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
Traveller's $515 mistake after learning of little-known airport rule the hard way: 'I can't believe it'

Traveler Loses $515 Due to Overlooked Airport Rule: “I Had No Idea!

A traveler recently shared a cautionary tale about an obscure airport regulation…
Erfan Soltani was arrested at his home after taking part in a protest last week.

Iranian Protester’s Life at Risk Just Days After Arrest

Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old man, faces the possibility of execution as soon…
Acclaimed Australian author Craig Silvey faces court on child exploitation offences

Novels by Author Withdrawn from Shelves and Schools Following Allegations

Renowned author Craig Silvey, celebrated for his award-winning novels, is currently facing…
Mandy Dashwood bushfires

Heartbreaking Series of Misfortunes: Mandy Faces Triple Tragedy Following Bushfire Devastation

Exclusive: There’s an old adage that trouble tends to come in threes.…
A damaged Mercedes-Benz that collided with an e-bike in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Push for E-Bike License Plates Intensifies Amid Rising Crash Concerns

There are renewed calls for e-bikes to require number plates after two…
BTS attend Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2020 on December 31, 2019 in New York City.

K-pop Phenomenon BTS Set to Perform in Australia: Here’s Why It Matters

BTS is making their way to Australia, and while the name might…
Bill and Hillary Clinton at the opening night of the new Manhattan Theatre Club play "Bella Bella" in 2019.

Clintons to Undergo Contempt Hearings Following Noncompliance with Epstein Investigation Subpoenas

In an assertive move, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has issued…
Scientists discover surprising cause of high blood pressure that has nothing to do with stress, your diet or weight

Groundbreaking Discovery: New Non-Dietary Factor Identified as Major Cause of High Blood Pressure

Scientists are suggesting that a lesser-known area of the brain might be…