American actor Michael Madsen, known for his roles in Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood or The eight bastardsdied this Thursday of a cardiac arrest at the age of 67, announced his manager at NBC News. According to The Hollywood Reporterthe actor was found unconscious at his home in Malibu.
“Michael Madsen was one of the most emblematic actors in Hollywood, which will be lacking a lot”, welcomed his agents Susan Ferris and Ron Smith in a joint statement with his press attaché, Liz Rodriguez. “In the past two years, Michael Madsen has done an incredible job in the field of independent cinema, especially in the future feature filmsResurrection Road,ConcessionsetCookbook for Southern Housewivesand he was looking forward to this new chapter of his life ”they added.
In addition to 40 years of career, the actor appeared in more than 300 productions. His most striking roles remain that of Mr. Blonde, a criminal psychopath with pleasure to torture a police officer in Reservoir Dogsand Budd, the little brother of the villain of the two parts of Kill Bill, Interpreted by David Carradine. He had thus become an essential figure in the universe of Quentin Tarantino.
The American director appreciated him very much and also entrusted him with roles in his western The eight bastards (2015) and in its nostalgic fable Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019). The actor also had to play the role of Vincent Vega in the cult film Pulp Fiction (1994), but he finally preferred to play in another production, giving way to John Travolta to embody the famous hitman.
He also appeared in Donnie Brasco, Thelma & Louise or Sin City.
Born September 25, 1957 in Chicago, Michael Madsen was the son of Elaine Madsen, author and director and Calvin Madsen, a firefighter. In 2024, he was arrested for assault and injuries after an altercation with his wife, from whom he was separated. The two had a son, Hudson, who died by suicide in 2022. Made less in France where he was not translated, Madsen was passionate about poetry and author himself of a poetic work in several works (Burning in Paradise, Expecting Rain, Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems …).
