Hollywood is mourning one of its own.
Michael Madsen, a character actor best known for appearing in such films as Quentin Tarantino‘s Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill: Vol. 2, died July 3, his manager Ron Smith confirmed to NBC News. He was 67.
“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’s managers Susan Ferris and Smith, and publicist Liz Rodriguez said in a statement given to NBC 4 Los Angeles. “Michael was also preparing to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, currently being edited.”
They added, “Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”
Smith confirmed to NBC 4 Los Angeles that Madsen had died from a cardiac arrest.
According to the outlet, authorities found the actor’s body in his Malibu home after responding to a 911 call that morning. The sheriff’s department said that he was pronounced dead at the scene of natural causes, with no foul play suspected.
Madsen was a celebrated actor with a more than 40-year career in Hollywood and frequently collaborated with Tarantino, appearing in five of the Oscar-winning director’s films: Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill: Vol. 2, The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Other credits include movies like WarGames, Species and Thelma & Louise.
His death comes 10 months after he filed for divorce from estranged wife DeAnna Madsen in September 2024. At the time, he also requested a domestic violence restraining order against his wife while denying her charges of domestic violence against him.
The couple got married in 1996 and remained married for over 28 years. They shared sons Luke, Kalvin and Hudson, the latter of whom died by suicide in 2022.
“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 told The Los Angeles Times that January. “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 was also married to Cher‘s half-sister Georganne LaPiere from 1984 until 1988 and to Jeannine Bisignano, with whom he shares sons Christian and Max, from 1991 until 1995. He also shares a daughter named Jessica with Dana Mechling.
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