Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill star Michael Madsen dies aged 67
The actor was found unresponsive at his home in Malibu, California, on Thursday morning and pronounced dead, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department watch commander Christopher Jauregui said.
Madsen died following a cardiac arrest, his manager Ron Smith said, while authorities said they do not suspect any foul play was involved.
The US actor was best known for collaborations with Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino in films including The Hateful Eight, Kill Bill: Vol 1 and 2 and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.
In Reservoir Dogs, Madsen starred as Mr Blonde where he danced to Stealers Wheel's 1972 hit Stuck In The Middle With You whilst wielding a razor during a torture scene.
In a joint statement, his managers Susan Ferris and Mr Smith and publicist Liz Rodriguez said: 'In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook For Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life.
'Michael was also preparing to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts And Poems currently being edited.
'Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.'
His film career spanned more than four decades and included over 300 titles, his publicist said.
The actor also starred in the Free Willy film franchise as Glen Greenwood, the adoptive father of protagonist Jesse Greenwood – played by Jason James Richter in the first three films from 1993 until 1997.
He appeared in Thelma And Louise and Donnie Brasco, as well as Die Another Day in the James Bond franchise.
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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Harvey Keitel pays tribute to co-star Michael Madsen after he dies aged 67
Harvey Keitel has paid tribute to his late friend Michael Madsen following his death on June 3 at his home, in Malibu. Actor Madsen, 67, had a long and successful career as one of Hollywood's best actors. 'We've lost another great American poet,' Keitel said in a statement to 'Farewell, my dear friend.' Madsen and Keitel starred in Quentin Tarantino's film Reservoir Dogs as Vic Vega/Mr Blonde and Larry Dimmick / Mr White. Keitel continued: 'I'll never forget one of the best scenes I've ever seen on film - of you and Chris Penn fighting in Reservoir Dogs. 'A great love scene. Give Chris a hug for me,' he added. Chris, Sean Penn's younger brother, died in 2006 at the age of 40. He played Eddie Cabot in Reservoir Dogs. Madsen went on to star in three more Tarantino films, The Hateful Eight and Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. The actor played a violent ex-convict who plans to rob a jewelry store with seven other men in Reservoir Dogs. The role of Vic Vega some say led to him being typecast. 'I guess it's part of the whole bad-boy package,' he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. 'But I'd rather have a movie like Reservoir Dogs than not have it. There are a lot of actors that are a lot more recognized or famous than me, who get paid a lot more than me who haven't done even one film that you'd remember.' The legendary actor was found 'unresponsive' at his home in Malibu, California early Thursday morning. His manager said Madsen had died from 'cardiac arrest.' But Madsen's lawyer Perry Wander hinted that the movie star drank himself to death and blamed the actor's two former wives for making him miserable. I just spoke to Michael two days ago,' Wander told admitting that: 'I knew he was not well. 'Michael was suffering from the effects of alcoholism. He had multiple stints in and out of rehab. He struggled to maintain his sobriety. He was not happy about his life.' Madsen was also facing a crippling legal battle with his estranged wife, which saw the pair fighting over child support and other finances, his lawyer claimed. 'I blame her for putting in the screws over his last years of life,' Wander said, alleging the legal battle, which saw his passport be 'maliciously revoked', impacted his ability to travel and work abroad. Studies by the National Institutes of Health have found that heavy drinking can significantly increase the risk of cardiac arrest. Meanwhile, Michael Madsen's youngest son has paid an emotional tribute to his actor father. Luke Madsen, one of the three sons the actor welcomed with wife DeAnna, took to Instagram to laud his father and 'tell Hudson I said hi' - in honor of his brother who died by suicide in 2022. Sharing three childhood snaps with his father, he wrote: 'Some Peoples Hero's Wear Capes. 'And Fly Shooting Lasers Out Of Their Eyes. Some peoples Heros Can Fight Off Armies And Overcome Anything.' 'My Hero Wore A Cowboy Hat. My Hero Stood Taller And Stronger Than Any Man I've Ever Met. 'My Hero Understood Me Better Than Anyone. My Hero Is The Coolest Most Badass Human Being I Know. 'Not Only Was My Hero A Famous Tough Guy Movie Star. My Hero Was My Father. And He Was. Damn Good One.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
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Michael Madsen dead at 67: Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs star passes away at his Malibu home
Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs icon Michael Madsen has died aged 67. The legendary actor was found 'unresponsive' at his Malibu home early Thursday morning, can confirm. Deputies responded to the Los Angeles County home after a 911 call early Thursday. Madsen was pronounced dead at the home. The star's manager Ron Smith claimed to that Madsen had died from 'cardiac arrest.' A statement from the star's representatives read: 'In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life. 'Madsen was also preparing to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems. A frequent collaborator of Quentin Tarantino, Madsen starred in films including 1993's Reservoir Dogs (left) and 2003's Kill Bill (right) His death comes 11 months after the Kill Bill star was arrested for domestic violence amid claims he got physical with his spouse DeAnna - the case was later tossed out - pictured 2009 'Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.' Madsen was best known for his frequent collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino, starring in Reservoir Dogs (1992), Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), The Hateful Eight (2015), and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). He also starred in 1997's Donnie Brasco as Sonny Black. Madsen is survived by his five children, wife DeAnna and his actress sister Virginia Madsen. His son Hudson died by suicide in 2022 aged 26. Virginia paid emotional tribute to Madsen in a statement to Variety, which read: 'My brother Michael has left the stage. He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother — etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark. 'We're not mourning a public figure. We're not mourning a myth — but flesh and blood and ferocious heart. Who stormed through life loud, brilliant, and half on fire. Who leaves us echoes — gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable — half legend, half lullaby. 'I'll miss our inside jokes, the sudden laughter, the sound of him. I'll miss the boy he was before the legend; I miss my big brother. Thank you to everyone reaching out with love and memory. In time, we'll share how we plan to celebrate his life — but for now, we stay close, and let the silence say what words can't.' He was first wed to Georganne LaPiere, half-sister of singer and actress Cher from 1984-1988. He welcomed a daughter named Jessica with Dana Mechling. He was married to Jeannine Bisignano from 1991 to 1995. They have two sons, Christian and Max. In 1996, he married DeAnna. Together they had three sons, Luke, Kalvin and Hudson. His death comes 11 months after his domestic violence case - where he was accused of shoving wife DeAnna - was dismissed due to 'insufficient evidence.' 'We are thrilled that Michael Madsen is able to put this behind him and look forward to our continued collaboration with more great things coming from this veteran and respected actor,' his representative said at the time. The star was arrested for domestic violence amid claims he got physical with his spouse. He also allegedly locked her out of their home, which is located in the Los Angeles area. The Reservoir Dogs star was given a misdemeanor domestic violence charge at the time. He also had to spend part of his weekend in jail, before posting a $20,000 bond. Days later in a statement to THR, Madsen's lawyer Perry Wander insisted that his client was 'not guilty of domestic violence.' A representative for the star confirmed the incident saying: 'It was a disagreement between Michael and his wife, which we hope resolves positively for them both.' Madsen filed for divorce from DeAnna in September 2024 - and in court papers obtained by he accused his estranged wife of driving their son to die by suicide 'by her neglect, drinking and alcoholism.' A month later, he issued a regretful Instagram statement apologizing for his claims and denying he had wanted to end their marriage. He said: 'Losing a child is the hardest and most painful experience that can happen in this world. 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. 'She had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to our son. It was a horrible loss and choice that was made for reasons that truly cannot ever be known because the person is gone, I don't think my son is dead , I think he escaped from a life that didn't make sense anymore.' It wasn't Madsen's first brush with the law. In 2022 the Hollywood actor was arrested for trespassing at a luxury house from which he was evicted, reported. It was a $5.3 million Malibu mansion just across the Pacific Coast Highway from La Costa Beach. A source exclusively told at the time: 'Michael had been living at the house since last year, but the lease was in another person's name.' The house was leased out by another person and several thousand dollars were owed in back rent, has learned. The owner had tried for the past two years to get the tenants evicted, but because of the moratorium on evictions on account of Covid, it took several months to go through the legal process. His arrest came just a month after his son, US Army Sgt. Hudson Madsen shot himself dead on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where he was stationed with the 25th Infantry Division. Hudson was an Afghan war vet. Hudson's death came a week after his wife Carlie underwent surgery to remove a tumor from her breast. '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,"' he told the Los Angeles Times. 'I didn't see any signs of depression. It's so tragic and sad. I'm just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened.' Madsen said his son's marriage was 'going strong' and he had recently completed his first tour in the U.S. Army. 'He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family. He was looking towards his future, so its mind-blowing. I just can't grasp what happened.' Madsen has requested a full military investigation into his son's death. The actor thinks 'the officers and rank and file were shaming' Hudson for wanting therapy. He believes this stopped him from seeking help for mental health issues he had been keeping to himself. In 2019, the actor was axed from a $100,000 role in movie Confessions of a Serial Killer after crashing his Land Rover into a pole and subsequently being arrested for DUI. He was later sentenced to four days in jail. In 2012 he was also arrested for DUI after driving erratically but struck a plea deal that involved attending AA meetings in lieu of more severe punishment. However, after Madsen failed to attend his court ordered Alcoholics Anonymous meetings his probation was revoked. That same year he was arrested at his Malibu home after allegedly getting into a physical fight with his son after catching him smoking marijuana. The actor was being held in jail on $100,000 bail after being charged with child endangerment with cruelty to a child: a felony charge, which means it is considered a crime of high seriousness. He did not face any charges after his arrest for suspected child endangerment.
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
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Michael Madsen's youngest son, 19, breaks silence on actor's shock death at 67 with heartbreaking tribute
Michael Madsen's youngest son has paid an emotional tribute to his beloved actor father after his shock death at 66 on Thursday. The Kill Bill icon was found 'unresponsive' at his Malibu home early Thursday morning. Deputies responded to the Los Angeles County home after a 911 call early Thursday. Madsen was pronounced dead at the home. His management later claimed he had died from cardiac arrest. Luke Madsen, one of the three sons the actor welcomed with wife DeAnna, took to Instagram to laud his father and 'tell Hudson I said hi' - in honor of his brother who died by suicide in 2022. Sharing three childhood snaps with his father, he wrote: 'Some Peoples Hero's Wear Capes. 'And Fly Shooting Lasers Out Of Their Eyes. Some peoples Hero's Can Fight Off Armies And Overcome Anything. 'My Hero Wore A Cowboy Hat. My Hero Stood Taller And Stronger Than Any Man I've Ever Met. 'My Hero Understood Me Better Than Anyone. My Hero Is The Coolest Most Badass Human Being I Know. 'Not Only Was My Hero A Famous Tough Guy Movie Star. My Hero Was My Father. And He Was. Damn Good One. 'Love You Pops. I'll See You Again Someday. Tell Hudson I Said Hi.' [sic] Luke, along with members of his heartbroken family rushed to the Reservoir Dogs star's home on Thursday as news of his death broke. His lawyer said the actor - known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill - was battling an alcohol addiction before he tragically died. Hours after his death, obtained photos of Madsen's heartbroken family — including his estranged wife DeAnna — gathering outside his house. A man who looked to be Madsen's son Max, 31, consoled DeAnna while standing in the home's driveway as more family members arrived. Madsen's eldest son Christian, 35, and his youngest son Luke, 19, also appeared to be at the scene. A statement from the star's representatives to read: 'In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life. 'Madsen was also preparing to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems. 'Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.' Madsen was best known for his frequent collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino, starring in Reservoir Dogs (1992), Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), The Hateful Eight (2015), and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). He also starred in 1997's Donnie Brasco as Sonny Black. Madsen is survived by his five children, estranged wife DeAnna and his actress sister Virginia Madsen. His son Hudson died by suicide in 2022 aged 26. Perry Wander, who has represented the star for 20 years, said the Kill Bill icon had 'many struggles'. 'I just spoke to Michael two days ago,' Wander told Daily Mail, admitting that 'I knew he was not well.' 'Michael was suffering from the effects of alcoholism. He had multiple stints in and out of rehab. He struggled to maintain his sobriety. He was not happy about his life.' Madsen was also facing a crippling legal battle with his estranged wife, which saw the pair fighting over child support and other finances, his lawyer claimed. 'I blame her for putting in the screws over his last years of life,' Wander said, alleging the legal battle, which saw his passport be 'maliciously revoked', impacted his ability to travel and work abroad. 'Michael lived a life of regrets - those regrets being his two marriages,' he added. Virginia paid emotional tribute to Madsen in a statement to Variety, which read: 'My brother Michael has left the stage. He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother — etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark. 'We're not mourning a public figure. We're not mourning a myth — but flesh and blood and ferocious heart. Who stormed through life loud, brilliant, and half on fire. Who leaves us echoes — gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable — half legend, half lullaby. 'I'll miss our inside jokes, the sudden laughter, the sound of him. I'll miss the boy he was before the legend; I miss my big brother. Thank you to everyone reaching out with love and memory. In time, we'll share how we plan to celebrate his life — but for now, we stay close, and let the silence say what words can't.' A frequent collaborator of Quentin Tarantino, Madsen starred in films including 1993's Reservoir Dogs (left) and 2003's Kill Bill (right) He was first wed to Georganne LaPiere, half-sister of singer and actress Cher from 1984-1988. He welcomed a daughter named Jessica with Dana Mechling. He was married to Jeannine Bisignano from 1991 to 1995. They have two sons, Christian and Max. In 1996, he married DeAnna. Together they had three sons, Luke, Kalvin and Hudson. His death comes 11 months after his domestic violence case - where he was accused of shoving wife DeAnna - was dismissed due to 'insufficient evidence.' 'We are thrilled that Michael Madsen is able to put this behind him and look forward to our continued collaboration with more great things coming from this veteran and respected actor,' his representative said at the time. The star was arrested for domestic violence amid claims he got physical with his spouse. He also allegedly locked her out of their home, which is located in the Los Angeles area. The Reservoir Dogs star was given a misdemeanor domestic violence charge at the time. He also had to spend part of his weekend in jail, before posting a $20,000 bond. Days later in a statement to THR, Madsen's lawyer Perry Wander insisted that his client was 'not guilty of domestic violence.' A representative for the star confirmed the incident saying: 'It was a disagreement between Michael and his wife, which we hope resolves positively for them both.' Madsen filed for divorce from DeAnna in September 2024 - and in court papers obtained by he accused his estranged wife of driving their son to die by suicide 'by her neglect, drinking and alcoholism.' A month later, he issued a regretful Instagram statement apologizing for his claims and denying he had wanted to end their marriage. He said: 'Losing a child is the hardest and most painful experience that can happen in this world. 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. 'She had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to our son. It was a horrible loss and choice that was made for reasons that truly cannot ever be known because the person is gone, I don't think my son is dead , I think he escaped from a life that didn't make sense anymore.' It wasn't Madsen's first brush with the law. In 2022 the Hollywood actor was arrested for trespassing at a luxury house from which he was evicted, reported. It was a $5.3 million Malibu mansion just across the Pacific Coast Highway from La Costa Beach. A source exclusively told at the time: 'Michael had been living at the house since last year, but the lease was in another person's name.' The house was leased out by another person and several thousand dollars were owed in back rent, has learned. The owner had tried for the past two years to get the tenants evicted, but because of the moratorium on evictions on account of Covid, it took several months to go through the legal process. His arrest came just a month after his son, US Army Sgt. Hudson Madsen shot himself dead on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where he was stationed with the 25th Infantry Division. Hudson was an Afghan war vet. Hudson's death came a week after his wife Carlie underwent surgery to remove a tumor from her breast. '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,'' he told the Los Angeles Times. 'I didn't see any signs of depression. It's so tragic and sad. I'm just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened.' Madsen said his son's marriage was 'going strong' and he had recently completed his first tour in the U.S. Army. 'He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family. He was looking towards his future, so its mind-blowing. I just can't grasp what happened.' Madsen has requested a full military investigation into his son's death. The actor thinks 'the officers and rank and file were shaming' Hudson for wanting therapy. He believes this stopped him from seeking help for mental health issues he had been keeping to himself. In 2019, the actor was axed from a $100,000 role in movie Confessions of a Serial Killer after crashing his Land Rover into a pole and subsequently being arrested for DUI. He was later sentenced to four days in jail. In 2012 he was also arrested for DUI after driving erratically but struck a plea deal that involved attending AA meetings in lieu of more severe punishment. However, after Madsen failed to attend his court ordered Alcoholics Anonymous meetings his probation was revoked. That same year he was arrested at his Malibu home after allegedly getting into a physical fight with his son after catching him smoking marijuana. The actor was being held in jail on $100,000 bail after being charged with child endangerment with cruelty to a child: a felony charge, which means it is considered a crime of high seriousness. He did not face any charges after his arrest for suspected child endangerment.
