American actor Michael Madsen, best known for his roles in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, has died at the age of 67 from a heart attack. A cult figure of independent cinema, he leaves behind a prolific and turbulent body of work.
Michael Madsen, renowned for his portrayals of Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs and Budd in Kill Bill, died on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 67, following cardiac arrest at his Malibu home, according to his representatives and the Los Angeles County Sheriff. No foul play is suspected.
“Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, and he will be deeply missed,” said his agents Susan Ferris and Ron Smith in a joint statement alongside publicist Liz Rodriguez.
With more than 325 credits in film, television, and video games, Madsen had established himself as a defining presence in independent and genre cinema. He had recently completed several projects, including Resurrection Road, Concessions, and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was finalizing a new collection of poems, Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, with a foreword by Quentin Tarantino.
His eclectic filmography also includes standout performances in Donnie Brasco (1997), Thelma & Louise (1991), Sin City (2005), Free Willy (1993), Die Another Day (2002), and The Doors (1991). He also lent his voice to Toni Cipriani in the landmark video game Grand Theft Auto III.
Born in Chicago in 1957 to a firefighter father and a filmmaker mother, Madsen was the brother of actress Virginia Madsen. Also a writer, he published several poetry collections and even launched his own line of hot sauces, aptly named “American Badass” — a nod to his signature tough-guy roles.
His life, however, was marked by personal tragedy. In 2022, his son Hudson died by suicide at the age of 26, a loss that profoundly affected him. In 2024, Madsen was briefly detained following allegations of domestic violence, though charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence.
Quentin Tarantino, who directed him in five films, considered him a favorite actor and “a poet with a bruised soul.” The two were reportedly working on a new series together. Harvey Keitel, Vivica A. Fox, and many others paid tribute, describing him as “an unforgettable actor with a haunted gaze.”
Michael Madsen is survived by five children, his sister Virginia, and a legacy as raw, intense, and deeply human as the man himself.
With AFP
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