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Virginia Madsen Shares Beautiful Tribute to Her Brother, Michael Madsen: ‘Half Legend, Half Lullaby’
Three days before her series “Holidazed” premieres on Hallmark Channel, actress Virginia Madsen is mourning the death of her brother, actor Michael Madsen. On July 3, 2025, Michael was found unresponsive at his home in Malibu, California, according to the Associated Press. He was 67.
Michael, best known for his roles in movies like “Kill Bill” and “Reservoir Dogs,” and his Oscar-nominated younger sister, Virginia, famously supported each other in their careers, Variety reported, often making red carpet appearances for each other’s premieres.
In an Instagram post hours after her brother’s death, Virginia eloquently wrote, “My brother Michael has left the stage. He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother — etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark.”
Virginia Madsen Says Her Brother Michael Madsen ‘Stormed Through Life’
Sharing a throwback photo of her and her brother with their mom, Virginia continued her post, “We’re not mourning a public figure. We’re not mourning a myth—but flesh and blood and ferocious heart. Who stormed through life loud, brilliant, and half on fire. Who leaves us echoes—gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable—half legend, half lullaby.”
Virginia, who appeared with her brother as versions of themselves in the 2007 mockumentary “Being Michael Madsen,” turned a bit personal, writing, “I’ll miss our inside jokes, the sudden laughter, the sound of him. I’ll miss the boy he was before the legend. I miss my big brother.”
“Thank you to everyone reaching out with love and memory,” Virginia concluded. “In time, we’ll share how we plan to celebrate his life. But for now—we stay close, and let the silence say what words can’t.”
The actress signed the tribute from herself and “on behalf of the Madsen family.” A rep for Michael told Variety that at the time of his death, he was working on a new book called “Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems,” which was in the process of being edited.
Virginia Madsen Shares Good Memories & Old Snapshots With Her Brother
Before her beautiful tribute, Virginia uploaded another social media post with a collage of old photos with her brother and her, including one of him looking out at the sea. She simply captioned it, “I love you.”
Thousands left condolences on her posts, including friend and fellow Hallmark star Melissa Gilbert, who wrote, “Sending so much love your way”
As part of Hallmark Channel’s Christmas in July programming, the network will premiere the first two episodes of “Holidazed” on July 8. The eight-episode series originally debuted in November exclusively on Hallmark+. The ensemble cast includes Virginia, who plays Connie, the wife of John C. McGinley’s character.
While promoting the series in late 2024, she said it was a joy to film in part because it brought back great memories of growing up in Chicago with her family, including her mom, brother Michael, and sister Cheryl, who were all crazy for Christmas.
“We had a very chaotic household growing up, and I always loved Christmas,” she told Woman’s World. “In Chicago, it was like living in a snow globe. The adults were happy. There was the big fat guy with a beard. It was almost romantic… but there’s a lot of pressure on parents. With these three very passionate children and working full time, I just don’t know how my mother pulled it all together.”
