Film, Newsmakers

Veteran Actor Michael Madsen, Known For Roles Such As Reservoir Dogs & Kill Bill Dies At 67

Michael Søren Madsen
September 25, 1957 – July 3, 2025

Michael Madsen, the brooding, intense presence of modern cinema—best known for his unforgettable performances in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill Vol. 2, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood—passed away on July 3, 2025, at the age of 67. He died of apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu, California, and was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. PT. Authorities reported no suspicion of foul play

Born in Chicago, Madsen began his career on the stage before transitioning to film with early roles in WarGames (1983), The Doors (1991), and Thelma & Louise (1991)

.He shot to prominence as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs (1992), delivering one of the most chilling and iconic scenes in modern cinema—ear-cutting to “Stuck in the Middle with You”—securing his place in Tarantino’s pantheon.

Madsen’s filmography spans more than 300 credits, including notable appearances in Donnie Brasco, Die Another Day, Sin City, and voice roles in games like Grand Theft Auto III and the
. In recent years, he embraced independent cinema, working on projects such as Resurrection Road, Concessions, and Cookbook for Southern Housewives

He was also pursuing a literary project: a book of poems titled Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, which was in the editing phase at the time of his death

Off-screen, Madsen was a devoted father of seven. He endured personal tragedies, including the death of his 26-year-old son, Hudson, by suicide in January 2022, and a divorce filed in

. Friends described him as a “tortured soul” with a deep emotional complexity, who sought to be remembered not just as an actor but as a poet people.com.

Colleagues expressed grief and admiration: Harvey Keitel called him “another great American poet,” and Vivica A. Fox praised his “amazing on‑screen presence” His longtime friend and attorney, Perry Wander, reflected that Madsen is now in “a happier place”
Michael Madsen leaves behind a legacy of unforgettable characters and raw charisma. His contribution to cinema and cultural memory—marked by iconic film moments and artistic breadth—will endure

Published by Tandy Culpepper

I am a veteran broadcast journalist. I was an Army brat before my father retired and moved us to the deep South. I'm talkin' Lower Alabama and Northwest Florida, I graduated from Tate High School and got botha Bachelor's degree and Master's in Teaching English from the University of West Florida, I taught English at Escambia County High School for two years before getting my m's in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Auburn University. Following graduation, I did a 180 degree turn and moved to Birmingham where I began ny broadcasting career at WBIQ, Channel 10. There I was host of a weekly primetime half-hour TV program called Alabama Lifestyles. A year later, I began a stint as a television weathercaster and public affairs host. A year later, I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida and became bureau chief at WPTV, the CBS affiliate. Two years later, I moved to Greensboro, North Carolina where I became co-host of a morng show called AM Carolina. The next year, I moved cross-country and became co-host and story producer at KTVN-TV in Reno, Nevada. I also became the medical reporter for the news department. Three years later, I moved to Louisville, Kentucky and became host and producer of a morning show called today in WAVE Country at WAVE-TV, Channel 3, the NBC affiliate. Following three years there, I moved to Los Angeles and became senior correspondent at the Turner Entertainment Reportn, an internationally-syndicated entertainment entertainment news service owned by CNN. I went back to school afterwards and got an MFA in Creative Nonfiction at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. Oh, yes. I won a hundred thousand dollars on the 100 Thousand Dollar Pyramid, then hosted by Dick Clark.

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