Actor Michael Madsen appears at the premiere of "The Hateful Eight" in Los Angeles on Dec. 7, 2015.
Share and Follow

Michael Madsen, whose menacing characters in “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” made him a standout in Quentin Tarantino’s films, has died. He was 67.

Madsen was found unresponsive in his home in Malibu, California, on Thursday morning and pronounced dead, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Watch Commander Christopher Jauregui said.

He is believed to have died of natural causes and authorities do not suspect any foul play was involved. Madsen’s manager Ron Smith said cardiac arrest was the apparent cause.

Actor Michael Madsen appears at the premiere of "The Hateful Eight" in Los Angeles on Dec. 7, 2015.
Actor Michael Madsen appears at the premiere of “The Hateful Eight” in Los Angeles on Dec. 7, 2015. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Madsen’s career spanned more than 300 credits stretching back to the early 1980s, many in low-budget films.

But his most memorable screen moment may have been the sadistic torture of a captured police officer — while dancing to Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You” — as Mr. Blonde in 1992’s “Reservoir Dogs.”

He would become a Tarantino regular, appearing in the “Kill Bill” films and “The Hateful Eight.”

“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,” his managers Smith and Susan Ferris and publicist Liz Rodriguez said in a statement.

Michael Madsen and Kathleen York from the TV series Vengeance Unlimited.
Michael Madsen and Kathleen York from the TV series Vengeance Unlimited. (Supplied)

They added that he “was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”

During a handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in November 2020, Madsen reflected on his first visit to Hollywood in the early 1980s.

“I got out and I walked around and I looked and I wondered if there were someday some way that that was going to be a part of me. And I didn’t know because I didn’t know what I was going to do at that point with myself,” he said.

“I could have been a bricklayer. I could have been an architect. I could have been a garbage man. I could have been nothing. But I got lucky. I got lucky as an actor.”

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Scottish Rugby chief still backing Gregor Townsend... and isn't setting targets for Six Nations as 'progress' is not about 'winning or losing games'

Scottish Rugby Boss Supports Gregor Townsend, Prioritizes Progress Over Six Nations Wins

<!– <!– <!– <!– Alex Williamson, the CEO of Scottish Rugby, has…
The Warwick Turf Club suffered damage to some of its facilities.

Devastating Storm Hits Near Brisbane: Roofs Ripped Off Homes, Race Track Closure

Queensland is reeling from another bout of intense storms, with areas south…
Mother who hit 12-year-old girl outside Perth high school jailed

Shocking Incident: Perth Mother Jailed for Assaulting 12-Year-Old Outside School Grounds

A mother has been sentenced to jail after hitting a Perth schoolgirl…
Four more charged, guns seized after Sydney public shooting

Four Arrested and Weapons Confiscated Following Sydney Shooting Incident

Another four men have been charged over a public place shooting in…

Tragic Shooting Claims Life of US National Guard Member in Washington, Confirms Trump

Andrew Wolfe and Sarah Beckstrom have been named as the two U.S.…
Australians have been blocked from three of the world's most popular deepfake nudify websites after they were used to create AI-generated deepfakes of school children.

Australia Cracks Down on Deepfake Websites to Combat Child Abuse Material

Access to three leading deepfake websites has been restricted for Australians after…
Police continue to scour bushland for missing mum Samantha Murphy

Authorities Persist in Extensive Bushland Search for Missing Mother Samantha Murphy

Detectives are resuming a renewed search for missing Victorian mum Samantha Murphy…

Significant Environmental Legislation Nearing Approval Following Intense Negotiations: Here’s What’s on the Horizon

Labor has struck a deal with the Greens to pass the largest…