Actor
Michael Madsen
Born 25 September 1957 · Chicago, Illinois, USA — died 3 July 2025
Michael Madsen (1957–2025) was an American actor known for playing laconic, menacing tough guys. He broke through as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs and became a regular in Quentin Tarantino's films. He also worked prolifically in genre cinema and video-game voice roles, and wrote poetry.
Key films
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
His breakout role as the unnerving Mr. Blonde, launching a long association with Quentin Tarantino.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
An early supporting role as Jimmy, in a landmark of 1990s American film.
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Showed his range as a mob figure in a well-regarded crime drama alongside Al Pacino and Johnny Depp.
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Played Budd, a key antagonist, in Tarantino's two-part revenge saga.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
A later Tarantino collaboration, confirming his place in the director's recurring ensemble.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 297
- 1982Against All Hope · as Cecil MoeActor
- 1983WarGames · as SteveActor
- 1983Special Bulletin · as Jimmy LenoxActor
- 1983Diner · as BoogieActor
- 1984The Natural · as Bump BaileyActor
- 1984Racing with the Moon · as FrankActor
- 1987The Killing Time · as StuActor
- 1988Iguana · as SebastiánActor
- 1988Shadows in the Storm · as EarlActor
- 1989Kill Me Again · as Vince MillerActor
- 1989Blood Red · as EnzioActor
- 1990Montana · as PierceActor
- 1990The End of Innocence · as EarlActor
- 1991Thelma & Louise · as JimmyActor
- 1991The Doors · as Tom BakerActor
- 1992Reservoir Dogs · as Mr. Blonde / Vic VegaActor
- 1992Straight Talk · as SteveActor
- 1992Baby Snatcher · as Cal HudsonActor
- 1992To Kill For · as Cliff BurdenActor
- 1993Free Willy · as Glen GreenwoodActor
- 1993Beyond the Law · as BloodActor
- 1993Money for Nothing · as Detective LaurenziActor
- 1993A House in the Hills · as MickeyActor
- 1993Trouble Bound · as Harry TalbotActor
- 1993Almost Blue · as MorrisActor
- 1993Inside Edge · as Richard MontanaActor
- 1994Wyatt Earp · as Virgil EarpActor
- 1994The Getaway · as Rudy TravisActor
- 1994Blue Tiger · as Gun Salesman (uncredited)Actor
- 1994Who Do You Think You're Fooling? · as Mr. Blonde (archive footage)Actor
- 1994Dead Connection · as Det. Matt DicksonActor
- 1994Season of Change · as Randy ParkerActor
- 1995Species · as Preston LennoxActor
- 1995Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home · as Glen GreenwoodActor
- 1995Man with a Gun · as John Wilbur HardinActor
- 1995Red Line · as Mr. LawrenceActor
- 1996Mulholland Falls · as Eddie HallActor
- 1996The Last Days of Frankie the Fly · as SalActor
- 1996The Winner · as WolfActor
- 1997Donnie Brasco · as Dominick 'Sonny Black' NapolitanoActor
- 1997Executive Target · as Nick JamesActor
- 1997The Maker · as SkarneyActor
- 1997Surface to Air · as Gunnery Sgt. Zach MassinActor
- 1997Catherine's Grove · as Joe MasonActor
- 1997The Girl Gets Moe · as DonnellyActor
- 1998Species II · as Press LenoxActor
- 1998Rough Draft · as HaynesActor
- 1998The Sender · as Dallas GraysonActor
- 1998Papertrail · as FBI Agent Brad AbrahamActor
- 1998Detour · as Burl RogersActor
- 1998Steve McQueen: The King of Cool · as SelfActor
- 1999The Florentine · as WhiteyActor
- 1999Supreme Sanction · as DaltonActor
- 1999Ballad of the Nightingale · as GiovanniActor
- 1999Flat Out · as GeneActor
- 2000The Alternate · as Agent BriggsActor
- 2000Sacrifice · as Tyler PierceActor
- 2000The Stray · as BenActor
- 2000The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence · as JoeActor
- 2000Luck of the Draw · as ZippoActor
- 2000Voodoo Dawn · as Frank BarlowActor
- 2000High Noon · as Frank MillerActor
- 2000Ultimate Target · as UncleActor
- 2000Bad Guys · as Jay PetersActor
- 2000The Price of Air · as Mr. BallActor
- 2001Choke · as WillActor
- 2001L.A.P.D.: To Protect And To Serve · as James AlexanderActor
- 2001The Ghost · as Dan OlinghouseActor
- 2001Pressure Point · as Jed GriffinActor
- 2001Extreme Honor · as SparksActor
- 200142K · as NarratorActor
- 2001Outlaw · as ConnerActor
- 2001Fall · as Jeremy BanesActor
- 2002Die Another Day · as FalcoActor
- 2002The Real Deal · as Baker JacksActor
- 2002The Thief & the Stripper · as Jimmie D.Actor
- 2002Primal Instinct · as RussActor
- 2002Welcome to America · as Special Agent Leon FogelActor
- 2003Kill Bill: Vol. 1 · as BuddActor
- 2003My Boss's Daughter · as T.J.Actor
- 200344 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out · as Frank McGregorActor
- 2003Pauly Shore Is Dead · as Michael MadsenActor
- 2003Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey · as SelfActor
- 2003Vampires Anonymous · as GenoActor
- 2004Kill Bill: Vol. 2 · as Budd 'Sidewinder'Actor
- 2004Blueberry · as Wallace Sebastian BlountActor
- 2004Frankenstein · as Detec. HarkerActor
- 2004The Making of 'Kill Bill Vol. 2' · as SelfActor
- 2004Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade · as SelfActor
- 2004Jacked$ · as BossActor
- 2005The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe · as Maugrim (voice)Actor
- 2005Sin City · as BobActor
- 2005Chasing Ghosts · as Kevin HarrisonActor
- 2005Law of Corruption · as AmericanActor
- 2005Gangland: Bullets over HollywoodActor
- 2006Scary Movie 4 · as OliverActor
- 2006BloodRayne · as VladimirActor
- 2006The Last Drop · as J.T. ColtActor
- 2006UKM: The Ultimate Killing Machine · as Major BlevinsActor
- 2006Hoboken Hollow · as J.T. GoldmanActor
- 2006Canes · as Guillermo ListActor
- 2006Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light · as SelfActor
- 2006All In · as SealActor
- 2006The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird · as SelfActor
- 2006Southern ComfortActor
- 2006Morality and the Code: A How-to Manual for Hollywood · as SelfActor
- 2006Prohibition Opens the Floodgates · as SelfActor
- 2006Molls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster Films · as SelfActor
- 2007Boarding Gate · as Miles RennbergActor
- 2007Tooth and Nail · as Jackal - RoverActor
- 2007Croc · as Croc HawkinsActor
- 2007Living & Dying · as Agent LindActor
- 2007Afghan Knights · as CooperActor
- 2007Being Michael Madsen · as SelfActor
- 2007Strength and Honour · as Sean KelleherActor
- 2007Machine · as RayActor
- 2007Cosmic Radio · as Senator AtwoodActor
- 2007L.A. Dicks · as Steven MillerActor
- 2008Hell Ride · as The GentActor
- 2008House · as Tin Man/Officer LawdaleActor
- 2008Vice · as Max WalkerActor
- 2008Crash and Burn · as Vincent ScailloActor
- 200845 R.P.M. · as Major BaxterActor
- 2008Last Hour · as MonkActor
- 2008No Bad Days · as LesterActor
- 2008The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry · as SelfActor
- 2008The Evolution of Clint Eastwood · as SelfActor
- 2008A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry · as SelfActor
- 2008The Business End: Violence in Cinema · as SelfActor
- 2008The Craft of Dirty Harry · as SelfActor
- 2008Killer's Freedom · as Leo IbizaActor
- 2008Eyes FrontActor
- 2009Green Lantern: First Flight · as Kilowog (voice)Actor
- 2009Road of No Return · as J. MarconeActor
- 2009The Tomb · as GeorgeActor
- 2009The Bleeding · as Father RoyActor
- 2009Amazing Racer · as Dave BlairActor
- 2009Break · as The AssociateActor
- 2009Serbian Scars · as DreqActor
- 2009Deep Winter · as DeanActor
- 2009You Might As Well Live · as Clinton ManitobaActor
- 2009The Way · as CommanderActor
- 2009Gloves of Stone · as WillieActor
- 2009Clear Lake, WI · as The ReverendActor
- 2009Christmas Crash · as Joseph JohnsonActor
- 2009Lost in the Woods · as Stuart BunkaActor
- 2009Outrage: Born in Terror · as FarragutActor
- 2009Hired Gun · as Dan MoellerActor
- 2009Creepshow Raw: Insomnia · as BarryActor
- 2009The Face is Familiar · as HimselfActor
- 2010The Killing Jar · as DoeActor
- 2010Terror Trap · as Hotel OperatorActor
- 2010Federal · as Sam GibsonActor
- 2010The Big I Am · as MartellActor
- 2010Trader Games · as WilliamActor
- 2010The Portal · as Dr. AzirraActor
- 2010Let the Game Begin · as Dr. TurnerActor
- 2010The Brazen BullActor
- 2010Corruption.Gov · as Senator John MordireActor
- 2010Six Days in Paradise · as Rich McShaneActor
- 2011Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair · as Budd (Sidewinder)Actor
- 2011Not Another Not Another Movie · as Lester StormActor
- 2011Amsterdam Heavy · as KeeleActor
- 2011The Lion of Judah · as Boss (voice)Actor
- 2011Dirty Little Trick · as VitoActor
- 2011The 5th Execution · as RikActor
- 2011A Cold Day in Hell · as U.S. Marshal StallingsActor
- 2011The Forest · as Lt. Brandon RossActor
- 2012Piranhaconda · as Prof. LovegroveActor
- 2012Loosies · as Lt. 'Sully' SullivanActor
- 2012Eldorado · as TedActor
- 2012Sins · as Don MancinoActor
- 2012Magic Boys · as TerenceActor
- 2012Beyond the Trophy · as Cole LambertActor
- 2012Ace of Spades: Bad Destiny · as SefActor
- 2012Prince of the City · as Ben CarltonActor
- 2012Cole Younger & The Black Train · as Marshall StallingsActor
- 2013I'm in Love with a Church Girl · as Frank HarrisActor
- 2013Ashley · as BillActor
- 2013Infected · as Louis HartleyActor
- 2013Along the Roadside · as JerryActor
- 2013Terrible Angels · as Ben NolanActor
- 2013Nomad the Beginning · as WolfActor
- 2013ICE Agent · as Carlos GarciaActor
- 2013A Sierra Nevada Gunfight · as Sheriff SawyerActor
- 2013Garbage · as MichaelActor
- 2013Madoff: Made Off with America · as Agent KennedyActor
- 2013Lionhead · as Walter PowellActor
- 2013Gabrielle · as Edward SheehanActor
- 2013Alien BattlefieldActor
- 20142047: Sights of Death · as LoboActor
- 2014Express 'Moscow-Russia' · as продюсер МилыActor
- 2014Water Wars · as BaneActor
- 2014Non escludo il ritorno · as Paul HummelActor
- 2014Turn Around Jake · as Russell O'MalleyActor
- 2014Beyond the Game · as RobertActor
- 2014The Ninth Cloud · as BobActor
- 2014Bra Wars – Hollywood’s Affair With The Bra · as SelfActor
- 2015The Hateful Eight · as Joe GageActor
- 2015Lumberjack Man · as Dr. Peter ShirtcliffActor
- 2015Hope Lost · as ManolActor
- 2015A Hitman in London · as The BossActor
- 2015Lady Psycho Killer · as Doctor DouglassActor
- 2015Diamond Cartel · as MikeActor
- 2015Flipped · as CaseyActor
- 2015No Deposit · as Peter ShayActor
- 2015Death in the Desert · as Ray EaslerActor
- 2015The Lost Tree · as JohnActor
- 2015Bikini Inception · as HimselfActor
- 2015Sacred Blood · as Detective BrennanActor
- 2016Back in the Day · as EnzoActor
- 2016Vigilante Diaries · as MoreauActor
- 2016Magi · as Lawrence IrlamActor
- 2016Last Man Club · as Stearman PilotActor
- 2016Along for the Ride · as SelfActor
- 2016Kidnapped in Romania · as MihaiActor
- 2016Dennis Hopper: Uneasy Rider · as SelfActor
- 2016Talons · as George FitzgeraldActor
- 2017Devil's Domain · as BillActor
- 2017The Wrong Neighbor · as Coach JaworskiActor
- 2017The Broken Key · as Tully DeMarcoActor
- 2017Unfallen · as General McCallisterActor
- 2017Gasoline · as Макс, баща на ДимActor
- 2018Love Addict · as Mr. DickinsonActor
- 2018Megalodon · as Admiral KingActor
- 2018Dirty Dealing · as DeanActor
- 2018Papa · as IvanActor
- 2018Grindhouse NightmaresActor
- 2018Garlic and Gunpowder · as JasonActor
- 2018Assassins Revenge · as Detective Frank McMillianActor
- 2018Q-4: Dream CorporationActor
- 2018Hangover in Death Valley · as Ted (archive footage)Actor
- 2018The Journey Ahead · as MaxActor
- 2018Dead On Time · as Mike McGuirkActor
- 2018Spatss! · as Gang LeaderActor
- 2019Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood · as 'Bounty Law' - Sheriff HackettActor
- 2019QT8: The First Eight · as SelfActor
- 2019Arctic Dogs · as Duke (voice)Actor
- 2019Trading Paint · as LinskyActor
- 2019Welcome to Acapulco · as HydeActor
- 2019Rock, Paper, Scissors · as Doyle DechertActor
- 2019Born2Race · as Bobby UnserActor
- 2019Primitiva · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 2020Angels Fallen · as BalthazarActor
- 2020Shark Season · as JamesActor
- 2020Nishabdham · as Richard DawkinsActor
- 2020Dirty Fears · as MichaelActor
- 2020Unbelievable!!!!! · as President Ben DoverActor
- 2020Red Handed · as LouActor
- 20202 Graves in the Desert · as VinceActor
- 2020Puppy Love · as WesleyActor
- 2020Serpent in the Bottle · as JoeActor
- 2020The Garden Left Behind · as KevinActor
- 2020Conjuring: The Book of the Dead · as JeffersonActor
- 2021American Night · as Lord Samuel MorganActor
- 2021Every Last One of Them · as BillActor
- 2021Christmas Thieves · as VinceActor
- 2021Burial Ground Massacre · as DamonActor
- 2021Red Prophecies · as Richard TylerActor
- 2021Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2021Ten Million Throwaways · as NarratorActor
- 2021Run Raven Run · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 2021Playing with StarsActor
- 2022Incarnation · as PeterActor
- 2022Death Count · as Detective CaseyActor
- 2022Damon's Revenge · as DamonActor
- 2022Until We Meet Again · as Detective MorrisonActor
- 2022American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective · as SelfActor
- 2022The Wraith Within · as Sheriff TownsendActor
- 2023Outlaw Johnny Black · as DutchActor
- 2023The Lurking Fear · as Officer HansenActor
- 2023Assault on Hill 400 · as General CotaActor
- 2023Waking Karma · as PaulActor
- 2023NecronomiconActor
- 2023Buckle UpActor
- 2023Grace · as Man (Voice)Actor
- 2024Arena Wars · as SamsonActor
- 2024Monster Mash · as Doctor FrankensteinActor
- 2024Prepare to Die · as Sheriff HansenActor
- 2024South of Hope Street · as BenjaminActor
- 2024Dark Feathers: Dance of the Geisha · as KenseiActor
- 2024DinoGator · as LaytonActor
- 2024Chuck Zito: An American Story · as SelfActor
- 2024Once Upon a Time in Hollyweird · as SelfActor
- 2024Final Wager · as IanActor
- 2024Max Dagan · as Don ClancyActor
- 2024Spirit Riser · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 2024Baba Yaga: Assassins Revenge · as Logan BergmanActor
- 2025Resurrection Road · as QuantrillActor
- 2025Queen of Manhattan · as District AttorneyActor
- 2025Sinatra! Eternity · as Robert (Bob) NelsonActor
- 2025The Things We CarryActor
- 2026Legend of the White Dragon · as Max ReedActor
- 2026Demon HuntersActor
- 2026Mr. Wonderful · as Brian FentonActor
- 2026Blood Behind Us · as Reed PhilibosianActor
- 2026Concessions · as Rex FuelActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.