Veteran 'Kill Bill' actor found dead at his home

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Veteran actor Michael Madsen has died at the age of 67.

The highly-praised actor is best known for his antagonistic roles in such Quentin Tarantino classics as Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill.

HOW THE WORLD CAME TO LOSE MICHAEL MADSEN

The 67-year-old Madsen was found at his home in Malibu, California, on the morning of July 3, 2025.

The actor was pronounced dead on the scene after he succumbed to cardiac arrest, which his manager has confirmed.

MICHAEL MADSEN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOLLYWOOD

Madsen enjoyed the limelight for more than 40 years and amassed more than 300 film and television credits. He had a knack for really locking into roles that saw him portray an antagonist, which led him and Tarantino to develop an on-screen rapport of the highest order.

THE RAZOR BLADE AND THE EAR

Madsen has a myriad of memorable scenes, but none more iconic than the torture scene in the quintessential, Tarantino film, Reservoir Dogs (1992). A robbery goes awry due to a cop infiltrating a caper. The unhinged Mr Blonde, portrayed by Madsen, goes about sniffing the mole out. He zeros in on the person he thinks is compromised and slices his ear off while dancing playfully to Stuck In The Middle With You by Stealers Wheel.

OTHER MUST-SEE MADSEN APPEARANCES

Madsen will usually be a dark character, as is evinced by his work in such films as Donnie Brasco (1997), The Hateful Eight (2015), and Kill Bill: Volumes 1 and 2(2003-2004). He showed a softer side to his art in Free Willy (1993) and portrayed an anti-hero in Sin City (2005) as the crooked cop, Bob.

His sister Virginia Madsen-an Oscar nominated actor-paid homage to her brother with some sincere sentiments shared about him in a statement.

“He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw,” she intimated.

WHAT THE ACTOR WAS WORKING ON BEFORE HE DIED

For the last few years, he had been placing his efforts on creating a few independent feature films. He was also gearing up to release a book of poetry. The collection entitled Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poemswas an offering fans were anticipating.

In March, he became an ambassador for a cigar brand, a new venture about which he was excited.

Madsen is survived by five children. He lost his son, Hudson, to suicide in 2022. This had a hard-hitting effect on the enthralling talent from Chicago, Illinois.