Michael Madsen, the prolific American actor best known for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino in films like "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill," has died at the age of 67. Madsen was found unresponsive at his home in Malibu, California, on Thursday, July 3, 2025. Deputies responded to a 911 call and he was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m.. According to his manager, Ron Smith, the cause of death was cardiac arrest.
Born on September 25, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, Madsen began his acting career in the early 1980s. He apprenticed at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre under John Malkovich. His early film roles included appearances in "WarGames" (1983) and "The Natural" (1984). However, it was his role as the ruthless Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut, "Reservoir Dogs" (1992), that catapulted him to fame. Madsen credited Tarantino with launching his career, calling "Reservoir Dogs" his "genesis" as an actor.
Madsen continued to collaborate with Tarantino on several more films, including "Kill Bill: Volume 2" (2004), where he played Budd, "The Hateful Eight" (2015), and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (2019). Though he missed out on playing Vincent Vega in "Pulp Fiction", a role that ultimately went to John Travolta, Madsen's career was marked by a consistent stream of roles in both mainstream and independent projects. Some of his other notable film credits include "The Doors" (1991), "Thelma & Louise" (1991), "Free Willy" (1993), "Species" (1995), "Donnie Brasco" (1997), "Die Another Day" (2002), and "Sin City" (2005).
Beyond film, Madsen also lent his voice to various video games, including "Grand Theft Auto III" (2001), the "Dishonored" series (2012–2017), and "Crime Boss: Rockay City" (2023). He also appeared in television series such as "Powers," "24," and "Vengeance Unlimited". At the time of his death, Madsen had 18 projects in the works, including the films "Resurrection Road," "Concessions," and "Cookbook for Southern Housewives". His representatives noted that he was "really looking forward to this next chapter in his life". Madsen was also a published poet, and his new book, "Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems," was set to be released in September with a foreword by Tarantino.
Madsen's personal life was marked by both joy and tragedy. He was married three times: to Georganne LaPiere (1984-1988), Jeannine Bisignano (1991-1995), and DeAnna Morgan (1996-2025). He had six children: Jessica, Christian, Max, Luke, Kalvin and Hudson. In January 2022, Madsen's son Hudson died by suicide, which deeply affected him. In October 2024, Madsen denied rumors that he was divorcing DeAnna after 28 years of marriage, and spoke candidly about the pain of losing his son.
Throughout his career, Madsen received several awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at Red Hen Press in 2006. The Malibu International Film Festival honored him in 2008 for his achievements in acting. He also won a Firecracker Alternative Book Award for his poetry in 1999 and Best Actor awards at the Boston Film Festival and the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival for his role in "Strength and Honour". In 2015, he shared the Hollywood Film Award for Ensemble of the Year for "The Hateful Eight".
Michael Madsen is survived by his mother, Elaine Madsen, his wife, DeAnna Madsen, his children Christian, Max, Calvin, Luke, and Jessica, and his siblings Virginia and Cheryl. His managers described him as "one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many".
