother, the Prince of Wales. In a recent interview, Harry said he 'would love a reconciliation' with his family, claiming Charles will not speak to him and expressing concern that he does not know 'how much longer my father has'.
North Wales Chronicle
35 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Meghan opens up about July 4 ‘tradition' and second date with Harry
In an Instagram post, Meghan said the couple began marking Independence Day in the United States with sweet treats after the duke brought themed cupcakes to celebrate their second date in 2016. The pair now include children Archie and Lilibet in the tradition, Meghan added. A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) Posting a picture of seven cupcakes on social media, Meghan wrote: 'Our second date was the 4th of July 2016 and H brought me cupcakes to celebrate. 'Now, all these years later, our two children are in on the tradition. 'Happy Independence Day! May your day be as sweet as these cupcakes'. The duchess was also seen smiling in the kitchen and preparing fruit platters in a reel posted by her As Ever brand to mark the US holiday. A video on As Ever's Instagram account, captioned 'Happy 4th of July!' showed Meghan preparing boards of fruit and jam. Earlier this week, the duchess' new rose wine, which is said to 'capture the essence of sun-drenched outdoor moments' and costs more than £20 a bottle, sold out within an hour. Meghan launched her As Ever Napa Valley Rose 2023, described as having 'soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish', on Tuesday. The beverage, priced at more than £65 for a minimum three-bottle order, had only appeared to be available for US customers to buy, with shipping addresses limited to America. A post shared by @aseverofficial The duchess made her social media return in early 2025 and regularly shares personal milestones and professional updates through her Instagram and Meghan have been raising their children in Montecito, California, since announcing they were stepping back as working members of the royal family on January 8 2020. The couple have since been at the centre of tensions with other royals, with the duke becoming estranged from his father, the King, and his brother, the Prince of Wales. In a recent interview, Harry said he 'would love a reconciliation' with his family, claiming Charles will not speak to him and expressing concern that he does not know 'how much longer my father has'.
