Michael Madsen Slammed A-List Actor As 'Lifeless' In Last Interview Before His Death

Yahoo

09-07-2025

Michael Madsen gave his working relationship with this A-lister a terrible review!
The late actor gave a review of the time he spent with Johnny Depp on the set of their hit movie, "Donnie Brasco," and he did not have the nicest words to say about it.
Michael Madsen died on July 3, after he was discovered unconscious and unresponsive in his home in Malibu. There were speculations that substance abuse may have played a role in his death.
The actor shared a piece of his mind about Depp's personality and nature as an actor during one of his final interviews before his passing. Madsen practically rated his co-star's acting on "Donnie Brasco" a zero, noting that if he were a mobster in real life, he would have eliminated Depp by himself.
In the movie, Depp played the role of an undercover FBI agent intertwined with the mafia, where Madsen played the character of the mafia boss, Sonny Black.
Madsen revealed that he experienced a hard time connecting with the actor as they could barely hold a five-minute conversation. The actor recalled that things often felt as if Depp was never in the room.
"It was just boring. It was like lifeless. It was a lifelessness to it that I couldn't comprehend. It made no sense to me," Madsen expressed about the performance as seen on Radar Online.
He provided a real-life perspective on the matter, affirming that Depp could never have pulled off playing the role of an undercover cop in real life, nor would he have allowed him to join the family to begin with.
Madsen's death is currently clouded by mystery, as the actor reportedly shared with people around him that he was practicing sobriety and healthy living in the days leading to his shocking exit.
As shared by The Blast, people in his close circle did not see death as a destination for the actor, as they all hoped he was taking the conditions of his sobriety with all seriousness. The actor has also embarked on several rehab trips, even as an adult, to curb his addiction to alcohol.
He also created a mentoring program for people dealing with addiction to find a solution to their problem in a treatment center in Malibu. As transparent as he was, Madsen's mental well-being remained a secret to people around him for several weeks before he passed away.
The actor also underwent a complete medical evaluation due to a nagging injury sustained from a horseback riding accident. His results reportedly came back clean and medically fit, making his death more bewildering.
Yesterday, July 8, The Blast shared that, according to an official report, Madsen died of heart failure caused by heart disease and his alcoholism.
Thus, the actor officially died of natural causes, which means an autopsy would be unnecessary. Following this conclusion, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department closed the case, with no reports of foul play detected.
His manager had confirmed that he had a cardiac arrest in his home and was found unresponsive upon his arrival at the property.
Since his sad passing, tributes have poured in from people who have encountered the actor in one way or another. His managers revealed that he had a plethora of projects set to be released in the next chapter of his life.
The actor was also in the middle of publishing a book of poetry, which was being edited at the time of his passing.
Madsen's sister paid tribute to her late brother's life in an emotional post on Instagram, describing him as a multifaceted individual who embodied multiple characters and the richness of his on-screen portrayals.
She uploaded a black-and-white picture of herself and the actor, flanked by an older figure, both wearing a bright smile. In Virginia Madsen's words:
"He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother — etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark."
Virginia added that her tribute was not an ode to a public figure, but to someone who journeyed through life "loud, brilliant, and half on fire." She declared how much she would miss the life they shared together as siblings and the jokes they shared over the years.
Virginia extended her gratitude to everyone who sent their wishes, as she promised to update the public on the next line of action. "For now, we stay close, and let the silence say what words can't," Virginia concluded.
As soon as news of his death hit the airwaves, the actor's four sons, Max, Christian, Luke, and Kalvin, had an emotional moment in front of his Malibu residence.
In a report by The Blast, the brothers appeared somber as they all embraced one another to provide comfort amid the difficult situation. Before his assistant went in to check him last Thursday, the late actor had reportedly enjoyed a great conversation with his pal, Dougie Smith, on Tuesday.
He reportedly appeared in lifted spirits and spoke excitedly about attending the upcoming Nashville Comic-Con.
Madsen etched his name in the golden sands of Hollywood with his impressive performance in projects like "Thelma & Louise," "Reservoir Dogs," "The Hateful Eight," "Sidewinder Bud," and a host of other interesting movies.