Michael Madsen, who was found dead today at his Malibu home, is best known for his long collaboration with Quentin Tarantino. The director chose Madsen for a star-making turn as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. Madsen also appeared in Vol. 1 & 2 of the director’s Kill Bill films, The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood.
RELATED: Hollywood Pays Tribute To Michael Madsen: “One Of My Favorite Actors I Ever Worked With”
But Madsen was prolific, working on between 7-12 projects a year over much of his career, often stealing scenes from bigger-name stars. And he did it for 40-plus years.
From Diner in 1983 to Free Willy in 1993 to Sin City in 2005, scroll through the photos below to see the full range of his work.
RELATED: 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries
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DINER, 1983
Image Credit: Everett Collection Mike Binder, James Spader, Paul Reiser, Max Cantor and Michael Madsen
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OUR FAMILY HONOR, 1985-86
Michael Madsen
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THELMA & LOUISE, 1991
Image Credit: Everett Collection Susan Sarandon, Michael Madsen
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THE DOORS, 1991
Image Credit: Everett Collection Michael Madsen and Val Kilmer
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RESERVOIR DOGS, 1992
Michael Madsen, 1992
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TROUBLE BOUND, 1993
Image Credit: Everett Collection Patricia Arquette and Michael Madsen
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FREE WILLY, 1993
Image Credit: Everett Collection Michael Madsen, Jason James Richter and Jayne Atkinson
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WYATT EARP, 1994
Image Credit: Everett Collection Dennis Quaid, Kevin Costner, Linden Ashby and Michael Madsen
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SPECIES, 1995
Image Credit: Everett Collection Michael Madsen
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FREE WILLY 2: THE ADVENTURE HOME, 1995
Image Credit: Everett Collection Jason James Richter and Michael Madsen
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MULHOLLAND FALLS, 1996
Nick Nolte, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn
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DONNIE BRASCO, 1997
Image Credit: Everett Collection James Russo, Al Pacino, Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby and Johnny Depp
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SPECIES II, 1998
Image Credit: Everett Collection Michael Madsen, Natasha Henstridge, Mykelti Williamson,
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DIE ANOTHER DAY, 2002
Image Credit: Everett Collection Michael Madsen and Pierce Brosnan
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KILL BILL: VOL. 1, 2003
Image Credit: Everett Collection Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, Vivica Fox, Chia-Hui Lui and Daryl Hannah
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KILL BILL: VOLUME 2, 2004
Image Credit: Everett Collection Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, and Lucy Liu
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SIN CITY, 2005
Image Credit: Everett Collection Michael Madsen and Bruce Willis
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THE HATEFUL EIGHT, 2015
Image Credit: Everett Collection Michael Madsen
