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Irish Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Obituary: Michael Madsen, actor who will forever be known for that cut-throat razor scene in ‘Reservoir Dogs'
Star was usually cast as an unrepentant tough guy, but he was also the dad in 'Free Willy' Telegraph obituaries Michael Madsen, who has died of a heart attack at the age of 67, was an actor who made his name as the psychopathic Mr Blonde in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and went on to appear in four more Tarantino films. Over a vastly prolific career, with more than 300 credits, he specialised in charismatic hardmen, imbuing every role with a sense of danger and unpredictability. But if Madsen had had his way he would not have played Reservoir Dogs' most grimly memorable role. When casting his violent directorial debut about a heist gone badly wrong, Tarantino offered Madsen the part of Vic Vega — Mr Blonde for the purposes of the robbery — but the actor was set on playing Mr Pink, because he had more lines with Harvey Keitel. Tarantino agreed to audition him for the role, he recalled. 'For one of the only times in my life I'd rehearsed the dialogue, so I did a few Mr Pink scenes. When I was done, Quentin looked at me and went, 'Is that it? OK, good. You're not Mr Pink. You're Mr Blonde, and if you're not Mr Blonde, then you're not in the movie'.' Steve Buscemi played Mr Pink. While Madsen carved out a Hollywood niche as an unrepentant tough guy, he insisted that in real life he was very different (though there were brushes with the law). 'People have been afraid of me because of the parts I played. Nobody remembers that I was the dad in Free Willy.' Madsen was born in Chicago on September 25, 1957, one of three children. His father, Calvin, a US Navy veteran from World War II, was a firefighter, and his mother, Elaine (nee Melson), worked in finance before becoming an author and Emmy-winning film producer; the couple divorced when Michael was 11. After leaving school, he worked as a mechanic, then as a paramedic, but his life changed in 1980 when a friend took him to see a production of Of Mice and Men by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Enthralled, he went backstage and found the play's star, John Malkovich, who encouraged him to take acting classes. A few months later, Madsen was treading the boards in another production of the same play. He moved to LA and supported himself by working in a garage, and from 1982 began accumulating small roles, including two episodes of hospital drama St Elsewhere, and as a policeman in the 1983 thriller WarGames. His big break came in 1991 as Susan Sarandon's easygoing musician boyfriend in Thelma & Louise. 'It was one of the only times I got to play a sympathetic character,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT Tarantino wanted him to play Vincent Vega in 'Pulp Fiction' That brought him on to Tarantino's radar and the offer to play Mr Blonde, making the film his own in the unforgettable scene involving a razor, an ear and Stuck in the Middle with You. But his career took an immediate downturn. Tarantino wanted him to play Vincent Vega in his 1994 follow-up Pulp Fiction, but Madsen was contracted to Lawrence Kasdan's Western, Wyatt Earp, starring Kevin Costner. The three-hour epic was an epic flop; Pulp Fiction won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, an Academy Award and two Baftas, while the hitherto moribund career of Oscar-nominated John Travolta, who got the part, was super-charged back into life. A decade of hard graft followed for Madsen, one of the highlights being his portrayal of the real-life mobster Sonny Black in Mike Newell's Donny Brasco (1997). Then, in 2003 and 2004 he was reunited with Tarantino in the two Kill Bill films as the strip-club bouncer and hitman Budd (codename Sidewinder), an early target for Uma Thurman as she sets out on her gory voyage of revenge. In Tarantino's 2015 western The Hateful Eight he was the cattlehand Joe Gage, then four years later Sheriff Hackett in Bounty Law, the fictional 1960s TV Western that features in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In 1984, Madsen married Georganne LaPiere, Cher's half-sister; they divorced in 1988. In 1991, he married Jeannine Bisignano; they had two sons, Christian and Max, who are both actors. They divorced in 1995, and the following year he married DeAnna Morgan; they had three sons, one of whom, Hudson, a US Army sergeant, took his own life in 2022. She survives him with his other four sons and a daughter from another relationship.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Remembering Michael Madsen: A Career In Photos
Michael Madsen, who was found dead today at his Malibu home, is best known for his long collaboration with Quentin Tarantino. The director chose Madsen for a star-making turn as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. Madsen also appeared in Vol. 1 & 2 of the director's Kill Bill films, The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood. RELATED: Hollywood Pays Tribute To Michael Madsen: 'One Of My Favorite Actors I Ever Worked With' More from Deadline Michael Madsen Dies: 'Kill Bill', 'Reservoir Dogs' Actor Was 67 Val Kilmer Was Scheduled To Attend Last Night's Beverly Hills Film Festival Screening Of Documentary On Friend Michael Madsen Michael Madsen, Steven Ogg, Josh Hamilton & More Lead Movie Theater Comedy 'Concessions' But Madsen was prolific, working on between 7-12 projects a year over much of his career, often stealing scenes from bigger-name stars. And he did it for 40-plus years. From Diner in 1983 to Free Willy in 1993 to Sin City in 2005, scroll through the photos below to see the full range of his work. RELATED: Best of Deadline 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Justin Theroux To Jason Ritter 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter
Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Michael Madsen obituary: Tarantino favourite with a tender side
Actors are meant to be convincing in whatever role they play — but Michael Madsen feared he overdid it as Mr Blonde, gleefully torturing an undercover cop tied to a chair in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs while dancing to Stealers Wheel's 1970s hit Stuck In The Middle with You. For good measure, he then sliced off the policeman's ear with a menacing, shark-like grin. 'I think I've been more believable than I should have been,' he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. 'I think people really fear me. They see me and go: 'Holy shit, there's that guy!'' Madsen did not play only psychopaths and sadists, and the film he made straight after Reservoir Dogs was Free Willy in which he played Glen Greenwood, the tender-hearted foster father of the 12-year-old orphaned boy who befriends a captive orca in a theme park. 'The oddest thing is when children recognise me from Free Willy and their parents recognise me from Reservoir Dogs,' he noted. 'The kids are like, 'There's Glen!' and the parents are like, 'Don't go near that guy!''
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Michael Madsen's Death Shocks Hollywood: Cause Confirmed, Sister's Tearful Tribute Goes Viral
Hollywood legend Michael Madsen, 67, was found unresponsive at his Malibu residence and pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. by paramedics. Authorities have confirmed cardiac arrest as the likely cause, with no foul play suspected. The actor's longtime assistant made the emergency call. Madsen, known for his iconic roles in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill Vol. 2, leaves behind a powerful legacy spanning more than 40 years in film. Tributes are flooding in for the beloved star of Sin City and Free Willy. His sister Virginia mourned him with a touching tribute: 'My brother Michael has left the stage.' He lived with his wife, sister, and four sons, still reeling from the 2022 loss of his eldest son, Hudson, a US Army sergeant who died by suicide.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Free Willy' Actor Jason James Richter Remembers Michael Madsen for Having a 'Profound Effect' on Him as a Child Star
Michael Madsen, who played Glen in Free Willy, died on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 67 Costar Jason James Richter remembered sharing fun times and making memories with the actor as he shared his condolences Richter played Glen's foster son, Jesse, in the 1993 filmJason James Richter is mourning his on-screen father figure. The actor, who played Jesse in 1993's Free Willy , shared a message on his Instagram Stories on Thursday, July 3, sharing his thoughts on the news that Michael Madsen has died at age 67. "So I just received the news about Michael's passing and I just wanted to send my deepest condolences to his family and all of his fans. Michael was a truly special soul and he had a profound effect on me, and I will miss him greatly," the actor shared. Madsen played Glen, foster father to Jesse, in the beloved 1993 film. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Madsen was pronounced dead on July 3, after Los Angeles County deputies responded to a 911 call at his home, according to NBC4 Los Angeles. Reps for the Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill actor confirmed the news to PEOPLE on Thursday, July 3. Per NBC4, Madsen's death appears to be from natural causes, with no foul play suspected, citing a local sheriff's department. Madsen has been involved in controversy in recent years, including a trespassing arrest in February 2022 and an August 2024 arrest on a domestic-battery charge, after which he was released. The actor's most recent public appearance was at the Chiller Theatre Expo on April 27, 2025, in Parsippany, N.J. He was scheduled to attend the Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, Tenn., from July 11 to 13. Earlier this month, Richter looked back at the film after having lunch with Mark A. Marshall, who was an associate producer on Free Willy. "I knew nothing about the film world when I landed that gig. My first acting job ever (wiki is wrong) [and] Mark taught me the ropes. I am forever grateful for his friendship and support throughout the years. Love ya buddy," he wrote. Free Willy made more than $150 million when it was released in 1993, and spawned two sequels, 1995's Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home and Free Willy 3: The Rescue. Richter starred in all three films. Read the original article on People
