About
Michael Søren Madsen, born September 25, 1957, in Chicago, was an American actor known for his tough, charismatic roles. He began acting under the mentorship of John Malkovich at the Steppenwolf Theatre, then gained attention in Thelma & Louise (1991). His career took off with Reservoir Dogs (1992) by Quentin Tarantino, where he played the memorable Mr. Blonde. He went on to star in films like Free Willy (1993), Species (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), Kill Bill (2003-2004), and The Hateful Eight (2015). In parallel, he published several poetry collections. He died on July 3, 2025, in Malibu, from cardiac arrest.
* 1957-09-25 — † 2025-07-03
Major works
- Reservoir Dogs (1992)film
- Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)film
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)film
- Burning in Paradisepoetry collection
- A Blessing of the Houndspoetry collection
Key milestones
- 1992Played Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.
- 2003Portrayed Budd in Kill Bill: Volume 1.
- 2025Died in Malibu, California, at age 67.
Themes
ViolenceRedemptionMasculinityPoetryIndependent cinema
Sources: id.loc.gov · hollywoodreporter.com · variety.com