Michael Madsen, beloved actor known for his roles in Reservoir Dogs and the Kill Bill series, has died at age 67. He was found unresponsive in his Malibu, California, home on July 3 and pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 8:25 a.m. Authorities suspect cardiac arrest and report no signs of foul play .
A prolific career spanning four decades
Madsen was born on September 25, 1957, in Chicago. He began acting in the early 1980s, with roles in films like WarGames (1983) and The Natural (1984). However, he rose to prominence through his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino—most notably as the ruthless Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Budd in Kill Bill: Volumes 1 & 2 (2003–2004). He later appeared in Tarantino films such as The Hateful Eight (2015) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) thesun.co.uk+8en.wikipedia.org+8nypost.com+8. Over his career, he acted in more than 300 film and television projects .
A multi-talented creator
Beyond acting, Madsen was an accomplished poet and author. He published collections of poetry—such as Burning in Paradise and Expecting Rain—and was preparing a forthcoming book, Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, which featured a foreword by Tarantino bild.de+11people.com+11cbsnews.com+11. His publicist and managers have described him as a deep thinker who valued poetry as much as his on-screen performances cbsnews.com+2apnews.com+2elpais.com+2.
Personal life & struggles
Madsen’s life was marked by personal challenges. In 2022, he experienced the tragic suicide of his eldest son, Hudson, aged 26, a loss that deeply affected him and strained his marriage elpais.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1. He had recently filed for divorce from his wife, DeAnna, with reports indicating unresolved emotional conflicts people.com. Legal troubles also surfaced, including misdemeanor arrests for DUI and domestic battery, though those cases did not result in charges apnews.com+1cbsnews.com+1.
Tributes & legacy
The news of his passing prompted heartfelt tributes from colleagues and friends. His Reservoir Dogs co-star Harvey Keitel mourned losing “another great American poet,” while Vivica A. Fox, who worked with him on Kill Bill, praised his powerful on-screen presence cbsnews.com+9people.com+9nypost.com+9. Tarantino described Madsen as a poet disguised as an outlaw, and his longtime friend and attorney Perry Wander called him a “tortured soul” who may now be in a “happier place” elpais.com+2people.com+2apnews.com+2.
What he leaves behind
Madsen is survived by his sister, actress Virginia Madsen, and multiple children—including actor Christian Madsen. He also leaves behind a vast body of work in film, television, poetry, and independent projects, several of which were in production at the time of his death apnews.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3nypost.com+3.
