Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Passes Away at 67

Michael Madsen, the actor renowned for his chilling, steely-eyed performances in Quentin Tarantino’s films such as Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill: Vol 2, has passed away.

On Thursday (July 3) morning, Madsen was found unresponsive at his residence in Malibu, California. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department indicating that natural causes are believed to be responsible, ruling out foul play.

According to Madsen’s manager, Ron Smith, cardiac arrest was noted as the likely cause of death. Madsen was 67 years old.

His impressive career included over 300 credits, starting from the early 1980s, predominantly in independent and low-budget films. Madsen often embodied low-level thugs, gangsters, and shady cops in minor roles. Tarantino frequently elevated him to lead roles, showcasing his talent.

His notorious scene torturing a police officer in Tarantino’s debut film, Reservoir Dogs, where Madsen’s character, Vic “Mr. Blonde” Vega, cuts off the man’s ear while dancing to Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck In The Middle With You”, significantly defined both his and Tarantino’s careers.

As a regular in Tarantino’s films, Madsen had standout roles, including Budd, a member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad in 2003’s Kill Bill: Vol 1, followed by a major part in the sequel, where he battles Uma Thurman’s character, The Bride.

He was also part of Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight and Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood. Interestingly, he was considered for the role of Vincent Vega in the iconic 1994 film Pulp Fiction, which was portrayed by John Travolta. Vincent is the brother of Madsen’s character in Tarantino’s intertwined universe.

Virginia Madsen, his Oscar-nominated sister, paid tribute on Thursday.

“He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother—etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark,” she expressed. “I’ll miss our inside jokes, the sudden laughter, the sound of him. I’ll miss the boy he was before the legend. I miss my big brother.”

Walton Goggins, Madsen’s co-star in The Hateful Eight and fellow Tarantino collaborator, celebrated him on Instagram.

“Michael Madsen… this man… this artist… this poet… this rascal…” Goggins conveyed. “Aura like no one else. Ain’t enough words, so I’ll just say this…. I love you buddy. A H8TER forever.”

James Woods, who co-starred with Madsen in two films, remarked on X, “I was always touched by his sweet nature and generosity, the absolute opposite of the ‘tough guys’ he portrayed so brilliantly.”

Madsen was born in Chicago, the middle child in a family of three.

He was involved with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, performing alongside actors like John Malkovich.

During a handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in November 2020, Madsen reflected on his early days in Hollywood in the 1980s.

“I got out and I walked around and I looked and I wondered if someday that could be a part of me. I could have been many things, but I got lucky. I got lucky as an actor,” he shared.

His significant film debut came in the 1983 thriller WarGames with Matthew Broderick. The next year, he played Bump Bailey, a pro baseball player, in The Natural alongside Robert Redford.

Throughout the 1980s, he took on guest roles in popular TV dramas, including Miami Vice and Quantum Leap.

A career breakthrough in 1991 came with roles in The Doors and Thelma and Louise, where he portrayed key supporting characters.

Following this, Madsen starred in Reservoir Dogs, solidifying his status in Hollywood. He later featured in the 1995 sci-fi thriller Species and played a supporting character in the critically acclaimed Donnie Brasco (1997) alongside Al Pacino and Johnny Depp.

Remarkably, Madsen also showcased his versatility in the family film Free Willy, playing the foster parent to the young protagonist.

In the last two decades of his career, he frequently took on small roles yet remained active in the industry.

Madsen had six children and faced difficulties after the loss of one of his sons, Hudson, in 2022.

“Losing a child is the hardest and most painful experience that can happen in this world,” he remarked in an Instagram post last year.

This tragedy strained his marriage with third wife DeAnna Madsen, and while he faced legal issues related to domestic battery, the charges were not pursued. He initially filed for divorce but later requested it be dismissed.

Madsen, who had previous DUI arrests, was working on several independent film projects before his passing.

His managers expressed, “Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”