Michael Madsen's household are in mourning after the actor's stunning loss of life.
His youthful sister, actress Virginia Madsen, addressed his sudden passing, shortly after the “Donnie Brasco” star was discovered unresponsive by authorities in his Malibu, Calif., residence on Thursday, July 3.
Michael was 67.
“My brother Michael has left the stage,” Virginia, 63, told Variety in an announcement. “He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother — etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark.”
The actress — recognized for her roles in “Sweet Man” (1992) and “Sideways” (2004) — made it clear: “We're not mourning a public determine. We're not mourning a fable — however flesh and blood and ferocious coronary heart. Who stormed by life loud, good, and half on fireplace. Who leaves us echoes — gruff, good, unrepeatable — half legend, half lullaby.”
Virginia ended her heartfelt assertion on a private observe.
“I'll miss our inside jokes, the sudden laughter, the sound of him. I'll miss the boy he was earlier than the legend; I miss my huge brother. Thanks to everybody reaching out with love and reminiscence. In time, we'll share how we plan to have fun his life — however for now, we keep shut, and let the silence say what phrases can't,” she concluded.
Virginia and Michael supported one another throughout their careers, typically showing on the pink carpet collectively at one another's premieres.
Michael appeared in a number of cult-classic movies over time, together with a number of Quentin Tarantino movies like “Reservoir Canine” (1992), “Kill Invoice” Volumes 1 and a pair of in 2003 and 2004, “The Hateful Eight” (2015) and “As soon as Upon a Time in … Hollywood” (2019).
Two of his former co-stars, Harvey Keitel and Vivica A. Fox, additionally reacted to the information of his passing.
“We've misplaced one other nice American poet. Farewell, my expensive pal,” Keitel, 86, completely advised The Put up, noting his off-camera expertise.
In addition to his legendary movie profession, Michael was a printed poet and has a guide, titled “Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems,” due out subsequent yr.
Tarantino wrote within the foreword for the guide: “For me, the true journey that Michael the author is exploring is what it means to be a person in a world the place the notions of manhood that a few of us grew up with are barely remembered. However then if everyone launched into the hero's journey, everyone can be a hero, wouldn't they?”
“Michael was a proficient man with an AMAZING on display screen presence! My deepest condolences & prayers to his household. #GoneToSoon #RestInParadise,” Fox completely advised The Put up through electronic mail.
Michael was pronounced useless on the scene at 8:25 a.m., a consultant for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Division confirmed to The Put up.
His loss of life is believed to be from pure causes, based on regulation enforcement, who revealed that no foul play is suspected.
Michael's staff launched a joint assertion, together with his supervisor, Ron Smith, saying the actor died from cardiac arrest.
“Within the final two years Michael Madsen has been performing some unbelievable work with unbiased movie together with upcoming characteristic movies ‘Resurrection Highway,' ‘Concessions' and ‘Cookbook for Southern Housewives,' and was actually wanting ahead to this subsequent chapter in his life,” his reps — managers Smith and Susan Ferris and publicist Liz Rodriguez — advised The Put up.
“Michael was additionally making ready to launch a brand new guide known as ‘Tears for My Father: Outlaw Ideas and Poems,' at the moment being edited,” they continued. “Michael Madsen was considered one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who might be missed by many.”
The Chicago-born actor's characteristic movie debut got here within the 1983 sci-fi techno thriller “WarGames,” nevertheless, throughout her four-decade-career, he shortly grew to become typecast as a tricky man — a transfer he mentioned stemmed from his position as Mr. Blonde in “Reservoir Canine.”
“I feel it was the Tarantino phenomenon. It hit so exhausting, it was such an enormous punch. Quentin is, in my estimation, the most effective director of my technology. He's up there with George Stevens and Alfred Hitchcock, Elia Kazan,” Michael advised The Hollywood reporter in 2018.
“Due to that, due to my relationship with him, it grew to become larger than something I ever did. After which ‘Kill Invoice' put the ultimate stamp on that one. It's an awesome blessing to have that and on the identical time, it's actually exhausting to get out of it. And other people don't need you to get out of it.”
He added, “It's actually exhausting to interrupt out of that nest when you've constructed it.”
Michael is survived by his estranged spouse DeAnna Madsen, whom he filed for divorce from in September 2024, his sisters and his remaining youngsters, together with “Divergent” actor Christian Madsen.
His son, Hudson, died by suicide in 2022.
