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Michael Madsen, Quentin Tarantino Tough Guy, Dies at 67
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Michael Madsen, known for his work as a tough guy in several Quentin Tarantino classics, died Thursday at 67.
His team confirmed Madsen suffered cardiac arrest.
NBC 4 Los Angeles confirmed deputies had responded to a call from his Malibu home early Thursday, where they found Madsen. He was dead at the scene.
In a statement, his managers and publicist wrote, “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.”
It concluded, “Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”
Stars Remember Michael Madsen: ‘He Was Thunder & Velvet’
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Madsen was born September 25, 1957, in Chicago.
He joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, working alongside John Malkovich, ahead of moving into films.
His debut came in the box-office smash “WarGames” (1983). He was rarely out of work, adding to his long résumé “Racing with the Moon” (1984), “The Natural” (1984), and “Thelma & Louise” (1991).
He first worked with Quentin Tarantino in the auteur’s feature debut, “Reservoir Dogs” (1992), in which he played sadistic Mr. Blonde, who favored blasting music — “Stuck in the Middle with You” — while torturing captives.
He was a famous British actor in “The Doors” (1991); a foster dad in “Free Willy” (1993) and its 1995 sequel; Virgil Earp in “Wyatt Earp” (1994); a hard-boiled detective in the noir throwback “Mulholland Falls” (1996); and a mob boss in the acclaimed 1997 film “Donnie Brasco.”
Returning to work with Tarantino, he made one of his most lasting impressions as Budd in “Kill Bill: Volumes 1 & 2” (2003 & 2004), and was cast twice more by the director, in his “The Hateful Eight” (2015) and “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” (2019).
Madsen was also an in-demand voice actor in “Grand Theft Auto” and other series.
The actor worked seemingly every waking moment — he had 328 credits on IMDb and another 18 projects in the can — and had been given a clean bill of health by doctors days before his death to keep working. According to TMZ, he had been at a hospital a week ago to investigate rotator cuff surgery, and nothing doctors saw raised red flags.
His longtime assistant Dougie Smith — who found Madsen’s body — told the outlet that his passing was especially shocking because, “He looked like he had been in the best health he had been in all year!”
The twice-divorced Madsen, who was once married to Cher’s half sister, is survived by his estranged wife DeAnna, whom he was arrested for battering in 2024. At the time, Madsen’s lawyer vehemently denied he had been guilty of domestic violence, while DeAnna told People magazine he was “struggling with his own personal issues,” requesting privacy.
Along with his mother, Emmy-winning documentarian Elaine Madsen, he is survived by two siblings, including actress Virginia Madsen.
He is also survived by four children, including actor Christian Madsen. He was preceded in death by his son Hudson, who took his own life in 2022.
