Michael Madsen, Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs Actor, Dies at 67

Reps for the actor said he was "really looking forward to this next chapter in his life."

Michael Madsen has passed away at the age of 67.

Representatives for the Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill actor confirmed his death to PEOPLE on Thursday, July 3. According to NBC4 Los Angeles, Madsen is believed to have died of natural causes. Authorities have ruled out foul play, citing information from the local sheriff’s department.

Madsen was pronounced dead on July 3 after Los Angeles County deputies responded to a 911 call at his Malibu home.

“What we understand is that Michael suffered cardiac arrest and was found unresponsive at his Malibu residence earlier this morning,” his manager Ron Smith told the media. Following his death, Smith, co-manager Susan Ferris, and publicist Liz Rodriguez issued a joint statement.

“In the last two years, Michael Madsen had been doing some incredible work in independent film, with several upcoming projects including Resurrection Road, Concessions, and Cookbook for Southern Housewives. He was genuinely excited about this new chapter in his life,” the statement read. “Michael was also preparing to release a new book titled Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, which is currently in the editing phase.”

They added, “Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors. He will be deeply missed by many.”

Madsen was widely known for his tough-guy roles, particularly in Quentin Tarantino’s films. He portrayed Vic Vega/Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs (1992), Budd in Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Volume 2 (2004), "Grouch" Douglass/Joe Gage in The Hateful Eight (2015), and Sheriff Hackett in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019).

In a 2020 interview with The Independent, Madsen spoke about his roles in Tarantino’s films and shared that the director often stood by him despite resistance from producer Harvey Weinstein.

“Harvey never liked me,” Madsen said at the time. “I don’t know if he liked anybody, but I know he didn’t like me. He never wanted me in Quentin’s films. I think I’m only in them because Quentin stood up for me every time and said, ‘I’m going to use Michael whether you like it or not.’”

Outside of his work with Tarantino, Madsen starred in several notable films, including Thelma & Louise (1991) as Jimmy Lennox, Free Willy (1993) as Glen Greenwood, and Donnie Brasco (1997) as Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano. He also had multiple upcoming film projects in development.

Madsen was married three times—first to General Hospital actress Georganne LaPiere (Cher’s sister), then to actress Jeannine Bisignano, and most recently to DeAnna Madsen, whom he married in 1996. He and DeAnna were estranged at the time of his passing.

He is survived by sons Calvin, Luke, and Hudson (with DeAnna), and Christian and Max (with Bisignano). Madsen filed for divorce from DeAnna in September 2024, citing their separation shortly after the tragic death of their son Hudson, who died by suicide in January 2022 at age 26.

In recent years, Madsen faced legal issues, including a trespassing arrest in February 2022 and a domestic battery arrest in August 2024. He was later released.

His most recent public appearance was at the Chiller Theatre Expo in Parsippany, New Jersey, on April 27, 2025. He had been scheduled to attend the Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee, from July 11 to 13.

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