Actor Michael Madsen, known for his frequent collaboration with director Quentin Tarantino in films such as “Reservoir Dogs,” “Kill Bill” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” died Thursday at his Malibu home. He was 67.
His publicist, Liz Rodriguez, said Madsen suffered what appeared to be a cardiac arrest, and he was found unresponsive Thursday morning.
“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,” Rodriguez said in a joint statement with Madsen’s managers, Susan Ferris and Ron Smith. “Michael was also preparing to release a new book called `Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems,’ currently being edited.
“Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”
A Chicago native, Madsen broke into films with a small part in the 1980s thriller “WarGames,” followed by appearances in productions including “The Natural,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Donnie Brasco” and “Die Another Day.”
But he made a splash in his work with Tarantino, beginning with the brutal crime drama “Reservoir Dogs,” playing a sadistic criminal known only as Mr. Blonde. He worked with Tarantino again in the films “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” “The Hateful Eight” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Madsen was the brother of Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen. He was married three times and had six children. His son Christian is also an actor, known for his work in “Divergent.”