Actor Michael Madsen dies at 67

Actor Michael Madsen died the morning of July 3 from an apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu at the age of 67.

Known for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, Madsen began his acting career in 1980 at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, serving as an apprentice under John Malkovich and appearing in Of Mice and Men. By 1982 he was booking film and TV roles with a part in the 1982 film Against All Hope, two guest spots on St. Elsewhere and a role in TV movie Special Bulletin in 1983.

1983 would be a big year for Madsen with roles in WarGames and Diner, followed by appearances in Racing with the Moon and The Natural in 1984. Madsen returned to television in 1984 with guest roles on Cagney & Lacey and Miami Vice, with a guest spot on The Hitchhiker in 1985. Madsen was a regular on the short-lived TV series Our Family Honor, which ran for just 13 episodes. Between 1986 and 1991, Madsen guested on Crime Story, War and Remembrance, Almost Grown, Tour of Duty, Jake and the Fatman, Quantum Leap, The Outsiders, Gabriel's Fire, and had roles films The Killing Time, Iguana, Shadows in the Storm, Blood Red, Kill Me Again and The End of Innocence.

Madsen's career took a big turn in 1991 after being cast in The Doors and Thelma & Louise, leading to his first role for Tarantino as Mr. Blonde in Resevoir Dogs. He would work with Tarantino again in Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Volume 2 (2003-2004), The Hateful Eight (2015) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

Madsen's other notable films include Straight Talk, Fatal Instinct, Free Willy, Money for Nothing, The Getaway, Wyatt Earp, Species, Free Willy 2, Mulholland Falls, Donnie Brasco, Executive Target, The Sender, Species II, Detour, Die Another Day, Pauly Shore is Dead, Renegade, Sin City, BloodRayne, Scary Movie 4, Hell Ride, Terror Trap, Six Days in Paradise and his last film, Resurrection Road. Madsen also appeared in countless direct-to-video and TV movies.

After his film career took off, Madsen mostly stayed away from TV but still popped up every now and then with appearances on Vengeance Unlimited, Big Apple, Tilt, CSI: Miami, 24, No Clean Break, Bob's Burgers (as the voice of Kevin Costner), Blue Bloods, The Mob Doctor, Golden Boy, Hawaii Five-0, American Dream, Real Detective, Those Who Can't, Powers, Explosion Jones, Real Rob, and Dystopia.

Madsen was the brother of actress Virginia Madsen. He was married to his third wife DeAnna Madsen, with whom he had three children. He also had two children with his second wife, Jeannine Bisignano. His first wife was Georganne LaPiere.