Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill star Michael Madsen dies, aged 66
Madsen was found unresponsive in his home in Malibu, California, on Thursday morning and pronounced dead, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department watch commander Christopher Jauregui said.
He is believed to have died of natural causes and Madsen's manager Ron Smith said cardiac arrest was the apparent cause.
Madsen's career spanned more than 300 credits stretching back to the early 1980s, many in low-budget films.
But his most memorable screen moment may have been the sadistic torture of a captured police officer - while dancing to Stealers Wheel's Stuck In The Middle With You - as Mr Blonde in 1992's Reservoir Dogs.
He would become a Tarantino regular, appearing in the Kill Bill films and The Hateful Eight.
"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," his managers Smith and Susan Ferris and publicist Liz Rodriguez said in a statement.
They added that he "was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many".
During a handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in November 2020, Madsen reflected on his first visit to Hollywood in the early 1980s.
"I got out and I walked around and I looked and I wondered if there were some day some way that that was going to be a part of me.
"And I didn't know because I didn't know what I was going to do at that point with myself," he said.
"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."
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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. Source: He was last seen in public in April, appearing disheveled. At the time of his death, Madsen was involved in 18 unreleased projects, as noted on his Advertisement Michael "was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life," his managers, Smith and Susan Ferris, as well as publicist Liz Rodriguez, said in a statement. They said he was also set to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems. It was clear he had a lot going on in his life that was difficult for him to navigate. A source close to Michael Madson "Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many," the statement added. TROUBLED FINAL YEARS Michael Madsen was the father of six children. 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I'll miss the boy he was before the legend; I miss my big brother. Thank you to everyone reaching out with love and memory. In time, we'll share how we plan to celebrate his life—but for now, we stay close, and let the silence say what words can't. Source: Shortly after the arrest, he filed for divorce from his wife. However, just weeks later, Madsen stated that he had no intention of going through with the divorce. Advertisement In an Instagram post, Madsen clarified that his wife had no involvement in Hudson's death, despite claims made in his divorce filings. "Losing a child is the hardest and most painful experience that can happen in this world," he at the time. The nature of Michael Madsen's relationship with DeAnna at the time of his passing remains unclear. Along with DeAnna and his children, Madsen is survived by his younger sister, Virginia, who shared a heartfelt tribute to him on Thursday. Advertisement "We're not mourning a public figure. 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