Michael Madsen, renowned for his roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, passed away at 67 due to cardiac arrest.
According to his manager Ron Smith, NBC reported that Madsen was found deceased at his Malibu residence on Thursday morning.
"Over the past two years, Michael Madsen delivered remarkable performances in independent films, including upcoming projects Resurrection Road, Concessions, and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was eagerly anticipating this new phase of his career," stated managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith, along with publicist Liz Rodriguez.
"Michael was also finalizing a new book, Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, currently in editing. A true Hollywood icon, Michael Madsen’s absence will be deeply felt,” they added.
Madsen is most celebrated for his work with acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino, starting with his chilling portrayal of Mr. Blonde in 1992’s Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino’s debut film, followed by assassin Budd, Bill’s brother (David Carradine), in the Kill Bill series. He later appeared in Tarantino’s 2015 western The Hateful Eight and 2019’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
While those films are hailed as cinematic gems, Madsen also featured in less acclaimed works, including 1995’s Species and Uwe Boll’s widely criticized BloodRayne, which he described as "an abomination."
Hailing from Chicago, Madsen’s breakout Hollywood role came in 1983’s WarGames. His 40-year career included roles in 1991’s Thelma & Louise, family favorite Free Willy, 1997’s Donnie Brasco, 2002’s James Bond film Die Another Day, Sin City, and Scary Movie 4.
Madsen also lent his voice to several video game characters, including Toni Cipriani in Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 3, William Carver in Telltale’s The Walking Dead, and Daud in Arkane’s Dishonored series. In 2023, he starred in the co-op first-person shooter Crime Boss: Rockay City.
