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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial | |
ARTICLE VIEW: | |
Michael Madsen, actor of ‘Kill Bill’ and ‘Reservoir Dogs’ fame, | |
dead at 67 | |
By Dan Heching and Alli Rosenbloom, CNN | |
Updated: | |
9:14 PM EDT, Thu July 3, 2025 | |
Source: CNN | |
Actor Michael Madsen, a stoic actor who worked frequently with director | |
Quentin Tarantino and appeared in various acclaimed films from the | |
1980s onward, has died, according to his publicist Liz Rodriguez. He | |
was 67. | |
Rodriguez told CNN that Madsen had a cardiac arrest and was found | |
unresponsive in his Malibu home Thursday morning. | |
“Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will | |
be missed by many,” said a joint statement from his managers Susan | |
Ferris and Ron Smith of Bohemia Entertainment and Rodriguez. | |
Sgt. Christopher Jauregui, watch commander for Los Angeles Sheriff | |
Department Lost Hills Station confirmed to CNN Thursday that deputies | |
responded to Madsen’s home in Malibu this morning and found him | |
“unresponsive.” | |
He was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. local time and no foul play is | |
suspected, Jauregui added. | |
Illustrious body of work | |
Madsen was a prolific dramatic actor who was best known for his work in | |
several of Tarantino’s films, including “Reservoir Dogs,” “Once | |
Upon a Time… in Hollywood” and the “Kill Bill” films. | |
Known for his stony looks and calm, sometimes menacing demeanor, Madsen | |
could play a fierce villain (see “Kill Bill”) as well as a | |
protagonist, as seen in 1995’s “Species.” | |
Having gotten his start in TV in the early ’80s – an early role on | |
‘St. Elsewhere in 1983 first put him on the map – Madsen soon | |
transitioned to films, where he made an impression in 1991’s Ridley | |
Scott-directed hit “Thelma & Louise,” in which he played Louise’s | |
(Susan Sarandon) put-upon love interest Jimmy. | |
The next year saw his first collaboration with Tarantino in | |
“Reservoir Dogs,” the uber-violent ensemble piece in which Madsen | |
played the sadistic Mr. Blonde. | |
Thus began a prolific time for the actor – who appeared in primarily | |
action films along with westerns like 1994’s “Wyatt Earp.” | |
While much of Madsen’s oeuvre strayed into B-movie territory, he | |
continued to appear in higher profile hits as well, such as “Donnie | |
Brasco” in 1997, the James Bond film “Die Another Day” in 2002, | |
and 2005’s “Sin City.” | |
Madsen’s knack for demented villains was perfected in his portrayal | |
of Sidewinder in the “Kill Bill” franchise, one of the foes Uma | |
Thurman’s Bride must vanquish before defeating her main nemesis. The | |
films were split into two volumes in 2003 and 2004. | |
Other roles in which he shined include 2004’s noir western | |
“Renegade” and “The Hateful Eight,” another Tarantino film, | |
from 2015. | |
“My career is like a heart monitor,” he said in a on the | |
“Reservoir Dogs” DVD. “I get involved in a good project now and | |
then to keep things going … every movie you make can’t be great, no | |
matter who you are.” | |
Personal troubles | |
Madsen’s off-screen life was marked by some legal and personal | |
troubles. | |
Last year, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery misdemeanor | |
after a dispute with his wife DeAnna Madsen, according to and online | |
arrest records. | |
The actor from DeAnna Madsen one month later. | |
In 2019, Madsen was for DUI, his second within 10 years, and in 2012, | |
was following a physical altercation with his then-teenage son. | |
Madsen was open about his struggles, telling the Independent in a 2020 | |
that he went through some “terrible, terrible times,” including his | |
DUIs and an injury following a motorcycle accident. | |
“Fame is not what it’s cracked up to be,” he added. “I’m not | |
complaining, because I’ve had a great life. But it can wreak havoc on | |
you if you’re not protected.” | |
In 2022, Madsen’s son Hudson died by suicide in Hawaii. | |
“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 . | |
Works to come | |
With over 320 credits to his name on IMDb, Madsen also had a whopping | |
18 titles in development at the time of his death. | |
In the statement from his representatives following his death, they | |
said Madsen had been “doing some incredible work with independent | |
film including upcoming feature films ‘Resurrection Road’, | |
‘Concessions’ and ‘Cookbook for Southern Housewives.’” | |
He was, the statement said, “really looking forward to this next | |
chapter in his life.” | |
“Cookbook” is a crime drama set in the early ’70s in the American | |
South, while “Concessions” follows the closing of a legendary movie | |
theater and costars Josh Hamilton. | |
According to his IMDb, Madsen was also set to appear in “Saturday at | |
the Starlight,” a comedy set at a roller rink in the 1990s costarring | |
Abigail Breslin and Denise Richards, and “Oldfellas,” about aging | |
mobsters at a retirement resort. | |
Madsen was also preparing to release a book called “Tears For My | |
Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems.” | |
“You’ll make a great film when you least expect it, or don’t | |
really anticipate it … I don’t have a crystal ball or time machine, | |
I can’t know what’s going to happen,” Madsen told in 2008. “I | |
just want longevity.” | |
This story has been updated with additional information. | |
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