Beloved ‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Patrick Muldoon Passes Away at 57, Leaving Fans in Mourning

Patrick Muldoon, famed for his performances in “Days of Our Lives” and “Melrose Place,” has passed away at 57.

The actor and producer suffered a fatal heart attack at his Beverly Hills residence, where he lived with his girlfriend, Miriam Rothbart, on Sunday morning, as confirmed by his manager to Variety.

Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, shared with TMZ that he was discovered unconscious on the bathroom floor after going for a shower. Despite efforts by paramedics to revive him at the scene, their attempts were unsuccessful.

Muldoon began his acting journey while attending the University of Southern California, making an early appearance in a two-episode stint on the sitcom “Who’s the Boss?”

After graduating in 1991, he quickly secured a three-episode role in the hit teen comedy “Saved By The Bell.”

His breakthrough role came when he landed the part of boxer Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives, appearing from 1992 to 1995 and later returning from 2011 to 2012.

He is also known for playing villain Richard Hart in Melrose Place from seasons three to five and on the big screen, for his role as Zander Barcalow in the 1997 sci-fi movie Starship Troopers, alongside his ex-girlfriend Denise Richards.

Patrick Muldoon, known for his roles in Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place, has died at the age of 57; Pictured in 2024 

He reunited with Richards to film his latest acting role in a crime thriller titled Dirty Hands, which is slated to be released later this year. 

Richards and the actor had remained close friends after dating on and off for five years during the 1990s. 

He appeared on an epsiode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when Richards was a cast member as well as on her reality show, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, to film a music video together.

Muldoon also dated Lisa Rinna, Tori Spelling and Juliette Binoche. 

Muldoon had followed his passion for music and was the lead singer and guitarist for the rock band, The Sleeping Masses. 

The star also worked as a producer, earning an executive producer credit in many films including The Tribes of Palos Verdes, Arkansas, Marlowe, The Dreadful,, and most recently Kockroach, which is currently filming and stars Chris Hemsworth and Taron Egerton. 

In his last Instagram post a day before his death, he wrote: ‘So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia.’ 

Fans flooded the post with tributes, with one writing: ‘Grew up watching you in starship troopers . R.I.P legend.’ 

His breakthrough role came when he landed the part of boxer Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives, appearing from 1992 to 1995 and later returning from 2011 to 2012; Pictured with Christie Clark as Carrie Brady in a 1993 episode

He is also known for his role as Zander Barcalow in the 1997 sci-fi movie Starship Troopers, alongside his ex-girlfriend Denise Richards 

The actor dated Richards for five years during the 1990s, they remained close friends and walked the red carpet together at the 2026 Saturn Awards in March – Muldoon’s final public appearance

He is also known for playing villain Richard Hart in Melrose Place from seasons three to five

Patrick made a final public appearance at the 2026 Saturn Awards in March, posing for photos alongside Richards.

Last year the actor teased a possible return to Days of Our Lives, appearing in a video shared on Peacock’s official Instagram page. 

In the brief clip, he could be seen wandering around the set of the daytime show before telling the cameras: ‘Oh my God I’m in Salem! It’s good to be back’. 

Muldoon is survived by his partner Miriam Rothbart, and his parents Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr, as well as his sister Shana and brother-in-law Ahmet Zappa, and their children, niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.