The cause of death for Michael Madsen has been confirmed. The prolific Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and Donnie Brasco actor died of cardiac arrest brought on by cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, and chronic alcoholism. Another contributing factor was thromboembolic disease – a condition where blood clots form in blood vessels and then travel to obstruct another vessel, causing a thromboembolism., according to his death certicate from the L.A. County Medical Examiner obtained by TMZ.
Deputies responded to the actor’s home on July 3 after a 911 call and he was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 67.
His managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith and publicist Liz Rodriguez released the following statement following his death: “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. Michael was also preparing to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems currently being edited. Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”
Madsen appeared in many Quentin Tarantino films including the role of Vic Vega/Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs, Budd in Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Volume 2, “Grouch” Douglass/Joe Gaga in The Hateful Eight (2015) and Sheriff Hackett in Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.
He also starred in Thelma & Louise, Free Willy and one of his most famous roles Dominick “Sonny Black” Napolitano in Donnie Brasco.
While best known for his big-screen appearances, Madsen also worked in television over the decades. He had a recurring role on 24 in 2010, and guested early in his career on such hit shows as St. Elsewhere, Crime Story and Quantum Leap. Later he appeared in CSI: Miami and Blue Bloods, among others.