American actor Michael Madsen, best known for his roles in Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs, breathed his last, according to his publicist Liz Rodriguez. He was 67.
Michael Madsen dies
Michael Madsen died Thursday (July 3) morning.
As per a report in CNN, Sgt. Christopher Jauregui, watch commander for Los Angeles Sheriff Department Lost Hills Station told that on Thursday, the deputies found him "unresponsive" at his home in Malibu.
Jauregui also said that Madsen was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. local time and no foul play is suspected.
Michael Madsen cause of death
As per reports, his manager, Ron Smith, confirmed the cause of Madsen's death as cardiac arrest. "In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films ‘Resurrection Road,’ ‘Concessions and ’Cookbook for Southern Housewives,' and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life," his managers Smith and Susan Ferris of Bohemia Entertainment and publicist Liz Rodriguez said in a joint statement. They also wrote that he was "one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many."
Michael Madsen's early life and career
Born in Chicago on September 25, 1957, Madsen's father was a World War II Navy veteran and a firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department. His mother is an author and a filmmaker. Madsen, whose career spanned over four decades across film, television, and video games, started his acting career at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre, where he was an apprentice under John Malkovich. His early film appearances were in 1983's WarGames and 1984's The Natural. He also starred in 1991’s Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise. But the turning point of his career was his stellar act as Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino's debut film Reservoir Dogs (1992), which became a pathbreaking independent film. Madsen left an indelible mark as a sadistic villain. He was lauded for his performance by critics and audiences alike.
It didn't stop there. Madsen and Tarantino went on to collaborate on more films, including Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), where Madsen essayed Budd, a former assassin working as a bouncer, The Hateful Eight (2015), and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).
He was also considered to play the role of Vincent Vega in Tarantino's 1994 Pulp Fiction, but Madsen rejected the offer for Wyatt Earp.
Donnie Brasco, Sin City, The Doors, and Die Another Day, among others are some of Madsen's other films. He worked in both indie and mainstream cinema.
Apart from acting, Madsen also lent his voice in video games such as Grand Theft Auto III, the Dishonored series, and Crime Boss: Rockay City.
Michael Madsen's family
Madsen was married three times. He was married to first wife, Georganne LaPiere, from 1984 to 1988, and then to Jeannine Bisignano from 1991 to 1995. In 1996, the actor tied knot with DeAnna Madsen.
He had six children from all his three marriages.
