News

Michael Madsen, the iconic Hollywood star who died July 3, 2025, ending a career filled with memorable action and crime thrillers like ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill,’ may have saved his most surprising and revealing role for one of his last. In ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ an independent feature film shot last year, he played Brian Fenton, a college professor desperately trying to prop up a failing career, steer a wayward son away from drugs and personal ruin, and come to grips with his own mysterious father’s descent into dementia.

Watching Madsen on set in ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ writer/producer Daniel Blake Smith suggested that Madsen was tapping into his own troubled life—laced with alcoholism, chaotic marriages, and the loss of his 26-year-old son to suicide in 2022. “His own sister, actress Virginia Madsen,” Smith observed, “called him ’thunder and velvet… mischief wrapped in tenderness.’ Well, nowhere was that emotional complexity more vividly on...

The cause of death for Michael Madsen has been confirmed. The prolific Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and Donnie Brasco actor died of cardiac arrest brought on by cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, and chronic alcoholism. Another contributing factor was thromboembolic disease – a condition where blood clots form in blood vessels and then travel to obstruct another vessel, causing a thromboembolism., according to his death certicate from the L.A. County Medical Examiner obtained by TMZ.

Deputies responded to the actor’s home on July 3 after a 911 call and he was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 67.

His managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith and publicist Liz Rodriguez released the following statement following his death: “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.

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.Introducing...Action shot from the Locarno Critics Academy. Photography: Carlo Pisani.The cohort for this year’s Locarno Critics Academy, co-organized by Notebook, has been announced. Stay tuned for more by these ten young critics in these pages.Newsa Better Tomorrow.The China Film Foundation (Cff) plans to partner with businesses to license over 100 Hong Kong films to AI companies, hoping to “breathe new life into the classics” and attract younger audiences. Announced projects include an animated version of John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow (1986), of which neither Woo nor Bruce Lee’s family were previously aware.YouTube has modified guidelines for its Partner Program, which lets high-profile creators monetize their videos, to “better identify mass-produced and repetitious...

"I wonder if I ever really, truly knew him at all?" Dbs Films & Buffalo Speedway Film have revealed the first look official trailer for Mr. Wonderful, a new film from director Mark David. It's premiering at film festivals soon and doesn't have a final release set yet but they're releasing this anyway. Sadly the film now features the final performance from the terrific actor Michael Madsen, who just passed away a few weeks ago. They want to share this trailer anyway with Madsen's fans. "Experience a story that spans generations and touches the heart of what it means to be family." Mr. Wonderful tells the story of three generations of men – a millennial on the run from a drug dealer; his father, a jaded professor trying to keep his job; and the family patriarch fighting senility – struggling to find meaning in life as well as their connection to each other.

David Gergen, who transitioned from a career in Washington as a presidential advisor to a role on CNN as a political analyst, has died at the age of 83.

Gergen died Thursday at a retirement home in Lexington, Massachusetts, his son Christopher Gergen confirmed to his longtime network home CNN, adding that the cause of death was Lewy body dementia. Gergen “was a dedicated public servant who put country above party — as well as a loved husband, father, and grandfather,” Christopher said in a statement.

More from TVLineJulian McMahon Remembered by Charmed's Alyssa Milano, Nip/Tuck's Dylan Walsh and OthersJulian McMahon,...

Fans get their first look at one of Michael Madsen's final roles in the trailer for Mr. Wonderful.

As seen on the Red Basket Films YouTube channel, the trailer for Mr. Wonderful was posted on July 8, and gives fans their first look at one of the final roles from the late, great Michael Madsen. The film stars Madsen as a longtime professor whose personal life spirals out of control shortly after the arrival of his son, portrayed by Bradley Stryker, all while attempting to navigate his own father's ongoing and worsening battle with dementia.

Per the official description for Mr. Wonderful from Red Basket Films, "Three generations. One family. Infinite struggles. Mr. Wonderful tells the gripping story of three men bound by blood but divided by circumstance. A millennial desperately fleeing from a dangerous drug dealer. His father, a disillusioned professor fighting to salvage his career. And their patriarch,...

The first trailer for Mr. Wonderful is here, featuring the late actor Michael Madsen in one of his final leading roles. The Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill star died on July 3, 2025, at the age of 67, sending Hollywood into mourning. The last time fans saw him on-screen prior to his passing was in the Civil War-set thriller Resurrection Road, though he had numerous other projects in development at the time of his death. One of those was the indie drama Mr. Wonderful, which sees Madsen deliver a profoundly nuanced and emotional performance in a rarely seen role.

Madsen takes the lead role in Mr. Wonderful, portraying a jaded college professor by the name of Brian Fenton. The actor ditches his signature on-screen tough guy persona, cemented by his role as Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, for a much more raw and vulnerable performance. The trailer sees his character...

The HollyShorts Film Festival is pulling out all the stops for its 21st edition, assembling a powerhouse lineup featuring global music icon Stormzy, the late Michael Madsen, Viola Davis, Stephen Fry, Idris Elba, Letitia Wright and a host of other A-list talent.

Running Aug. 7-17 at the Tcl Chinese Theatres in Los Angeles, the festival will also stream globally via Bitpix, showcasing films selected from a record 7,000 submissions worldwide.

Stormzy stars in Academy Award winner Aneil Karia’s “Big Man,” while Viola Davis takes center stage as narrator of Emmai Alaquiva’s documentary “The Ebony Canal: The Story of Black Infant Health.” Idris Elba stars in the west coast premiere of “Victory,” the cinematic visual album from hip-hop icon Slick Rick, also featuring Nas and Giggs and directed by Meji Alabi. Stephen Fry stars alongside Miriam Margolyes in Lee Knight’s “A Friend of Dorothy.”

Among other marquee entries, Madsen...

Michael Madsen‘s final leading role is preparing to make the festival rounds as fans, friends and loved ones mourn his passing.

After the actor died July 3 of heart failure at 67, the trailer for Mr. Wonderful reveals a glimpse at Madsen’s emotional performance in the indie drama from director Mark David. Watch it below.

Madsen plays Brian Fenton, a college professor desperately trying to prop up a failing career and steer a wayward son away from drugs and personal ruin, while coming to grips with his own mysterious father’s descent into dementia.

David, who previously worked as Dp on several films with Madsen, remembered the actor as “a really sweet guy, warm, funny and such a powerhouse on screen,” adding: “I believed every word he said on camera. I wanted to make more movies with him.”

Related: Michael Madsen Remembered: The ‘Reservoir Dogs’ Actor On His Journey From...

Actor Michael Madsen’s cause of death was confirmed to be heart failure, according to his manager, Ron Smith.

Madsen’s cardiologist told NBC Los Angeles that his heart played a role in his death, which Smith confirmed.

“The doctor’s report is accurate that he died from heart failure,” Smith said. He added that “heart disease and alcoholism” were factors as well.

>In Memoriam Slideshow: 100 Great Celebrities Who Died In 2025

Madsen was found unresponsive in his home in Malibu on July 3. An autopsy won’t be conducted because his doctor signed off on the ruling.

Madsen, who starred in films such as Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill Volume Two and Thelma & Louise, has had his death mourned by many.

“We’re not mourning a public figure. We’re not mourning a myth — but flesh and blood and ferocious heart,” Madsen’s sister, Virginia Madsen, said. “Who stormed through life loud,...

Tom Neuwirth, the cinematographer who worked alongside his wife, history-making TV director Karen Arthur, on episodes of Cagney & Lacey and many other projects, has died. He was 78.

Neuwirth died June 29 at his home in Manhattan, friend and producer Craig Anderson announced (they worked on six films together). No cause of death was revealed.

Over four decades, “Neuwirth’s career was defined by his extraordinary eye for capturing emotion, character and place — whether through the lens of his camera or from the cockpit of his own plane,” Anderson noted. “He earned his pilot’s license in high school and found joy and freedom in flying throughout his life. That same spirit guided his work behind the camera: bold, precise and always seeking a new perspective.”

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Arthur, who became the first woman to receive a Primetime Emmy for outstanding directing for a drama series when...

Michael Madsen’s cause of death has been revealed.

As reported by NBC 4 Los Angeles, the 67-year-old actor’s cardiologist confirmed he died from heart failure, with heart disease and alcoholism listed as contributing factors.

The local affiliate also reported that no autopsy will be conducted because Madsen’s cardiologist signed off on his death certificate. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has also closed its investigation into his death, listing it as a death from natural causes.

Ron Smith, Madsen’s manager, confirmed the doctor’s report in a statement issued to Entertainment Weekly.

Madsen was pronounced dead at his Malibu home on July 3rd after being found unresponsive. At the time, the sheriff’s department stated the death was believed to be from natural causes, with no foul play suspected.

“Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many,” read a joint statement from his managers,...

The wildly diverse worlds of Star Trek and Quentin Tarantino’s arguably best film, Pulp Fiction, overlapped during the run of Star Trek: Picard. That’s when Amanda Plummer, who played Honey Bunny in Pulp Fiction, portrayed Picard’s season 3’s main antagonist, Vadic. Plummer, the daughter of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country co-star Christopher Plummer, appeared in six episodes as the changeling captain of the Shrike.

But a look at a casting memo written by Tarantino in advance of production on Pulp Fiction reveals that several future and past Star Trek figures were at least considered for roles in the writer-director’s film. Tim Roth ultimately starred as Pumpkin, but among those on Tarantino’s list of potential actors for the role was Christian Slater. A massive Star Trek fan and the son of Star Trek VI casting director Mary Jo Slater, Christian cameoed in VI as a...

Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill star Michael Madsen sadly died on July 3, 2025, at the age of just 67. While his cause of death was not disclosed at the time, further details about the actor’s passing have now been revealed.

According to a new report via NBC News, Madsen’s doctor has now revealed that “heart failure will be listed as the cause of death” on the actor’s death certificate, " with heart disease and alcoholism named as contributing factors.” The report goes on to state that no autopsy will be carried out “because the cardiologist who was treating Madsen signed the death certificate. The case is considered closed by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, with no foul play indicated, and is listed as a death from natural causes.”

Appearing in more than 300 films and TV shows over a career spanning decades, Michael Madsen is best known for his frequent collaborations with Quentin Tarantino,...

Actor Michael Madsen, known in part for appearing in Quentin Tarantino movies, was found dead on July 3. At the time, an exact cause of death wasn't clear, though according to some reports, it was suspected that Madsen had suffered cardiac arrest.

Now, per NBC4 Los Angeles, Madsen's cause of death has been confirmed. According to the report, Madsen's doctor said heart failure will be listed as the cause of death. Heart disease and alcoholism will also be named as contributing factors. Because the cardiologist who was treating Madsen signed the death certificate, there will not be an autopsy performed. Authorities have also closed the case because his death is listed as natural causes, and there was no indication of foul play.

This news follows another recent report by TMZ on Madsen's sobriety. Though he had previously struggled with alcoholism, Madsen had made "enormous strides" in his recovery leading up to his death.

Late character actor Michael Madsen's filmography is as varied as it is vast, with well over 300 acting credits to his name. Madsen brought a special something to every role, an edge of danger lurking behind his ice blue eyes, and it served him especially well in Westerns. Two of Madsen's very best performances are in Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight" and "Kill Bill Vol. 2," which are Westerns/Western-adjacent, but there was one film in the Wild West he regretted starring in that turned out to be an absolute flop. 

In an interview with The Guardian in 2004, Madsen shared the complicated choice he had to make when he decided to star as Virgil Earp, brother of the titular Wyatt (Kevin Costner) in the 1994 movie "Wyatt Earp." Ultimately, it came between him working with Tarantino once more in the director's second film, "Pulp Fiction," or starring in "Wyatt Earp,...

The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of veteran actor Michael Madsen, who passed away at the age of 67 on July 3. Madsen is of course best known for his films with Quentin Tarantino, including Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and The Hateful Eight, but what you might have forgotten is that Madsen was also directed by Rob Zombie once upon a time.

It was back in 2010 that Rob Zombie directed an episode of the series “CSI: Miami,” which was the sixteenth episode of the eighth season. It was titled “L.A.,” and it came along just one year after Rob Zombie wrapped up his time on the Halloween franchise. Before he returned to the director’s chair for The Lords of Salem, Zombie first made his mark on the world of “CSI.”

In the horror-themed episode of the Miami-based spinoff series, “Horatio and Delko must travel to Los Angeles when a...

American actor best known for playing heavies, including the ‘psycho’ Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs

The actor Michael Madsen, who has died aged 67 of a cardiac arrest, saw himself as a “throwback” to the era of noir heavies such as Robert Mitchum and Lee Marvin. But plying his jocular menace in the modern Hollywood era gave the actor expanded possibilities for movie violence that elevated him, at certain moments, to a timeless screen presence.

When he severed a policeman’s ear in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 debut Reservoir Dogs, after sadistically bopping to the sounds of Stealers Wheel’s pop hit Stuck in the Middle With You, it became Madsen’s calling-card scene. He had originally auditioned for the part of Mr Pink, the role eventually played by Steve Buscemi, before the director realised his imposing qualities were perfect for the loose-cannon psychopath, Mr Blonde. “Are you gonna bark all day,...

Often cited as one of the defining “character actors” of the post-’90s wave of crime cinema, Michael Madsen was a truly electrifying performer who had the ability to elevate any project he was in, regardless of its quality or fame. Perhaps the ill-fated remake of the Steve McQueen film “The Getaway” or the James Bond film “Die Another Day” wouldn’t be listed as cinematic classics. Still, Madsen brought a sense of specificity and menace to his performances that made them far more entertaining than they had any right to be.

Although his credits included dozens of B-movies, many of which could be described as “guilty pleasures,” Madsen also appeared in some of the most defining and acclaimed films of their era. While he was best known for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, a filmmaker whose love for exploitation thrillers and classic cinema made him an excellent partner, Madsen...

Tributes are pouring in for the late Julian McMahon, who died July 2 following a private battle with cancer.

Charmed co-star Alyssa Milano remembered McMahon on Instagram, writing, “Julian was more than my TV husband. He was a dear friend. The kind who checks in. The kind who remembers. The kind who shares. The kind who tells you the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable—but always with love.

More from TVLineJulian McMahon, <em>Nip/Tuck</em>, <em>Charmed</em> and <em>FBI: Most Wanted</em> Star, Dead at 56Tv Stars We Lost in 2025Michael Madsen, Star of Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dead at 67

Charmed...

Julian McMahon, best known to TV audiences for his starring roles on FX’s Nip/Tuck and CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted, died July 2. He was 56 years old.

According to People, McMahon died as a result of head and neck metastatic cancer. His wife, Kelly McMahon, confirmed his passing in a statement to our sister site Deadline:

More from TVLineJulian McMahon Remembered by Dick Wolf, <em>Charmed</em> and <em>Nip/Tuck</em> Co-StarsTV Stars We Lost in 2025Michael Madsen, Star of Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dead at 67

With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon,...

Virginia Madsen is remembering her late brother and fellow actor, Michael Madsen, who died on Thursday at age 67 from cardiac arrest. The prolific actor was best known for his tough guy roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill series.

Virginia paid homage to her brother in a statement shared with Variety. “My brother Michael has left the stage,” she wrote. “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.

The world lost a true icon yesterday when Michael Madsen passed away at his home in Los Angeles County. Today, Hollywood is mourning the loss of the beloved actor, who touched the lives of so many people both on and off camera, not the least of whom was his younger sister, Virginia Madsen. A legend in her own right, the Candyman and Dune star penned a touching tribute to her late brother, calling him, among other things, a "poet and an outlaw" in an emotional post on social media.

Taking to Instagram following the news of her brother's passing, the younger Madsen shared a photo of her and her brother along with their mother, author and filmmaker Elaine Madsen. "My brother Michael has left the stage," she wrote. "He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother—etched in contradiction,...

When Quentin Tarantino emerged on the scene with "Reservoir Dogs" in 1992, he proudly wore his influences on his sleeve. Tarantino is as much of a student of the screen as he is a creator of movies for it, marrying the cinematic language of the violence in exploitation and martial arts films with the character-driven writing of high-art, American auteurism. All of the trademarks of Tarantino's filmography were on display in his debut feature, like eclectic soundtracks, non-linear storytelling, and buckets of blood. Even before the film was released, Hollywood legends like Don Coscarelli were baffled by the brilliance on display from a first-time filmmaker.

Tarantino had made a crime thriller, but instead of it being about a group brought together to carry out the crime in the climax, it focused on the aftermath when six individuals operating under pseudonyms — Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), Mr.

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Michael Madsen was a character actor with many credits to his name, making his mark on cinema in everything from "WarGames" to the "James Bond" franchise in "Die Another Day." But he'll always be best remembered for his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino, beginning with the filmmaker's breakthrough 1992 hit "Reservoir Dogs." While the two worked together again several times, they also nearly revisited Madsen's "Reservoir Dogs" character, Mr. Blonde.

Madsen's Mr. Blonde was immortalized thanks to the infamous torture scene in "Reservoir Dogs," but Mr. Blonde was just the character's code name for the sake of the heist that goes south in the film. His real name? Vic Vega. If that name sounds familiar it's because Tarantino has another character that bears that name in his filmography -- namely, John Travolta's Vincent Vega, who helped anchor 1994's "Pulp Fiction.

Michael Madsen, Hollywood’s grizzled outlaw and Tarantino’s favorite tortured soul, was found dead at his Malibu home Thursday morning. He was 67. The official cause? Cardiac arrest.

Just hours after the Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill star’s death, his fractured family — estranged wife DeAnna, sons, grief, and all — descended on the property like a real-life scene from one of his films.

A Dysfunctional Family Reunion

DeAnna Madsen, the estranged wife Michael once accused of driving their son Hudson to suicide, arrived looking dazed and defeated. Max, their 31-year-old son, was spotted consoling her in the driveway — a driveway that, until recently, she’d been legally fighting over. Christian, Madsen’s eldest son from his first marriage, stood silently nearby, shades shielding his grief. The youngest, 19-year-old Luke — cowboy hat and all — emerged from the garage just as the coroner backed into it, a stark image of a teenager...

Michael Madsen, cult icon of Tarantino’s films and poet of Hollywood’s shadows, has died at 67 in Malibu.

Michael Madsen, the actor synonymous with grit, menace, and unexpected tenderness in some of Quentin Tarantino’s most iconic films, has died at the age of 67. According to his representatives, Madsen was found unresponsive in his Malibu home on Thursday morning. The preliminary cause of death appears to be cardiac arrest.

From his unforgettable turn as Mr. Blonde in ‘Reservoir Dogs’—where he danced sadistically to Stealers Wheel before mutilating a cop—to his brooding presence in ‘Kill Bill: Vols. 1 & 2’, Madsen became a cult icon. His long-standing collaboration with Tarantino also included ‘The Hateful Eight’ and ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’.

But his impact extended far beyond the director’s universe. With a career spanning more than 300 credits, Madsen carved his way through classics like ‘Donnie Brasco’, ‘Thelma & Louise...

Actor Michael Madsen, whose iconic performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs made him a star, has passed away.

Michael Madsen has passed away at the age of 67, leaving behind a memorable body of work. He leaves behind some exquisite performances as a gravel-voiced tough guy, sometimes with a sensitive side and sometimes less so. According to The Guardian, the actor was found dead at his home in Malibu from cardiac arrest.

After some TV work and smaller roles in such films as WarGames and The Doors, Madsen shot to fame as the psychopathic Mr Blonde in 1992’s Reservoir Dogs. His ice-cold killer, and his violence-filled dance number, immediately made him into one of cinema’s great villains. It was the film that launched both his and writer-director Quentin Tarantino’s careers.

Madsen went on to add some of his most memorable performances in further collaborations with Tarantino, including including the Kill Bill movies,...

Michael Madsen, who died of cardiac arrest on July 3 in Malibu at age 67, probably spent his final months entangled in a painful web of loss, regret, and deeply personal accusations. Just months before his death, the Reservoir Dogs star filed for divorce from his wife of 28 years, accusing her in 2024 of having “driven” their 26-year-old son to s*icide due to “neglect, drinking, and alcoholism”. According to People’s report, the accusations were contained in a court document later contradicted by Madsen himself.

Madsen’s son, Hudson, a U.S. Army sergeant who served in Afghanistan, reportedly took his own life in Hawaii on January 25, 2022. The actor later recanted the claim publicly on Instagram, stating, “She had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to our son.” Yet the damage, personal and emotional, had already been done. Madsen’s death leaves behind six kids, three fractured marriages, and a grieving family still haunted by unanswered questions.

Once upon a time in Hollywood, the charismatic heavy with smarts and a heart was a familiar archetype in mainstream cinema — think Robert Mitchum, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, or James Coburn — but the recent passing of Michael Madsen, at the age of 67, could well mark the end of that particular chapter in movie history. Though he made his breakthrough as the psychotic, ear-slicing Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 debut Reservoir Dogs, Madsen was capable of much, much more, although it’s fair to say that only his work with Tarantino ever made the most of that soulful talent. Which other tough guy could have delivered the line, as he did so memorably in Kill Bill Vol. 2, “That woman deserves her revenge, and we deserve to die” and sound like they meant it?

The following interview took place 10 years ago in February, high in the mountains of Telluride during...

The man who gave us Mr. Blonde, Budd, Joe Gage, and so much more is no longer with us. On July 03, Michael Madsen passed away at the age of 67, leaving Hollywood and those who loved him in utter shock.

As per a report by The Hollywood Reporter, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor was found unresponsive by deputies who were responding to a 911 call at his Malibu home. Madsen was pronounced dead at 8:25 Am.

According to his representative at Emr Media Entertainment, Liz Rodriguez, the cause of death was a cardiac attack. She said, “We understand Michael had a cardiac arrest.”

With over 300 acting credits to his name, Madsen is leaving behind a legacy that cannot be replicated. Whether it was his many collaborations with Quentin Tarantino or his ability to easily slip into gritty, dangerous roles, he carved out a niche that was entirely his own.

Michael Madsen, who was the quintessential Hollywood villain known for his chilling roles in Quentin Tarantino’s films and almost rewrote his career story… if only Kevin Costner’s flop western Wyatt Earp hadn’t pulled him away from a career-defining opportunity. The actor, who died on July 3, 2025 (aged 67), declined the role of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction, which went to John Travolta and launched the latter’s comeback.

Madsen, who played the sadistic Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs, once revealed in the 2019 documentary QT8: The First Eight that he was committed to Wyatt Earp during the filming of Pulp Fiction. Note that the western, directed by Lawrence Kasdan and starring Costner, was a critical and box office failure, while Pulp Fiction became an instant classic and a star vehicle for Travolta.

This decision marks a ‘what if’ chapter in Madsen’s storied career. As he himself said in the...

"Reservoir Dogs" centers on one of the most chaotic movie heists of all time -- one that quickly descends into an equally chaotic standoff that leaves virtually everyone involved riddled with bullets. Hence, it may come as no surprise to learn that things were just as wild behind the scenes on the film.

Mr. Blonde, as played by the late, great Michael Madsen, steals Quentin Tarantino's feature directing debut with his infamous torture routine set to the slick song "Stuck in the Middle with You." However, even the character's colorful personality paled in comparison to the reputation of the cast's most problematic actor: Lawrence Tierney.

Tierney had a long history of playing mobsters in classic Hollywood pictures like "Dillinger," and off-screen, he did his best to live up to that tough guy image. He was a notorious drinker with a reputation for starting bar fights wherever he went. In fact,...

Hollywood is mourning the loss of Michael Madsen, who died Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed. He was 67.

The actor, known for his work in many Quentin Tarantino films like Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, was found unresponsive by deputies responding to a 911 call at his home in Malibu. His rep told THR Madsen had “a cardiac arrest.”

Following the news, stars and family took to social media to share tributes to Madsen. His sister and Candyman actress Virginia Madsen posted a photo of them with her mom, writing partly in the caption, “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. We’re not mourning a public figure. We’re not mourning a myth — but flesh and blood and ferocious heart.

Sad news for movie fans, actor Michael Madsen has reportedly passed away at the age 67. Madsen is perhaps best known for his work with Quentin Tarantino in movies like Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, but for a generation of people who grew up in the ‘90s, he will always be the heroic foster dad who helped to free Willy.

Still, it’s hard to argue that his most iconic performance wasn’t as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. The famous torture scene, in which Mr. Blonde goes full van Gogh on a kidnapped police officer, is one of the most famous movie scenes of the ‘90s. It was subsequently parodied on shows like The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers, presumably to the joy of any surviving members of Steeler’s Wheel.

Following the news of Madsen’s death, David Letterman’s official YouTube channel, which frequently (and somewhat confusingly) honors late celebrities with archival clips,...

The Reservoir Dogs and Donnie Brasco actor had a rare, sometimes scary power, as well as a winning self-awareness and levity

Michael Madsen, star of Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and Donnie Brasco, dies aged 67

Michael Madsen– a life in pictures

Until 1992, when people heard Stuck in the Middle With You by Stealers Wheel on the radio, they might smile and nod and sing along to its catchy soft-rock tune and goofy Dylan-esque lyrics. But after 1992, with the release of Quentin Tarantino’s sensationally tense and violent crime movie Reservoir Dogs, the feelgood mood around that song forever darkened. That was down to an unforgettably scary performance by Michael Madsen, who has died at the age of 67.

Stuck in the Middle, with its lyrics about being “so scared in case I fall off my chair”, was to be always associated with the image of Madsen, whom Tarantino made an icon of indie American movies,...

The actor, best known for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, was found unresponsive in Los Angeles

Michael Madsen – a life in pictures

Peter Bradshaw’s appreciation

The actor Michael Madsen has died aged 67 at his home in Malibu, according to authorities and his representatives. No foul play is suspected, the sheriff’s department confirmed, after deputies responded to the Los Angeles county home following a call to the emergency services on Thursday morning.

He was pronounced dead at 8.25am. In an email, Madsen’s manager, Ron Smith, confirmed his client had died from cardiac arrest.

Michael Madsen, longtime collaborator of Quentin Tarantino and star of over 300 films and TV shows — including the likes of Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and Donnie Brasco — has sadly died at the age of 67. As confirmed to THR by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the iconic actor was found unresponsive at his Malibu home this morning following a suspected cardiac arrest.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on 25 September, 1957 to a war veteran-turned-firefighter father and an Emmy award winning mother, Michael Madsen spent much of his childhood moving from place to place due to his mum's work, getting into scrapes and testing authority as the perpetual new kid in class. Amid a childhood the man himself once described to The LA Times as "chaotic and diversified" however, young Michael found artistic inspiration on the box, devouring classics starring the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum, and Kirk Douglas — a trio of actors...

You can be an actor who stars in more than 200 movies in your career, with parts ranging from leads to glorified cameos, and yet it’s just one film that people associate with your name for the rest of your natural-born life. And occasionally, the role you’re lucky enough to get in that movie is so well-suited to your skill set that it levels you up from “Oh, that guy!” to (in)famous to damn near iconic.

We think you know the movie we’re taking about when it comes to the late,...

Virginia Madsen has paid tribute to her brother Michael Madsen after his sudden death.The 67-year-old actor was pronounced dead at his Malibu home on Thursday (07.03.25) after being found unresponsive and his actress sibling Virginia, 63, remembered her brother in a touching statement.She said in a statement to Variety: “My brother Michael has left the stage,' Virginia said. “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.'“We’re not mourning a public figure. We’re not mourning a myth - but flesh and blood and ferocious heart. Who stormed through life loud, brilliant, and half on fire. Who leaves us echoes - gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable - half legend, half lullaby.“I'll miss our inside jokes, the sudden laughter, the sound of him. I’ll miss...

One of the all-time great cinematic tough guys, Michael Madsen died July 3 at the age of 67. He was best known for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, beginning in 1992 with the writer-director's first film, Reservoir Dogs, in which Madsen played the psychotic Mr. Blonde.

Madsen had a robust career with nearly 350 acting credits listed on IMDb, ranging from modern classics to straight-to-video potboilers. And he played key roles in the tapestry of several Academy Award-nominated and -winning films.

As we remember the work of Michael Madsen, here's a rundown of the Oscar nominated films in which he appeared.

WarGames (1983)

As a missile control specialist unwilling to compromise during a surprise drill, Madsen found himself at the center of one of the '80s most iconic suspense sequences. WarGames earned three Oscar nominations — for Best Original Screenplay, Cinematography, and Sound.

The Natural (1984)

Madsen embodied the dirtier side of baseball as the doomed...

Michael Madsen is being remembered by his Hollywood peers. The actor, who collaborated with Quentin Tarantino ever since his directorial debut “Reservoir Dogs,” died at age 67 after suffering from a cardiac arrest.

Madsen’s team confirmed his death to IndieWire, stating that he had been found unresponsive at his Malibu home. Madsen starred in both “Kill Bill” films, “The Hateful Eight,” and “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood,” and almost appeared in “Pulp Fiction” as Vincent Vega, the character that was later played by John Travolta. Outside of his work with Tarantino, Madsen acted in “Donnie Brasco,” “The Natural,” “The Doors,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Die Another Day,” “Sin City,” “Boarding Gate,” and “Free Willy,” among many other films. His representatives cited that he had more projects in the works, too.

“Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many. […] In the last two...

Michael Madsen has passed away at the age of 67. The long-time actor has appeared in over a hundred films like Reservoir Dogs, dozens of television shows, and some pretty notable video games over the years. Madsen is perhaps best known for his collaborations with filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino. Madsen's final film roles are currently in post-production, including the upcoming Power Rangers riff, Legend of the White Dragon.

THR confirmed Madsen's passing, noting that the cause of death was not immediately available. However, authorities believe Madsen's passing was due to natural causes. In a statement from his managers, Susan Ferris and Ron Smith, and publicist Liz Rodriguez, that was shared on Instagram by NBC LA, the trio reflected on Madsen's recent work.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Nbcla (@nbcla) Remembering Michael Madsen For His Four-Decade Long Career Michael Madsen Was Best Known For His Tarantino Collaborations, But He...

Reports are coming in that Michael Madsen has passed away at the age of 67.

The actor, known for playing various tough guy roles in the likes of Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and Species, was reportedly found unresponsive by deputies responding to a 911 call at his Malibu home and pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. this morning.

No foul play is suspected.

"What we understand is Michael had a cardiac arrest and was found unresponsive in his Malibu home earlier this morning," Madsen's manager Ron Smith tells People.

Smith along with manager Susan Ferris and publicist Liz Rodriguez issued the following joint statement.

"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. Michael was also preparing to release a...

Michael Madsen, the actor famous for playing tough and intense roles in Quentin Tarantino’s movies like Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, has died at 67. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said deputies found him unresponsive at his Malibu home early Thursday morning after someone called 911.

He was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. His representative, Liz Rodriguez from Emr Media Entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter that Michael passed away due to cardiac arrest.

Madsen had a long career and was known for bringing strong, memorable characters to the screen. Besides Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, he appeared in other Tarantino films like The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Over the years, he also acted in movies like WarGames, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco, and Sin City. IMDb lists over 340 acting credits for him.

Related: New Details Emerge About Tarantino-Verse Movie Directed by David Fincher, Netflix Involved?...

Michael Madsen, the actor known for his tough guy roles in Quentin Tarantino’s films like Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, has died. He was 67. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, he was found unresponsive at his home in Malibu early Thursday morning after a 911 call.

He was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. His rep, Liz Rodriguez from Emr Media Entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter that he died from cardiac arrest.

Madsen had a long career in Hollywood, playing intense characters that left a mark on audiences. He starred in some of Tarantino’s most famous movies like The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

He also acted in films like WarGames, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco, and Sin City. Over the years, he collected more than 340 acting credits, according to IMDb.

Related: New Info Drops on Tarantino-Penned Cliff Booth Movie Directed by David Fincher,...

Michael Madsen, who was known for his Hollywood tough guy roles and gained notoriety playing the sadistic Mr. Blonde in regular collaborator Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 crime ensemble Reservoir Dogs, has died. He was 67.

According to reports Madsen was found dead by police officers who responded to an emergency call on Thursday morning at his home in Malibu, California. A representative told presshe died of a heart attack.

Madsen appeared in six Tarantino films including Reservoir Dogs, along with Pulp Fiction, the two Kill Bill films, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. He famously turned down the...

Michael Madsen, who was found dead today at his Malibu home, is best known for his long collaboration with Quentin Tarantino. The director chose Madsen for a star-making turn as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. Madsen also appeared in Vol. 1 & 2 of the director’s Kill Bill films, The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood.

Related: Hollywood Pays Tribute To Michael Madsen: “One Of My Favorite Actors I Ever Worked With”

But Madsen was prolific, working on between 7-12 projects a year over much of his career, often stealing scenes from bigger-name stars. And he did it for 40-plus years.

From Diner in 1983 to Free Willy in 1993 to Sin City in 2005, scroll through the photos below to see the full range of his work.

Related: 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries...

Michael Madsen — the actor known for his roles in Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and Donnie Brasco — is dead at 67. In the early morning on Thursday, July 3, the actor was reportedly discovered in his Malibu, California home, where he was pronounced dead, NBC Los Angeles reported. Madsen’s cause of death is believed to have been from natural causes, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department; foul play is not suspected. Madsen’s managers confirmed the news of his death via email, revealing he reportedly died from cardiac arrest. “In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film[s] including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,” managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith, and publicist Liz Rodriguez said, per NBC. “Michael was also preparing to release a new...

Actor Michael Madsen, best known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino films like Reservoir Dogs and the Kill Bill movies, has died at the age of 67.

Madsen was found unresponsive in his Malibu home on Thursday morning and suffered a cardiac arrest, his representative tells our sister site Variety. “Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many,” Madsen’s managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith and publicist Liz Rodriguez said in a joint statement.

More from TVLineJimmy Swaggart, Televangelist Brought Down by Sex Scandals, Dead at 90Rick Hurst, Who Played Cletus on The Dukes of Hazzard,...