Legendary character actor Michael Madsen has sadly passed away at his home today in Los Angeles County at the age of 67. Authorities found Madsen unresponsive after a 911 call early Thursday morning, and he was later pronounced dead at the scene. No foul play was suspected at the time, and a statement from his manager, Ron Smith, later confirmed that the Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill star died from cardiac arrest.

“In the last two years, Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film […] and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,” managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith said in another joint statement with his publicist, Liz Rodriguez. “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.”

Born on September 25, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, Madsen’s career began in the theater, where he appeared in a production of the John Steinbeck classic, Of Mice and Men. He made the jump to Hollywood shortly thereafter, and never looked back. Snagging roles in such 80s hits as WarGames and The Natural, Madsen’s career really took off in the 90s thanks to his part as Tom Baker in the 1991 Oliver Stone biopic The Doors, and Ridley Scott’s crime drama Thelma & Louise that same year, where he portrayed the easygoing husband of star Susan Sarandon.

Michael Madsen Helped Make Quentin Tarantino a Star

Miramax Films

While Madsen may have found success in the aforementioned hits, it was the part of Vic Vega (aka Mr. Blonde) in Quentin Tarantino’s debut feature, Reservoir Dogs, which solidified him as one of the great character actors of this generation. We’ll go so far as to say that without that one scene in the film where Madsen cuts off Marvin’s ear and the way he played it, Tarantino wouldn’t have the career he has today. Madsen brought a calm, cool, and collected demeanor to the otherwise grisly affair – playing it almost for laughs – and it’s gone on to be regarded as one of the greatest cinematic moments in history.

While Tarantino wasn’t able to nab Madsen for the role of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction due to scheduling conflicts, he continued to utilize the actor’s talents over the years, casting him in several of his films, including the Kill Bill duology, The Hateful Eight, and for a cameo in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Madsen’s career, of course, flourished outside the direction of Tarantino, as he was undoubtedly one of the most prolific actors working today. He had no less than four films in various stages of production at the time of his death, with his most recent appearance coming by way of the Civil War horror movie, Resurrection Road, which released on June 6.

For a truly great look at the life of Madsen, be sure to seek out the amazing documentary American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective, which features a ton of interviews with those that worked with him over the years. Thankfully, if you want to witness one of the great highlights of Madsen’s career, Reservoir Dogs is available to stream on Paramount+.