Michael Madsen has died on July 3, 2025 at the age of 67. The Hollywood Reporter was among the first outlets to publish the news. The magazine says they were told by the actor’s rep, Liz Rodriguez, that he suffered “a cardiac arrest.” Nothing further on his cause of death has been reported at this time.
THR says they learned from a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson that Madsen was found unresponsive at his home in Malibu by deputies who responded to an emergency call. He was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. on Thursday morning, the report says law enforcement revealed.
Madsen is remembered for being a key cast member in hit films such as “Kill Bill,” “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood,” and more. His IMDb biography lists his “rugged charm and brooding charisma” as some of the defining traits that marked his performances. Read on to take a look back at some of Michael Madsen’s most memorable movie roles.
Michael Madsen Was at His Best With Quentin Tarantino
Madsen’s projects with director Quentin Tarantino showcased some of his best work. He first teamed with the icon for the 1992 crime thriller “Reservoir Dogs.” The actor portrayed Mr. Blonde in the movie, but Slash Film recounted in a 2022 story how he almost took on a different role.
The outlet says Madsen had his eye on the role of Mr. Pink when he auditioned, but Tarantino gave him the ultimatum of either playing Mr. Blonde, or walking away from the film.
“Is that it? Okay, good. You’re not Mr Pink. You’re Mr Blonde â and if you’re not Mr Blonde, then you’re not in the movie,” Madsen says the director told him after hearing him read lines.
Slash Film recalls the scene in which Madsen’s character tortures a police officer to the tune of “Stuck in the Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel as one of “Reservoir Dogs’” most memorable moments.
In 2004’s “Kill Bill Vol. 2,” he played an assassin named Budd, who helps form the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. While his character is seen as clever and methodical, Madsen skillfully showed notes of an emotional struggle as his Budd wrestles with his relationship with Bill.
In a press junket for the film, Madsen praised the director, saying, “God knows I’ve always loved Quentin,” before sharing an anecdote about storing a car at Tarantino’s place.
“I had a ’57 Chevy that I had no place for, and I was keeping it at his garage, and we started hanging out again when I was up there working on the car,” said the Chicago native. He revealed those hangouts led to him receiving the screenplay for “Kill Bill.”
Michael Madsen Counted ‘Thelma & Louise’ Among His Credits
NBC News lists “Thelma & Louise,” the movie that gave Brad Pitt his big break, as another of the late actor’s top films. The outlet also lists “The Doors,” “Donnie Brasco,” and “The Hateful Eight.”
Closer to the end of his career, Michael Madsen once again worked for Tarantino, taking on the role of a sheriff in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
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