Following years of reportedly going in and out of rehab to overcome a self-destructive battle with alcoholism, actor Michael Madsen had been making strides in recent months to stay sober, before his sudden death last Thursday at age 67, sources close to the actor said.
The “Reservoir Dogs” star had been “making a consistent and valiant effort to turn his life around,” sources told TMZ. However, those close to him cannot say for sure whether he had relapsed right before his death, and they can’t speculate on his true state of mind, TMZ also reported.
The star of “Kill Bill,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and other works by Quentin Tarantino was found unresponsive at his Malibu home after deputies responded to a 911 call that morning, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told Us Weekly. Madsen was pronounced dead at the residence at 8:25 a.m. The sheriff’s department also said his death is believed to have been from natural causes and no foul play is suspected.
Madsen’s manager Ron Smith told Us Weekly and other outlets that his client died from a cardiac arrest. It will take an an autopsy and toxicology tests to determine what caused the cardiac arrest and whether alcohol played a role in his death, authorities have said.
Despite Madsen’s reported sobriety in recent months, his lawyer, Perry Warner, expressed concern about the actor’s health and said he was still “suffering from the effects of alcoholism,” the Daily Mail reported.
Warner said he had spoken to Madsen two days before his death. “I knew he was not well,” Warner said.
“He had multiple stints in and out of rehab,” Warner continued. “He struggled to maintain his sobriety. He was not happy about his life.”
Warner blamed Madsen’s estranged wife for some of his distress. Madsen and DeAnna Madsen were locked in a contentious breakup and costly divorce battle, the Daily Mail reported.
Madsen filed for divorce in September 2024 after 28 years of marriage. Madsen cited irreconcilable differences but also accused his estranged wife of driving their 26-year-old son Hudson, an army sergeant and Afghan war veteran, to die by suicide in 2022 “by her neglect, drinking and alcoholism,” People reported. The estranged couple also shared sons Calvin and Luke, while the actor was father to sons Christian and Max from a previous relationship with Jeannine Bisignano.
In his divorce filing, Madsen requested a domestic violence restraining order, while denying domestic violence charges made against him by DeAnna. He had been arrested in August 2024 on suspicion of spousal battery, but said the incident occurred when his estranged wife broke into their former home and he “confronted” her and asked her to leave.
“Respondent also significantly contributed to my personal issues as well,” Madsen wrote in a petition as part of his divorce filing, the Daily Mail reported. “I am a victim in an abusive, co-dependent, and toxic relationship that culminated in the respondent breaking into my residence and having me wrongfully arrested for DV.”
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s declined to file battery charges against Madsen, citing insufficient evidence. Madsen later expressed regret for blaming his estranged wife for their son’s suicide, the Daily Mail also reported. In a statement, he also insisted he didn’t want a divorce.
“Losing a child is the hardest and most painful experience that can happen in this world,” Madsen said on Instagram. “I deeply apologize for not correcting this earlier but I love my wife and our other four children and have no desire for divorce or blame.”
“She had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to our son,” Madsen continued. “It was a horrible loss and choice that was made for reasons that truly cannot ever be known because the person is gone.”
While the domestic violence case against Madsen was dismissed, he had other brushes with the law, according to the Daily Mail and CNN.
In 2019, Madsen was arrested for DUI, his second within 10 years, CNN reported. He also was arrested in 2012, following a physical altercation with his then-teenage son. Moreover, he arrested in 2022 for trespassing at a $5.3 million Malibu mansion from which he had been evicted.
Despite Madsen’s personal setbacks, he continued to work, according to CNN. With over 320 credits to his name on IMDb, Madsen also had 18 titles in development at the time of his death.
In a statement from his representatives following his death, they said Madsen had been “doing some incredible work with independent film” including upcoming feature films “Resurrection Road,” “Concessions” and “Cookbook for Southern Housewives.” He was “really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,” the statement said.
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