Michael Madsen, 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Kill Bill' actor, dies at 67
The actor was found unresponsive early Thursday at his home in Malibu, they said.
"Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many," his managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith said in a joint statement with his publicist, Liz Rodriguez.
Madsen's most iconic performances include Mr. Blonde, a psychopathic criminal in the 1992 crime thriller "Reservoir Dogs," and Budd, the younger brother of the antagonist in the "Kill Bill" movies, both directed by Tarantino.
In addition to his appearances in other Tarantino films like "The Hateful Eight" and "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood," Madsen's prolific career saw him play more than 300 roles over the course of 40 years.
Among his other notable films are "Thelma & Louise," "Free Willy," "Donnie Brasco" and the 2002 James Bond flick "Die Another Day."
Madsen also did voiceovers for several video games, including "Grand Theft Auto III," and published several volumes of poetry.
Madsen was born on 25 September 1957 in Chicago to a firefighter father and a filmmaker mother. His sister, Virginia Madsen, is also an actress.
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The South African
43 minutes ago
- The South African
Hollywood icon Michael Madsen's cause of death revealed
Michael Madsen, the legendary actor known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, has died at the age of 67. Authorities found Madsen unresponsive at his Malibu home early Thursday morning. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. His manager confirmed the cause of death as cardiac arrest. Michael Madsen's lawyer revealed that the actor had been battling alcoholism in the years leading up to his death. 'Michael was suffering from the effects of alcoholism. He had multiple stints in and out of rehab and struggled to maintain his sobriety. Perry Wander, who represented Madsen for two decades, said, 'Michael did not feel happy about his life.' Family members, including his estranged wife DeAnna and sons Max, Christian, and Luke, gathered outside the Malibu home in the hours after his passing. The family's grief was palpable as they consoled each other in the driveway, according to Daily Mail. Michael Madsen's later years were marked by personal and legal turmoil. He faced a bitter legal battle with DeAnna over child support and finances. His lawyer claimed this dispute, which led to the revocation of Madsen's passport, affected his ability to work abroad. 'I blame her for putting in the screws over his last years of life,' Wander stated. The actor's struggles were compounded by the tragic suicide of his son Hudson in 2022. Hudson, a US Army sergeant, died at 26. Madsen spoke openly about the pain of losing his son, saying, 'I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy – my last text from him was 'I love you, dad''. Madsen's career spanned more than four decades. He became a household name for his tough-guy roles in Tarantino's films, including Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004). He also starred in Donnie Brasco ( 1997) alongside Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. His representatives said, 'In the last two years, Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film. This includes upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions , and Cookbook for Southern Housewives , and he was looking forward to this next chapter in his life'. Madsen is survived by his five children, his estranged wife, DeAnna, and his sister, Virginia. His legacy as one of Hollywood's most iconic actors will endure, both on screen and in the hearts of his fans. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
9 hours ago
- eNCA
Michael Madsen, 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Kill Bill' actor, dies at 67
LOS ANGELES - US actor Michael Madsen -- best known for his frequent collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino including "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill" -- died on Thursday at age 67 after suffering cardiac arrest, his management team said. The actor was found unresponsive early Thursday at his home in Malibu, they said. "Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many," his managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith said in a joint statement with his publicist, Liz Rodriguez. Madsen's most iconic performances include Mr. Blonde, a psychopathic criminal in the 1992 crime thriller "Reservoir Dogs," and Budd, the younger brother of the antagonist in the "Kill Bill" movies, both directed by Tarantino. In addition to his appearances in other Tarantino films like "The Hateful Eight" and "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood," Madsen's prolific career saw him play more than 300 roles over the course of 40 years. Among his other notable films are "Thelma & Louise," "Free Willy," "Donnie Brasco" and the 2002 James Bond flick "Die Another Day." Madsen also did voiceovers for several video games, including "Grand Theft Auto III," and published several volumes of poetry. Madsen was born on 25 September 1957 in Chicago to a firefighter father and a filmmaker mother. His sister, Virginia Madsen, is also an actress.
The South African
15 hours ago
- The South African
Veteran Kill Bill actor found dead at his home
Hollywood actor Michael Madsen died on July 3, at his home in California. image: Instagram/michaelmadsenofficial Veteran actor Michael Madsen has died at the age of 67. The highly-praised actor is best known for his antagonistic roles in such Quentin Tarantino classics as Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill. HOW THE WORLD CAME TO LOSE MICHAEL MADSEN The 67-year-old Madsen was found at his home in Malibu, California, on the morning of July 3, 2025. ADVERTISEMENT The actor was pronounced dead on the scene after he succumbed to cardiac arrest, which his manager has confirmed. MICHAEL MADSEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOLLYWOOD Madsen enjoyed the limelight for more than 40 years and amassed more than 300 film and television credits. He had a knack for really locking into roles that saw him portray an antagonist, which led him and Tarantino to develop an on-screen rapport of the highest order. THE RAZOR BLADE AND THE EAR Madsen has a myriad of memorable scenes, but none more iconic than the torture scene in the quintessential, Tarantino film, Reservoir Dogs (1992). A robbery goes awry due to a cop infiltrating a caper. The unhinged Mr Blonde, portrayed by Madsen, goes about sniffing the mole out. He zeros in on the person he thinks is compromised and slices his ear off while dancing playfully to Stuck In The Middle With You by Stealers Wheel. OTHER MUST-SEE MADSEN APPEARANCES Madsen will usually be a dark character, as is evinced by his work in such films as Donnie Brasco (1997), The Hateful Eight (2015), and Kill Bill: Volumes 1 and 2 (2003-2004). He showed a softer side to his art in Free Willy (1993) and portrayed an anti-hero in Sin City (2005) as the crooked cop, Bob. His sister Virginia Madsen-an Oscar nominated actor-paid homage to her brother with some sincere sentiments shared about him in a statement. 'He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw,' she intimated. ADVERTISEMENT WHAT THE ACTOR WAS WORKING ON BEFORE HE DIED For the last few years, he had been placing his efforts on creating a few independent feature films. He was also gearing up to release a book of poetry. The collection entitled Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems was an offering fans were anticipating. In March, he became an ambassador for a cigar brand, a new venture about which he was excited. Madsen is survived by five children. He lost his son, Hudson, to suicide in 2022. This had a hard-hitting effect on the enthralling talent from Chicago, Illinois. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MICHAEL MADSEN FILM? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
