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Denise Richards is grappling with profound grief following the unexpected passing of her former partner, Patrick Muldoon. The news of Muldoon’s sudden death at the age of 57 due to a heart attack has left those close to him, including Richards, in deep sorrow.
The bond between Richards and Muldoon dates back to when they first met as teenagers in an acting class, with Richards being just 19 and Muldoon 21. Their romantic relationship spanned nearly five years in the late 1990s, but their friendship endured well beyond their split, continuing until his untimely demise.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Richards, now 55, is finding it extremely difficult to cope with the loss. A source intimately connected with the actress revealed her emotional state, sharing, “She’s devastated. Really, really sad. I’d even call her inconsolable. She can’t stop crying.” The depth of their long-standing friendship has made the news all the more heart-wrenching for Richards.
“She’s devastated. Really, really sad,” a source close to the actress told the outlet. “I’d even call her inconsolable. She can’t stop crying.”
Richards, 55, met Muldoon when she was 19 years old and he was 21 in an acting class. They remained close friends until his death.
“Patrick is the ex that she had the best relationship with,” the source said of the exes. “There was a ton of respect on both sides.”
“It was so amicable that they were better friends than lovers and they remained in constant contact. She was his biggest supporter, he was hers.”
Page Six reached out to Richards’ rep for comment, but didn’t receive an immediate response.
Muldoon spoke about his close friendship with Richards — whom he starred in 1997’s “Starship Troopers” with — during his appearance on Tori Spelling’s “MisSPELLING” podcast in October 2025.
“We both don’t come from entertainment families, and our families got to know each other over the years and kind of checked in with each other on navigating the crazy stuff that we all go through,” he said.
He shared that despite the two not ending up together romantically after an “on and off” relationship, he was still close with Richards’ kids with Charlie Sheen — daughters Lola, 20, and Sami, 22.
“I have a good relationship with both Lola and Sami,” he said. “I’ve known them since they were first born, and so I have a good relationship with both.”
Lola paid tribute to Muldoon on Instagram Monday, revealing that she “begged” her mom to get back together with him.
“i thought you were the one that was supposed be in our lives forever,” she wrote in an emotional tribute to the “Days of Our Lives” alum.
“i will really miss hearing my mom laugh on the phone with you. your voice always brightened my day and i’m gonna miss hearing it but i know my mom will more, but we will never stop talking about you,” she also shared.
Lola thanked Muldoon for being her mom’s best friend.
“the bond you two had was something so special, that no one can touch,” she wrote. “when i think of my mom i think of you. you guys came as a package and i’m so thankful i got to know you and witness a friendship so pure and special in front of my eyes.”