Michael Madsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Madsen
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Madsen in 2015
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Michael Søren Madsen
September 25, 1957 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | July 3, 2025 (aged 67) Malibu, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Maykl Madsen |
| Education | Evanston Township High School |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1982–2025 |
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| Children | 7, including Christian |
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| Relatives | Virginia Madsen (sister) |
Michael Søren Madsen (born September 25, 1957 – died July 3, 2025) was an American actor. He was well-known for working many times with director Quentin Tarantino. Some of his famous movies with Tarantino include Reservoir Dogs (1992), Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), The Hateful Eight (2015), and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).
Madsen also appeared in many other popular films. These include WarGames (1983), The Natural (1984), The Doors (1991), and Thelma & Louise (1991). He was also in Free Willy (1993), Species (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), and Die Another Day (2002). Later films included Sin City (2005) and Scary Movie 4 (2006).
Beyond movies, Madsen lent his voice to several video games. These include Grand Theft Auto III (2001), Narc (2005), the Dishonored series (2012–2017), and Crime Boss: Rockay City (2023). He had seven children, and one of them, Christian Madsen, is also an actor.
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Early Life and Family
Michael Madsen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 25, 1957. His mother, Elaine Madsen, was a filmmaker and writer. His father, Calvin Christian Madsen, was a World War II veteran and a firefighter. His parents separated in the 1960s.
After their divorce, his mother started a career in the arts. She was encouraged by film critic Roger Ebert. Michael Madsen went to New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. His siblings are Cheryl Madsen and Virginia Madsen, who is also an actress. His grandparents on his father's side were from Denmark. His mother had Irish and Native American heritage.
Acting Career
Madsen started his acting journey at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. There, he learned from actor John Malkovich. He also performed in a play called Of Mice and Men.
His first important movie role was a small part in the science fiction film WarGames. He then appeared in the thriller Kill Me Again with Val Kilmer. In Quentin Tarantino's first movie, Reservoir Dogs, Madsen played a character named "Mr. Blonde." He later turned down a role in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, which went to John Travolta. Madsen also starred in the crime film Donnie Brasco.
In 1993, Madsen played Glen Greenwood in Free Willy. Glen was the kind foster father of the main character. Madsen also played Budd in Kill Bill: Volume 2. Budd was the brother of the character Bill, played by David Carradine.
Madsen appeared in the film BloodRayne. He later said he did not like this movie. He won awards for Best Actor at the Boston Film Festival and the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival for his role in Strength and Honour. He also played himself in a movie called Being Michael Madsen.
In 2012, Madsen joined the TV show Celebrity Big Brother in the UK. He finished in 4th place. In 2014, he starred in the Kill Bill-themed music video for the song "Black Widow" by Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora.
Madsen was part of the cast for the western film The Hateful Eight. He was rumored to have leaked the script, but it was later found that he was not responsible. In 2016, he played a former Texas Ranger named Phil Ryan in the show Real Detective.
Personal Life
Michael Madsen had a daughter named Jessica, born in 1979. He was married three times. His first wife was Georganne LaPiere, from 1984 to 1988. He then married Jeannine Bisignano from 1991 to 1995. They had two sons, Christian and Max. In 1996, Michael Madsen married DeAnna Morgan. They had three sons: Luke, Kalvin, and Hudson.
Madsen had his own brand of hot sauce called American Badass.
Charity Work
Madsen received an award in 2002 for his work with the Shriners Hospital for Children. In 2009, he planned to take part in the 26th annual Love Ride. This event helps raise money for local charities. Many celebrities like Malcolm Forbes and Peter Fonda also participated. However, the event was canceled that year.
On November 3, 2016, Madsen hosted an event called An Intimate Evening with Michael Madsen. This event helped raise money for children's cancer care at Advocate Children's Hospital and the Tyler Robinson Foundation.
Awards and Recognition
Michael Madsen received several awards for his acting and other contributions:
- He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Red Hen Press in 2006.
- The 9th Annual Malibu Film Festival honored him in April 2008 for his acting achievements.
- He won a Firecracker Alternative Book Award in 1999 for his book of poetry, Burning In Paradise.
- He won Best Actor awards at the Boston Film Festival (2007) and the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival (2008) for his role in Strength and Honour.
- In 2015, Madsen won the Ensemble of the Year award at the Hollywood Film Awards for his work in The Hateful Eight.
Film Appearances
Michael Madsen appeared in over 300 movies and TV shows since 1982. Some of his most well-regarded and successful films include Kill Me Again (1989), Reservoir Dogs (1992), and Donnie Brasco (1997). Other notable films are Die Another Day (2002), Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003), Sin City (2005), and Scary Movie 4 (2006). More recently, he was in The Garden Left Behind (2019), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), and QT8: The First Eight (2019).
See also
In Spanish: Michael Madsen para niños
