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Michael Madsen, star of Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and Donnie Brasco, dies aged 67

Michael Madsen, star of Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and Donnie Brasco, dies aged 67

Irish Times2 days ago
The actor Michael Madsen has died aged 67 at his home in Malibu, according to authorities and his representatives. No foul play is suspected, the sheriff's department confirmed, after deputies responded to the Los Angeles county home following a call to the emergency services on Thursday morning.
He was pronounced dead at 8.25am. In an email, Madsen's manager, Ron Smith, confirmed his client had died from cardiac arrest.
A statement from Smith and another manager, Susan Ferris, along with publicist Liz Rodriguez said: '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.
'Michael was also preparing to release a new book called Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, currently being edited. Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.'
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Over a four-decade career, Madsen had won acclaim for his portrayals of often enigmatic and frequently wise-cracking tough guys in films including Kill Bill: Vol 1, Reservoir Dogs, Thelma & Louise and Donnie Brasco.
He also features in later Tarantino films including The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Madsen began his career in Chicago as part of the Steppenwolf Theatre company before debuting on the big screen in 1983 sci-fi WarGames. - Guardian
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Best graphic novels of 2025 so far: ‘One of the most affecting reading experiences I've had for many years'
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Best graphic novels of 2025 so far: ‘One of the most affecting reading experiences I've had for many years'

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Inside Michael Madsen's blended family life
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time2 days ago

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Acting legend Michael Madsen has died aged 67. Michael, who was best known for menacing roles in Quentin Tarantino films such as Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, was found unresponsive by authorities who were responding to a 911 call. He was pronounced dead at the scene, with his manager saying that he died of cardiac arrest. Actor Michael Madsen attends 'Reservoir Dogs' 25th Anniversary Screening during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre. Pic: Getty Images Known for playing sadistic, menacing characters, Michael Madsen has over 300 acting credits to his name. He had his first notable acting role in WarGames, the 1983 thriller starring Matthew Broderick. However, he became best known for his role as Mr Blonde in Quentin Tarantino's feature-length debut, Reservoir Dogs — where he participated in the film's most infamous scene, torturing a police officer while Stuck In the Middle With You played in the background. From there, he collaborated with Tarantino on three more films where he had notable roles — playing Budd in Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2, and as 'Grouch' Douglass in The Hateful Eight. His other credits include Donnie Brasco, Free Willy and Sin City. Michael's credits include Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and the Hateful Eight. Pic: REX Michael's mother Elaine was an Emmy Award winning filmmaker and author, winning an award for her work on the documentary Better Than It Has to Be. His sister Virginia Madsen was also nominated for an Oscar in 2004, and is best known for her roles in Candyman and Sideways. He has a daughter, Jessica, with his former partner Jeannine Bisignano. In 1984, Michael married his first wife, Georganne LaPierre, before they divorced in 1988. From 1991 to 1995 he was married to Jeannine Bisignano, with the couple having two sons, Christian and Max, both of whom are actors — Christian best known for his work in Palo Alto and Divergent. In 1996, he married DeAnna Morgan while on a break from filming Donnie Brasco, with the couple having three children together — Luke, Kalvin and Hudson. Tragically, however, Hudson took his own life in 2022. Susan Sarandon and Michael Madsen star in the film 'Thelma And Louise', 1991. Pic: Getty Images He was also known for his charity work, winning an award for his work with the Shriner's Children's Hospital in 2002. In 2016, he hosted An Intimate Evening with Michael Madsen to benefit Children's Paediatric Cancer. Speaking during a handprint ceremony at the famous Chinese Theatre in LA back in 2020, Michael spoke about his first time in Hollywood in the 1980s — saying '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. 'I didn't know because I didn't know what I was going to do at that point with myself.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.' Michael is survived by his daughter Jessica, sons Christian, Max, Luke and Kalvin, and is predeceased by his son Hudson.

Women are told to be assertive at work, then made to feel scummy for actually doing it
Women are told to be assertive at work, then made to feel scummy for actually doing it

Irish Times

time2 days ago

  • Irish Times

Women are told to be assertive at work, then made to feel scummy for actually doing it

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