Michael Madsen Biography: Wife, Age, Death, Net Worth, Height, Weight, Children, Movies

Michael Søren Madsen was an American actor, poet, and photographer whose gritty portrayals of antiheroes on screen first drew widespread attention with his chilling performance as Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs (1992).

Over a four-decade career, Madsen became known for his gravel-and-velvet voice and intense presence in films such as Kill Bill: Volume 2, Free Willy, and Donnie Brasco. He also pursued photography and published poetry, earning a reputation as a multifaceted artist in front of and behind the camera.

Profile

• Full name: Michael Søren Madsen
• Date of birth: September 25, 1957
• Age: 67 years old at time of death (Sept 25, 1957 – July 3, 2025)
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
• State of origin: Illinois
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actor; poet; photographer
• Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
• Weight: Approximately 190 lb (86 kg) in mid‑career
• Parents: Elaine Madsen (documentarian and producer); father Calvin “Charles” Madsen (WWII Navy veteran and Chicago firefighter)
• Siblings: Virginia Madsen (Oscar-nominated actress); Cheryl Madsen (entrepreneur)
• Spouse: DeAnna Madsen
• Children: Christian Madsen; Max Madsen; Kal Quin Madsen; Luke Madsen; Hudson Madsen (deceased Jan 25, 2022)
• Relationship status: Married
• Ethnicity: Of Danish, Irish and Native American descent
• Net worth: $20 million (at the time of death)

Early Life and Education

Michael Søren Madsen was born on September 25, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, to Elaine (née Melson) and Calvin Madsen. Raised alongside sisters Virginia and Cheryl, he grew up in a family that valued both artistic expression and hard work.

His mother became a film producer after leaving finance; his father served in the Navy during World War II and later worked as a firefighter. Madsen began performing in community theatre and later attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.

Personal Life

Michael Madsen was married to DeAnna Madsen and fathered five sons: Christian, Max, Kal Quin, Luke, and Hudson. Their eldest, Hudson, tragically died in January 2022 at age 26.

The family kept much of their life private, though Madsen occasionally spoke in interviews about personal losses and family bonds.

Career

Michael Madsen launched his screen career in the early 1980s with roles in films like WarGames (1983) and The Natural (1984). His breakthrough came in 1992 with Reservoir Dogs, where he portrayed the sadistic Mr. Blonde.

He went on to collaborate frequently with Quentin Tarantino in Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), The Hateful Eight (2015), and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

His filmography includes a wide range of work—from mainstream hits like Free Willy (1993), Donnie Brasco (1997), and Die Another Day (2002), to auteur-driven fare like The Doors (1991) and Sin City (2005). Madsen amassed over 300 credits, including voice work in video games like Grand Theft Auto III and Dishonored.

Madsen published several books of poetry and a notable photo‑art collection. His debut poetry volume, Burning in Paradise (1998), won the Independent Firecracker Award. The Complete Poetic Works of Michael Madsen: 1995–2005 (2005) compiles six volumes of his writing and includes rare photographs.

His first photography collection, Signs of Life (2006), pairs visual storytelling with poetic reflections. His final poetic manuscript, Tears for My Father, was published posthumously.

Awards

• Winner, Independent Firecracker Poetry Award for Burning in Paradise (1998)

Net worth

Michael Søren Madsen’s net worth was estimated to be at least $20 million at the time of his demise.

Death

Michael Madsen passed away from cardiac arrest on July 3, 2025, at his Malibu home. He was 67 years old. The death was ruled natural, with underlying health issues such as cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, and chronic alcoholism contributing to the cardiac failure.

He was found unresponsive alone at home, with no signs of foul play.

Controversy

In August 2024, Madsen was arrested on a domestic battery charge following a dispute with his wife; the incident was reported as a misunderstanding, and the charge was later dropped. He publicly confirmed he had no intention of divorcing DeAnna.

Social Media

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Filmography Highlights

• WarGames (1983)
• The Natural (1984)
• Thelma & Louise (1991)
• Reservoir Dogs (1992)
• Free Willy (1993)
• Donnie Brasco (1997)
• Die Another Day (2002)
• Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
• Sin City (2005)
• Scary Movie 4 (2006)
• The Hateful Eight (2015)
• Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
• Resurrection Road (2023); several posthumous releases in production

Books

• Burning in Paradise (1998)
• The Complete Poetic Works of Michael Madsen: 1995–2005 (2005)
• Signs of Life (2006)
• Expecting Rain (2013)
• Tears for My Father (posthumous)