Michael Madsen, the rugged actor renowned for his roles in Quentin Tarantino films such as Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, passed away Thursday morning.
According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies who answered a 911 call at Madsen’s Malibu residence discovered him unresponsive and he was declared dead at 8:25 a.m.
Madsen began his career in the theater, working with Chicago’s prestigious Steppenwolf Theatre Company before transitioning to film and television in the early 1980s. His breakthrough came in 1992 when he starred as the psychotic, razor-wielding Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. The film became a cult classic and firmly established Madsen as a memorable and intense character actor.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Madsen appeared in a diverse mix of films, including Thelma & Louise (1991), Donnie Brasco (1997), Species (1995), and Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (2003–2004), in which he played the world-weary assassin Budd. His performances are often marked by a simmering intensity, dry wit, and a sense of melancholy beneath his rugged exterior.
In addition to his work in film, Madsen has appeared in numerous television projects and lent his distinctive voice to video games such as Grand Theft Auto III and Dishonored. He is also a published poet, having released several volumes including Burning in Paradise and The Complete Poetic Works of Michael Madsen, Vol I: 1995–2005.
Michael Madsen was 67 years old.