With his gravelly voice, piercing stare, and raw magnetism, Michael Madsen carved out a space all his own. Just four months before he was found unresponsive at his Malibu home at 67, Madsen was charging into a bold new chapter. A Chapter filled with fresh projects, reflection, and hope for what lay ahead.
(MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images)According to law enforcement, deputies responded to Madsen’s Los Angeles County home after a 911 call early Thursday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His longtime manager, Ron Smith, confirmed to the Daily Mail that the actor died of cardiac arrest.
Months before his passing, the “Kill Bill” and “Reservoir Dogs” icon shared a rare glimpse of optimism in what would become his final Instagram post.
In March 2025, Madsen posed for the cover of Hollywood Times to promote his new partnership with a cigar brand, and fans saw a familiar spark. “I am the new face of @doncapa_cigars,” he wrote. “Thank you to @hollywoodtimesmag for this magazine cover!”
Wearing a cowboy hat and channeling his Kill Bill character Budd, Madsen looked forward, not back, excited about a new era.
Madsen Was Focused on Future Projects in His Final Year
In a statement released after his death and published in The Daily Mail, Madsen’s representatives emphasized that he had been inspired and creatively active in recent years.
“In the last two years, Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film,” the statement read, citing upcoming features Resurrection Road, Concessions, and Cookbook for Southern Housewives.
“He was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life.”
Madsen was also preparing to release a new book titled ‘Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems’.
The book offers fans a more intimate glimpse into the life of the legendary star.
Hollywood Remembers One of Its Most Iconic Tough Guys
Michael Madsen became a defining presence in Quentin Tarantino’s films and a cult favorite across generations of moviegoers.
He starred in “Reservoir Dogs” (1992), “Kill Bill: Volume 2” (2004), “The Hateful Eight” (2015), and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019). He is also known for a memorable role as Sonny Black in 1997’s “Donnie Brasco”.
Michael’s Tough Life Behind the Scenes
Madsen’s personal life included its share of pain. Madsen married three times and had five children. His son Hudson died by suicide in 2022 at age 26.
(Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)In 2023, Madsen made headlines when authorities accused him of shoving his wife, DeAnna — a case later dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence.
“We are thrilled that Michael Madsen is able to put this behind him and look forward to our continued collaboration,” his rep told TMZ.
Madsen is survived by his children, former partners, and millions of fans worldwide who admired his gritty performances and poetic soul.
In life — and even in his final post — he reminded people that new beginnings are always possible, even for a Hollywood outlaw.