With over 300 movie and TV credit to his identify, Michael Madsen was a type of character actors that you simply immediately acknowledged every time he walked on display screen. Recurrently recognized for enjoying robust guys and for his work with Quentin Tarantino, lots of Madsen’s films are favorites for numerous movie followers, which implies numerous individuals at the moment are fairly unhappy, because it’s being reported that the actor has handed away.
NBC Los Angeles studies that Madsen was discovered unresponsive in his residence in Malibu this morning. In an announcement from his supervisor, Ron Smith, it is stated the actor died of a cardiac arrest. Following the information, Madsen’s many followers, and associates, have been sharing their condolences. Walton Goggins, who appeared in The Hateful Eight alongside Madsen posted to Instagram saying…
Michael Madsen… this man… this artist… this poet… this rascal…Fucking ICON…. Aura like nobody else. Ain’t sufficient phrases so I’ll simply say this…. I really like you buddy. A H8TER without end
A number of followers are singling out Madsen’s work with Quentin Tarantino, which included each Kill Invoice and the film that put Tarantino on the map, Reservoir Canine. It is a troublesome efficiency to neglect as soon as you’ve got seen it, made all of the extra outstanding by the truth that Madsen improvised the sequence. The actor owns the display screen your entire time he is on it, as producer Joe Russo put it on X…
‘Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna chunk?’
Michael Madsen ALWAYS had chunk.
RIP.
Madsen’s characters had been continuously robust guys, however that did not imply they had been all the time macho and violent. As critic Courtney Howard identified on X, Madsen’s Kill Invoice efficiency was surprisingly weak.
Michael Madsen’s artistic partnership w/ Quentin Tarantino was a as soon as in a lifetime spark. His work in KILL BILL is phenomenal, layering that down-on-his-luck lout with pathos & sympathetic sadsack grit, constructing him out into a fancy, dimensional character. #RIPMichaelMadsen pic.twitter.com/HU4qCYqVVVJuly 3, 2025
Madsen’s work with Tarantino is so well-known and beloved that it’ll simply be a number of the first roles individuals bear in mind. He appeared in a number of of the director’s movies and will have starred in movies Tarantino by no means made.
There are such a lot of extra which might be worthy of notice that may very well be simply missed. Movie critic Kristen Lopez referred to as out his position in Thelma & Louise for explicit recognition. It isn’t considered one of his extra attention-grabbing performances, which can be why it really works so nicely.
Again within the day there have been loads of comparisons between Madsen and Mitchum that I spotted and appreciated as an grownup. So unhappy. Although lots of people will cite his Tarantino movies I all the time consider him in THELMA & LOUISE. He performed an incredible instance of empathetic masculinity and supportive partnership. It’s an incredible, quiet efficiency.
However in over 300 performances, not each position goes to be a stereotypical robust man. A shocking variety of followers are celebrating considered one of Michael Madsen’s extra sudden roles, as the daddy within the household film Free Willy. As @MuseZack posted:
You all are gonna snicker, however considered one of my favourite Michael Madsen roles was because the foster dad in Free Willy. I all the time take pleasure in it when an actor recognized for being menacing performs a heat, paternal position and simply nails it.
Michael Madsen could also be gone, however followers definitely have not seen the final of him. He had quite a few movie and tv tasks in manufacturing on the time of his demise, a few of which will definitely nonetheless be capable of be accomplished. He had additionally accomplished a guide that’s at the moment being edited, titled Tears For My Father: Outlaw Ideas and Poems.
We right here at CinemaBlend ship our ideas and condolences to Michael Madsen’s household, associates and family members.