Michael Madsen

Michael Madsen
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Name:
Michael Madsen
Real name:
Michael Soren Madsen
Who is:
Birth date:
Place of birth:
Chicago
Death date:
3 July (67 y.o.)
Cause of death:
find out
Height:
6'2 ft ()
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Michael Madsen Biography

American film actor Michael Madsen gainув fame after his role in Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs." His filmography includes more than 150 films across various genres, and he also worked in voice acting and screenwriting.
Pictured: Michael Madsen
Pictured: Michael Madsen

Childhood

Michael was born on September 25, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. His father Kevin Madsen was a firefighter, while his mother Elaine Madsen worked as a television producer and poet. Michael was the middle child, with two sisters - older sister Cheryl and younger sister Virginia. When he turned 9, his parents divorced.
Michael Madsen with his mother and sister Virginia
Michael Madsen with his mother and sister Virginia
As a kid, Michael was considered a troubled teenager and was part of a youth gang. Gang fights, petty theft, and stealing cars and motorcycles were routine. Because of this, his biography includes several run-ins with police.
As a child, Michael Madsen had several police records and was considered a difficult teenager
As a child, Michael Madsen had several police records and was considered a difficult teenager
While still in school, at 14, Michael started working and tried his hand at various jobs over the years: auto mechanic, gas station attendant, painter, and ambulance orderly. Finally, after high school, fate led him to the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, which was run by John Malkovich at the time. This is where Michael got his first taste of acting.
Michael Madsen in his youth
Michael Madsen in his youth
In 1977, the future movie star left his hometown for Los Angeles. It was there, in the early 1980s, that he started landing his first roles - though just small parts in TV series at first. His film debut came with "Against All Hope" (1982), followed by "WarGames" (1983) and "The Natural" (1984). He first appeared on television in 1986 with "Crime Story."

Acting Career

Michael first gained recognition in 1989 with his role in "Kill Me Again," directed by John Dahl. This was followed in 1991 by "Thelma & Louise" and "The Getaway." But it was his 1992 appearance in the crime film "Reservoir Dogs" that really put him on the map. The movie made Quentin Tarantino a household name and launched Michael (who played Mr. White) into the ranks of popular American film actors.
Michael Madsen in the film "Reservoir Dogs"
The 1990s proved to be Madsen's golden decade as an actor. He appeared in dozens of films, with the most notable being "Mulholland Falls," "Donnie Brasco," and "Species." His co-stars included Al Pacino, Nick Nolte, Johnny Depp, Melanie Griffith, Ben Kingsley, and other A-list actors.
Michael Madsen in the film "Species"
Michael Madsen in the film "Species"
He could have played Vincent Vega in Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" – the director wrote the role specifically for Madsen. But the actor had already committed to filming "Wyatt Earp." The part ultimately went to John Travolta.

The 2000s are best remembered for his return to Tarantino's world in "Kill Bill" alongside Uma Thurman; Madsen appeared in both volumes. Another high-profile film was 2002's "Die Another Day," the latest Bond installment starring Pierce Brosnan. Other notable works include "Sin City," "Scary Movie 4," "Strength and Honor," and "Hell Ride."

While the 2010s brought fewer major projects for Michael Madsen, he remained quite active in film. Highlights include another Tarantino collaboration, "The Hateful Eight."
Michael Madsen in the film "The Hateful Eight"
Michael Madsen in the film "The Hateful Eight"

Other Projects

Michael Madsen also worked as a producer on several films: "Tooth and Nail" (2007), "Now Here" (2010), "Vice" (2008), and several others. He's made his mark in voice acting too (most notably in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"), as well as animated films ("Green Lantern: First Flight") and video games (GTA III, Dishonored).

Beyond that, Michael wrote poetry since age 10. Between 1995 and 2012, he published a total of 8 collections of his poetry.
Michael Madsen has been writing poetry since age 10
Michael Madsen has been writing poetry since age 10
In 2006, his first photography book was also published – he was pursuing this art form since his youth.

Finally, Madsen has appeared in several music videos, including a "Kill Bill" inspired clip for the song "Black Widow" by Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora.
Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora - Black Widow (featuring Michael Madsen)

Michael Madsen's Personal Life

Michael Madsen was married three times. His first wife was Georganne La Piere, the half-sister of famous singer Cher. Their marriage lasted 4 years: from 1984 to 1988.

Earlier, in 1797, Madsen had a daughter named Jessica. Her mother was a woman named Dana Mehling.

The actor's second marriage – to actress Jeannine Bisignano – also lasted 4 years, from 1991 to 1995. They had two sons, Christian and Max. Both followed in their parents' footsteps when they grew up.

Madsen married for the third time in 1996 to actress DeAnna Morgan. They had three sons: Luke, Calvin, and Hudson. Another famous actor, Harvey Keitel, became godfather to one of them.
Michael Madsen with his wife DeAnna Morgan
Michael Madsen with his wife DeAnna Morgan
Michael Madsen struggled with alcoholism. In 2012, while intoxicated, he beat one of his sons (the name wasn't disclosed in the press) after catching the young man smoking marijuana. He was later released on bail, then the case was dropped.

In August 2020, Madsen was arrested on charges of beating his wife. He was released on $20,000 bail. But due to lack of evidence, the case was dropped.

In January 2022, the actor's youngest son took his own life.

Final Years and Death

In his final years, Michael Madsen kept working, including with his favorite director. In 2019, the actor appeared in Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie. The film was based on the true story of Charlie Manson and his family, who were responsible for the murder of actress Sharon Tate.
Michael Madsen in his youth and in his mature years
Michael Madsen in his youth and in his mature years
His last film was the superhero movie "Legend of the White Dragon," where Madsen played the main character's father.

On July 3, 2025, news broke of Michael Madsen's death. The actor's body was found at his Malibu home. He died of cardiac arrest, as his manager Ron Smith told the Daily Mail.

His lawyer Perry Wander told the press that Michael had been dealing with health problems. Madsen had struggled with alcoholism for many years, and while he'd tried to live a healthier lifestyle in recent years, the disease had taken a serious toll on his body.
I just spoke to Michael two days ago. I knew he was not well.’ Michael was suffering from the effects of alcoholism. He had multiple stints in and out of rehab. He struggled to maintain his sobriety. He was not happy about his life.
Additionally, according to Wander, Madsen was crushed by a legal battle with his ex-wife over alimony:
I blame her for putting in the screws over his last years of life. Michael lived a life of regrets – those regrets being his two marriages.

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