Camilla Jessen
He will be remembered for his iconic roles in ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’.
Hollywood is mourning the sudden loss of actor Michael Madsen, who was found dead at his home in Malibu early Thursday morning.
He was 67.
Known for his gritty performances in films like Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and Sin City, Madsen’s death has left fans and friends in shock.
No Warning Signs
Madsen’s longtime manager, Ron Smith, confirmed to NBC News that the actor died of a heart attack.
Just days earlier, he had been cleared by doctors during a routine checkup, which included tests for a past brain injury from a horse-riding accident two years ago.
“He looked like he had been in the best health he had been in all year,” close friend and assistant Dougie Smith told TMZ.
The two had spoken the night before, with Madsen excited about upcoming plans, including an appearance at Nashville Comic-Con.
Smith grew concerned after not hearing from Madsen on Wednesday. He checked in Thursday morning and found the actor unresponsive in bed.
Health Struggles and a Tragic Fall
In recent years, Madsen had been recovering from injuries after falling off a horse.
He had been wearing a shoulder brace instead of undergoing surgery so he could keep working.
Doctors had recently reviewed his health, including a PET scan and rotator cuff check at UCLA, and had given him a clean bill of health.
Despite signs of physical recovery, others close to Madsen say he had been struggling emotionally and mentally.
Longtime attorney Perry Wander revealed that Madsen had been fighting alcoholism for years, going in and out of rehab.
“Michael was not happy about his life,” Wander told Daily Mail, adding that she had spoken with him just days before he died and sensed something was wrong.
He was also dealing with a difficult legal fight with his estranged wife over finances and child support. The dispute had led to the revocation of his passport, which limited his ability to work abroad, something Wander said added to his stress.
Legacy
Madsen was married three times and had four children.
One of his sons, Hudson, died in 2022. Another son,
Christian, followed him into acting.
Despite his personal struggles, Madsen worked steadily in Hollywood for over four decades. He appeared in more than 100 films, including Die Another Day, Free Willy, and numerous Quentin Tarantino projects.
