“Kill Bill” and “Reservoir Dogs” star Michael Madsen has reportedly passed away at the age of 67.
The actor is said to have been found “unresponsive” by law enforcement at his home in Los Angeles.
Months before his death, Michael Madsen, who had been struggling with his son, Hudson’s tragic suicide, was also embroiled in a bitter fallout with his wife, DeAnna, that led to his arrest.
Michael Madsen’s Cause Of Death
According to reports, Los Angeles County deputies responded to a 911 call at Madsen’s home on July 3, where he was found “unresponsive” and eventually pronounced dead at the scene.
As of now, the Hollywood star’s death is said to be due to natural causes, with no foul play 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, told People Magazine.
Smith, along with Madsen’s other manager, Susan Ferris, and his publicist, Liz Rodriguez, also released a lengthy statement on the late actor.
They wrote, “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 new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, currently being edited,” the trio added.
They concluded, “Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”
The Actor Had Been Struggling With His Son’s Tragic Suicide
Madsen and DeAnna married in 1996 and went on to have three children: Hudson, Luke, and Calvin.
Unfortunately, their son Hudson died in 2022. Hudson, who was 26 years old and a member of the U.S. Army at the time of his passing, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the island of Oahu.
Madsen said that he was blindsided by Hudson’s death, noting that everything seemed fine when they spoke a few days before the incident happened.
“I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy — my last text from him was ‘I love you, dad,'” the “Hell Ride” actor said in a statement shared with The Los Angeles Times at the time.
“I didn’t see any signs of depression. It’s so tragic and sad. I’m just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened,” Madsen added.
Madsen revealed at the time that his son “had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family.”
The actor said that “he was looking towards his future, so it’s mind-blowing. I just can’t grasp what happened.”
Michael Madsen Filed For Divorce From His Wife, DeAnna, And Accused Her Of Causing Their Son’s Suicide
In September 2024, The Blast reported that Madsen had filed for divorce from his wife, DeAnna, claiming that he was a victim of her abuse for years, as well as accusing her of being the cause of their son’s suicide.
At the time, the actor cited “irreconcilable differences” as the cause of their split while also noting that he’d been separated from her since January 2022.
In his divorce petition, obtained by TMZ, Madsen said he separated from DeAnna because he believed “her neglect, drinking, and alcoholism” caused Hudson to take his own life.
Madsen further noted that she was also instrumental in his struggles as she allegedly put him in an “abusive, co-dependent, and toxic relationship,” which he said ended with his wrongful arrest for domestic violence in August 2024.
The actor also sought a domestic violence restraining order against DeAnna, but ended up withdrawing the request.
The Actor Retracted His Explosive Claims About DeAnna
A month after filing for divorce, Madsen issued a statement on Instagram, apologizing for his claims about his wife, DeAnna.
“Losing a child is the hardest and most painful experience that can happen in this world,” Madsen said at the time, per the Daily Mail. “I deeply apologize for not correcting this earlier, but I love my wife and our other 4 children and have no desire for divorce or blame.”
He continued, “She had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to our son. It was a horrible loss and choice that was made for reasons that truly cannot ever be known because the person is gone, I don’t think my son is dead, I think he escaped from a life that didn’t make sense anymore.”
Tributes Pour In For Michael Madsen
Fans on social media were quick to pay tribute to Madsen, with many referencing his iconic movies and lines.
A person on X wrote,” ‘Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?’ Michael Madsen ALWAYS had bite. RIP.”
Another said, “Michael Madsen was a unique actor. Couldn’t take your eyes off of him. RIP.”
“RIP Michael Madsen, as a teenager watching ‘Reservoir Dogs’ for the first time, it wasn’t possible for a guy to get any cooler than this,” a third person commented on X.
A fourth said, “Losing Michael Madsen is an absolute gut-punch. What an incredible actor, gone way too soon. Without question, I’ll remember him in part from his outstanding performance in ‘Kill Bill.’ Madsen’s partnership with Tarantino was so special. This is incredibly sad news.”
Rest in peace, Michael Madsen.
