'Reservoir Dogs' veteran Michael Madsen dies of cardiac arrest at 67

Michael Madsen, the actor most known for his roles in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill: Vol. 2, has died. He was 67.

His manager, Ron Smith, confirmed his demise, revealing that he succumbed to cardiac arrest on Thursday morning. Per NBC News and The Hollywood Reporter, he was found unresponsive in his home in Malibu by deputies responding to an emergency call. He was consequently pronounced dead by 8:25 a.m., a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson has confirmed.

His managers, Susan Ferris and Smith, and publicist Liz Rodriguez have since issued a statement:

"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.”

Michael Madsen dies at 67: Hollywood veteran's life and legacy explored

Per IGN, one of Michael Madsen’s most famous roles was as Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 classic Reservoir Dogs. He was also known for portraying Budd, an assassin and Bill’s brother, in Kill Bill: Vol. 2. He has worked with the director on The Hateful Eight in 2015 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2019.

The Hollywood Reporter has pointed out that Madsen’s official bio reads as follows, in part:

Michael Madsen “balanced intensity with introspection … whether delivering chilling dialogue or quietly capturing a moment behind the camera, his commitment to storytelling remained constant. He brought both edge and soul to every role, and his enduring influence on American cinema is undeniable.”

Some of his other works include Free Willy (1993), Species (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), Die Another Day (2002), Sin City (2005), WarGames (1983), The Natural (1984), and Thelma & Louise (1991). Back in 2018, he reflected on the perils that come with being in the spotlight for a career that dates back to the 1980s.

“Fame is a two-edged sword,” he told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. “There are a lot of blessings but also a lot of heavy things that come with it. I think it has a lot to do with the characters I’ve played. I think I’ve been more believable than I should have been. I think people really fear me. They see me and go: ‘Holy shit, there’s that guy!’

He went on,

“But I’m not that guy. I’m just an actor. I’m a father, I’ve got seven children. I’m married, I’ve been married 20 years. When I’m not making a movie, I’m home, in pajamas, watching The Rifleman on TV, hopefully with my 12-year-old making me a cheeseburger. I sure as hell had my rabble-rousing days, but sooner or later you have to get over that and move on.”

He has also starred in lesser-known films, including 1995’s Species, and Uwe Boll’s BloodRayne, which, according to IGN, he once dubbed “an abomination.”

"Well, sometimes people forget that sometimes you have to pay the mortgage, sometimes you have to put your kids through school,” he further told THR. “You can’t always pick the greatest script. And you pick a project you probably shouldn’t be involved in and then you have to live with it all your life.”

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As of this writing, further details about his demise remain unclear, and his family has yet to issue a statement. He leaves behind his third wife, DeAnna Morgan, whom he married in 1996. They also have six children: Jessica, Christian, Max, Luke, Kalvin, and Hudson, who died by suicide in January 2022.

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