Walton Goggins, Vivica A Fox and others pay tribute to 'gifted actor' Michael Madsen after his death

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hollywood is reeling from the loss of veteran actor Michael Madsen, who died on Thursday, July 3, at the age of 67. Best known for his unforgettable role in 'The Hateful Eight', Madsen was found unresponsive at his Malibu home after deputies responded to a 911 call.

As news of his death spreads, tributes are pouring in from friends and co-stars, including Walton Goggins, Jennifer Tilly, and Billy Baldwin, all remembering the star's enduring impact on and off-screen.

Walton Goggins

Michael Madsen’s death has prompted an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from his co-stars, who are remembering the iconic actor for his immense talent, unforgettable characters, and larger-than-life presence.

Walton Goggins, who appeared alongside Madsen in 'The Hateful Eight,' posted a moving tribute on Instagram, calling him “this man… this artist… this poet… this rascal…Fucking ICON…. Aura like no one else. Ain’t enough words so I’ll just say this…. I love you buddy. A H8TER forever.”

Jennifer Tilly

Actress Jennifer Tilly, Michael Madsen’s co-star in 'The Getaway', shared on X that he was “one of my favorite actors I ever worked with.”

She claimed, "'The Getaway' was very early in my career and he made me feel safe and supported. He was wildly audacious and rambunctious with his character choices, and had a wicked sense of humor. I don’t recall ever laughing so much on a film set in my life. A huge talent. Gone too soon. 😢 Rip Michael Madsen."

Billy Baldwin

Billy Baldwin, who co-starred in films such as 'The Broken Key,' '2 Graves in the Desert' and 'South of Hope Street,' reflected on the timing of Madsen’s death, writing, “Fitting that Michael Madsen would pass away on 4th of July weekend. He was no firecracker… a total stick of dynamite on screen and in life. Rest easy my friend.”

Rob Schneider

Rob Schneider, who collaborated with Michael Madsen on an episode of his sitcom 'Real Rob', took to X to remember the actor with deep admiration.

Schneider shared, “Michael Madsen was a dream to work with.A truly gifted actor & gentleman who made every person on the set comfortable; generous with his stories & with his infectious laughter.I only wish we could have done more things together in this crazy business My love to his kids & friends.”

Robert Rodriguez

Director Robert Rodriguez, who worked with Madsen on the 2005 neo-noir film 'Sin City,' also shared a heartfelt tribute on X. “Frank Miller and I have always loved telling the story how no one was allowed to improvise any dialogue on Sin City. (We wanted to have the movie be incredibly faithful to his graphic novel.) But we bent that rule every day Michael Madsen worked with us.”

Rodriguez recalled how Madsen’s natural flair as a writer brought a constant stream of golden one-liners that often had the crew in stitches. “We’d relent and say to each other, 'Well if we’re going to break the rule with someone, it might as well be Michael Madsen. He keeps coming up with such great lines!’”

He also shared that they broke another rule by casting Madsen in a role that didn’t match the comic’s visuals. “Michael was so larger than life, we just felt he would make a much better partner to Bruce Willis’ detective, I mean, what an ultimate cop team! And he was just an absolute joy to work with. I will miss you Michael, you truly are one of the greats.”

Harvey Keitel

Michael Madsen’s death has stirred a wave of heartfelt tributes from those who knew and worked closely with him, including his 'Reservoir Dogs' co-star Harvey Keitel. In a statement to The Post, Keitel, 86, reflected on their time together, “We’ve lost another great American poet. Farewell, my dear friend.”

He added, “I’ll never forget one of the best scenes I’ve ever seen on film — of you and Chris Penn fighting in ‘Reservoir Dogs.’ A great love scene. Give Chris a hug for me.”

Vivica A Fox

Actress Vivica A Fox, who starred alongside Madsen in 'Kill Bill' and several other films, also shared her condolences with The Post, “Michael was a talented man with an AMAZING on screen presence! My deepest condolences & prayers to his family. #GoneToSoon #RestInParadise.”

Michael Madsen's sister Virginia Madsen 

Michael Madsen's sister, actress Virginia Madsen, offered a poetic tribute on Instagram, capturing the complexity of her brother’s spirit: “He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. I’ll miss our inside jokes, the sudden laughter, the sound of him. I’ll miss the boy he was before the legend.”

James Bond

Even the official James Bond account paid tribute to the actor, remembering his role as NSA Chief Damian Falco in 'Die Another Day,' “We are very sad to hear of the passing of Michael Madsen, who played NSA Chief Damian Falco in DIE ANOTHER DAY. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."