Live Entertainment/Kobal/Shutterstock; Warner Brothers/Getty; Moviestore/Shutterstock Michael Madsenhas starred in some of the most memorable projects of all time. Throughout his 43-year career, Madsen has appeared alongside screen legends likeSusan Sarandon,Geena Davis,Samuel L. Jacksonand more, and he's collaborated with some of the industry's best directors. Most notably, he frequently worked withQuentin Tarantino, featuring in five of theOscarwinner's 10 films. On July 3, 2025, Madsen was found unresponsive in his Malibu home andpronounced dead from cardiac arrest at age 67, his reps confirmed to PEOPLE. "Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many," wrote his managers and publicist in a statement. In Madsen's honor, look back on some of his most timeless roles, fromThelma & Louiseto theBondfilmDie Another Dayand more. MGM Studios/Getty Madsen portrayed Jimmy Lennox, the traveling musician boyfriend of Sarandon's Louise, in the 1991 cult classic. Speaking toThe After Movie Diner, he revealed that he earned the role by taking Sarandon out for lunch after screenwriter Callie Khouri and directorRidley Scottquestioned whether he'd be the right fit for Jimmy. "We never talked about the movie, we just chatted with each other about everything else in the world, and the next day, they called me up to say, 'Okay, do you want to be Jimmy?' " he recalled. Live Entertainment/Kobal/Shutterstock In his first project with Tarantino, Madsen starred opposite Harvey Keitel,Tim Roth,Steve Buscemiand more as ex-convict Vic Vega (also known as Mr. Blonde). At theRaindance Film Festival in 2014, he credited Tarantino with being "responsible" for launching his career, callingReservoir Dogshis "genesis" as an actor. Warner Brothers/Getty A departure from his villainous roles, Madsen played the foster father of Jesse, a 12-year-old orphan who seeks to free the eponymous orca held at an amusement park. He toldThe AV Clubin 2015, "I'm glad to have been in it. It was one of those things that kind of balances out my bad guys, you know?" Brian Hamill/Mandalay/Baltimore/Kobal/Shutterstock OppositeAl PacinoandJohnny Deppin the film adaptation of Joseph D. Pistone's autobiography, Madsen took on the role of mafioso Sonny Black. In his career retrospective with The AV Club, he consideredDonnie Brascoone of the five best in his filmography — though he refused to read for the role. "If I am [perfect for the role], then why don't you just give me a contract? Because I don't understand what the whole reasoning is," he said. Only after he went to New York to meet with Pacino did he receive an offer for the Oscar-nominated spy thriller. Madsen added, "Every time I see Donnie Brasco, I appreciate it a little bit more. It was very, very well done. … It's a damned good movie." Danjaq/Eon/Ua/Kobal/Shutterstock He gave another memorable performance playing NSA chief, Damian Falco, inDie Another Day. The Lee Tamahori-directed film also featured other Hollywood heavyweights, includingPierce Brosnanas James Bond,Halle Berry,Judi Dench,Rosamund Pike, John Cleese, Toby Stephens and more. Moviestore/Shutterstock Perhaps one of Madsen's biggest roles came in 2003, when he played Budd inKill Bill.In a2004 interview, Madsen revealed he was originally slated to play a different role in the film, but Tarantino wound up cutting that part and gave him Budd instead. The actor would reprise the role inKill Bill: Vol. 2. Miramax/YouTube In 2005, Madsen was one of many talents, starring inSin City.Directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez, the film was based on the former's comic series of the same name. In addition to Madsen,Sin Cityalso starredBruce Willis,Clive Owen,Mickey Rourke,Jessica Alba,Benicio del Toro,Brittany Murphyand more. Moviestore/Shutterstock In 2015, Madsen once again reunited with his friend and longtime collaborator Quentin Tarantino for his westernThe Hateful Eight."I think he knows me so well, we don't have to talk a lot about certain things … so it's a symbiotic kind of understanding we have with each other," he revealed in abehind-the-scenes interview. "I can't really say there's another director that I have that with." They would work together one more time on 2019'sOnce Upon a Time...in Hollywood. Read the original article onPeople