Renowned actor Michael Madsen, who etched his legacy through his memorable roles in numerous Quentin Tarantino classics, has passed away at the age of 67. On Thursday, July 3, the star was discovered unresponsive within the confines of his Malibu home. Upon the arrival of emergency services, they pronounced him deceased.
A statement released by the Los Angeles sheriff to NBC Los Angeles confirms that the actor succumbed to natural causes, specifically cardiac arrest, with no suspicion of foul play. His representatives also issued a statement, revealing that a 911 call was promptly made upon discovering him at his residence.
"Over the past two years, Michael Madsen had been involved in some extraordinary work with independent cinema, including the forthcoming films 'Resurrection Road,' 'Concessions,' and 'Cookbook for Southern Housewives,' and was eagerly anticipating this new phase in his life," his managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith, along with publicist Liz Rodriguez, expressed. "Moreover, Michael was in the process of readying a new book titled 'Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems,' which is currently undergoing edits."
They concluded, "Michael Madsen was a Hollywood icon whose absence will be deeply felt by countless individuals."
The late actor hailed from a creative lineage, with his mother being the filmmaker and poet Elaine Madsen, and his sister being the esteemed actress Virginia Madsen, who is celebrated for her Oscar-nominated role in the 2004 film 'Sideways.'
Madsen made his cinematic debut in 1982 and garnered initial recognition for a minor part in the subsequent year's 'WarGames.' A decade later, he began to receive acclaim for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, commencing with Tarantino's feature directorial debut, 'Reservoir Dogs' in 1992.
His other notable Tarantino collaborations include portraying one of the antagonists, Budd, in the 'Kill Bill' franchise, 'The Hateful Eight' in 2015, and 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' in 2019. Among his other esteemed film credits are 'The Natural' (1984), 'Thelma & Louise' (1991), 'Donnie Brasco' (1997), 'Die Another Day' (2002), and 'Sin City' (2005).
At the time of his passing, he had four films in production: 'A Corpse in Kensington,' 'Saturday at the Starlight,' 'The Witching Hour,' and 'Legend of the White Dragon.' Throughout his career, he has also graced numerous television shows and lent his voice to characters in prominent video games.
Madsen's marital journey included three marriages. From 1984 to 1988, he was married to Georganne LaPiere, the half-sister of Cher. Between 1991 and 1995, he was married to Jeannine Bisignano, and in 1996, he tied the knot with DeAnna Morgan, who now survives him.
Throughout his life, Madsen welcomed six children. Among them is a daughter named Jessica, born to Dana Hechling in 1979, two sons with Jeannine—both of whom have pursued acting careers—and three sons with DeAnna. Tragically, his youngest son, Hudson, took his own life in 2022.
His older son with Jeannine, Christian, now 35, has also carved a niche for himself in the acting world, featuring in films like 'Palo Alto' (2013) and 'Divergent' (2014), and portraying a recurring role in the TV series 'The Family Business.'
