Doctor reveals Hollywood legend Michael Madsen’s cause of death

As fans continue to mourn the loss of Hollywood icon Michael Madsen, the cause of his death has been officially revealed.

Madsen, 67, was found unresponsive in his Malibu home on Thursday, July 3, and was pronounced dead at the scene, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed. Watch Commander Christopher Jauregui reported that emergency responders were unable to revive the actor.

Now, according to a doctor speaking with NBC4 Los Angeles, heart failure will be listed as the official cause of death, with both heart disease and alcoholism contributing.

Madsen’s death marks the end of a legendary Hollywood journey that spanned over four decades and more than 300 film credits. Known for his gritty performances and menacing screen presence, Madsen carved a unique niche in American cinema, most notably through his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino.

His breakout role came in 1992 as the sadistic Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs, where his infamous torture scene set to Stealers Wheel’s Stuck in the Middle with You became one of the most iconic moments in modern film history. Madsen would go on to appear in Tarantino’s Kill Bill films and The Hateful Eight, solidifying his status as a cult favorite.

At the time of his death, Madsen was actively involved in several independent film projects. According to his longtime managers Smith and Susan Ferris and publicist Liz Rodriguez, he was optimistic about the direction his career was taking.

“In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,” they said in a statement.

They added that he “was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many”.

During a 2020 handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Madsen recalled his early days in Los Angeles with humility and a touch of awe.

“I got out and I walked around and I looked and I wondered if there were someday, some way that that was going to be a part of me. And I didn’t know because I didn’t know what I was going to do at that point with myself,” he said.

“I could have been a bricklayer. I could have been an architect. I could have been a garbage man. I could have been nothing. But I got lucky. I got lucky as an actor.”

The star is survived by his wife, DeAnna Morgan, and five children.

-with BANG.