Virginia Madsen, actress and sister of Michael Madsen, has spoken out following his death at 67. Michael was best known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino’s cult classics like Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and The Hateful Eight, as well as films like Thelma & Louise.
Michael was found unresponsive in his Malibu home on July 3 after a cardiac arrest. His publicist and managers confirmed his passing and noted his recent work on independent films and a forthcoming poetry book.
Virginia described Michael as a complex soul—part thunder, part velvet, a poet hidden within an outlaw. She expressed that they mourn a real person with a powerful spirit and shared personal memories of their close bond.
Co-stars like Harvey Keitel and Walton Goggins paid tribute, calling him a poet and an icon.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department stated that Michael’s death was natural, with no signs of foul play. He was pronounced dead early that morning.