Quentin Tarantino recently paid a heartfelt tribute to his frequent collaborator and friend, Michael Madsen, who passed away on July 3 at age 67 from a cardiac arrest, per variety.com. During a private memorial at his Vista Theatre, Tarantino shared a pivotal story from the set of his directorial debut, Reservoir Dogs, that cemented their bond.
Tarantino recalled a turbulent first week of filming, dominated by the difficult behaviour of actor Lawrence Tierney. After a particularly disrespectful outburst, a first-time director Tarantino fired Tierney, believing he had ended his own career. To his surprise, the cast and crew broke into applause.
Later that night, Tarantino received a supportive voicemail from Madsen. “I respect it, as a director, I respect it as a captain, and I respect it as a man,” Tarantino recalled Madsen’s message. “So, I’m on your side, buddy. Thanks.”
This moment of solidarity forged a lasting creative partnership. Madsen went on to appear in four of Tarantino’s films, including Kill Bill, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.
Beyond his work with Tarantino, Madsen’s career spanned over four decades, with notable roles in films like Thelma & Louise and Species.
Madsen’s representatives noted that he was looking forward to new projects and preparing to release a book of poetry.
His career, marked by iconic performances and a strong artistic spirit, will be remembered by many.
•Featured image by Getty Images
