Michael Madsen

Some Lesser Known Facts About Michael Madsen

• Madsen’s grandparents were from Denmark. His mother is Irish and Native American.

  

• His parents separated in the 1960s. His mother left her finance job to follow a career in the arts. She received help from film critic Roger Ebert.

  

• After completing his school education, Michael Madsen started working at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, where he got trained under actor John Malkovich. During this time, he acted in the play Of Mice and Men.

• In 1983, he appeared in a small role in the science fiction film WarGames.

• In 1989, Michael Madsen played the role of a criminal named Vince Miller in the thriller film Kill Me Again. In the film, he appeared alongside Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley.

• In the 1992 film, Reservoir Dogs, he played the violent character ‘Mr. Blonde.’

  

• Once, during a media conversation, Michael Madsen shared that he wanted to play the role of ‘Mr. Pink’ in the film Reservoir Dogs, but Steve Buscemi got the role. He wanted it because it had more scenes with Harvey Keitel.

• In the 1993 film Free Willy, he played the role of Glenn Greenwood, the foster father of orphan Jesse.

• In 1994, Michael Madsen refused the role of Vincent Vega in the film Pulp Fiction, which was later portrayed by John Travolta.

• He then acted in the 1997 crime film Donnie Brasco.

• Michael Madsen once said in a media interview that he took small or lower-quality roles in the films only to support his family. He explained that he had six kids to care for and bills to pay.

• In 2004, he played Budd, an assassin and Bill’s brother, in the film Kill Bill: Volume 2.

• The same year, Quentin Tarantino planned a film titled Double V Vega to bring together Madsen and John Travolta as the Vega brothers. However, in 2007, Tarantino said that the film would not be made due to the actors’ ages and because both characters had died in earlier films.

• In 2005, Michael Madsen acted in the film BloodRayne by Uwe Boll. Later, he called the film ‘an abomination’ and ‘a horrifying and preposterous film.’

  

• The same year, he played himself in the mockumentary Being Michael Madsen.

• Michael Madsen then co-starred in the web series Coma on Crackle.

• He played the role of Jim Ricker, Jack Bauer’s old friend, in the television series 24 Season 8.

• In 2010, Michael Madsen was cast in the comedy film Let the Game Begin.

• On 5 January 2012, he joined the reality show Celebrity Big Brother and finished in fourth place.

  

• In 2013, he launched a line of hot sauces called American Badass.

• In February 2014, Michael Madsen played the role of Ted Binion, a Las Vegas casino owner, in the film Death in the Desert, which was based on Cathy Scott’s book.

• In August 2014, he was featured in the Kill Bill-themed music video of the song ‘Black Widow’ by Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora.

• Michael Madsen acted in the film The Hateful Eight, a western by Quentin Tarantino.

• Reportedly, it was rumoured that he leaked the script of The Hateful Eight, which caused Tarantino to cancel the film and later rewrite it.

• In 2016, Michael Madsen played former Texas Ranger Phil Ryan in the television show Real Detective, which aired on Investigation Discovery.

  

• He worked as an executive producer for the film The Dirty Kind, which was inspired by Anthony Weiner.

• His son Hudson died by suicide in January 2022. After 28 years of marriage, Michael Madsen and DeAnna Madsen filed for divorce. He blamed his wife for their son’s death. ^[2]Hindustan Times

• On 17 August 2024, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife. He was released after posting $20,000 bail.

• In October 2024, Michael Madsen denied rumours that he was divorcing his wife DeAnna, after the death of their son Hudson.

• He hosted a charity event in 2016 for children with cancer.

• On 3 July 2025, Michael Madsen was found unresponsive at his Malibu home and was declared dead at age 67. His manager confirmed that the cause of death was cardiac arrest.

• He had been featured on the covers of many noted magazines and tabloids.

  

• Michael Madsen was an animal lover and had a pet dog. He often shared pictures of his pets on social media.

  

• He liked smoking cigarettes occasionally.

  

• Michael Madsen liked travelling to distant places, reading books, and swimming in his free time.

  

• He was often spotted enjoying alcoholic beverages on various occasions.