The gravelly-voiced actor known for his intense screen presence, Michael Madsen, passed away Thursday at 67, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable performances and a grieving family.Best known for roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Madsen died of cardiac arrest at his Malibu home, his manager confirmed to The New York Times.

His sister, actress Virginia Madsen, paid tribute in a moving statement to Variety, calling him “thunder and velvet,” “a poet disguised as an outlaw,” and “a father, a son, a brother — etched in contradiction, tempered by love.”We’re not mourning a myth,” she wrote. “But flesh and blood and a ferocious heart. I’ll miss the boy he was before the legend. I miss my big brother.”

Madsen’s four-decade career was built on portraying unpredictable, menacing characters, often in Tarantino’s films, including The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But behind the tough persona was a man who faced personal tragedy.In 2022, his son Hudson died by suicide at 26. Madsen expressed shock and heartbreak, saying, “My last text from him was ‘I love you dad.’”

The loss strained his long marriage to DeAnna Madsen. In 2024, divorce rumors emerged alongside reports of a domestic violence incident. Though he was arrested, Madsen’s lawyer claimed he was innocent and acted with restraint. Madsen later clarified he didn’t blame DeAnna for their son’s death and had no wish for divorce.DeAnna asked for privacy, saying Michael was “struggling with his own issues” and that the family had done their best to support him.Madsen’s life was full of contradictions — a screen villain with a poet’s soul, a grieving father, and a fiercely loyal sibling. As Virginia wrote, he was “half legend, half lullaby.”