"Bears resemblance to the late Michael Madsen" - Evokes a similar likeness to the late Michael Madsen.
In a touching tribute, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino paid homage to the late Michael Madsen at his Vista Theatre in Los Angeles. Madsen, known for his roles in Tarantino's films like Kill Bill 1 and 2, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, passed away on July 3rd, 2025, at the age of 67 in his Malibu home.
The anecdote from the set of Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino's debut film, goes back to the early 1990s. At the time, Tarantino was an inexperienced director, and the atmosphere on set was tense due to actor Lawrence Tierney causing problems. Tarantino described Tierney as a "fucking nightmare" and "totally nuts."
In a heated confrontation, Tarantino fired Tierney in front of everyone present. The team erupted in applause, and it was during this challenging time that Madsen showed his support. Quentin Tarantino shared a poignant anecdote about this support. After firing Tierney, Tarantino received a supportive voicemail from Madsen. In the message, Madsen expressed respect for Tarantino's decision and assured him, "I've got your back, buddy."
The crew and the other actors could no longer tolerate Tierney's behavior. Tarantino recalled that it was the last hour of the last day of the first week of filming. Madsen was one of the few who backed Tarantino’s decision, and after standing up to Tierney’s aggressive behavior, Madsen even called to thank him, showing his support during this challenging time on set.
TMZ reported that celebrities such as Sean Penn and Daryl Hannah attended Madsen's memorial service last Friday. The memorial service included an exhibition of various memorabilia from Madsen's career. The service took place in Los Angeles.
Quentin Tarantino shared this anecdote with TMZ, recalling Madsen's supportive role during the filming of Reservoir Dogs. Madsen appeared in several of Tarantino's films after Reservoir Dogs, including Kill Bill 1 and 2, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Madsen's passing has left a significant void in the film industry, and his contributions will be remembered by many, including Tarantino, who spoke highly of the late actor.
I'm not going to be able to imagine the Reservoir Dogs set without Michael Madsen's support during those challenging times. In the realm of entertainment, movies-and-tv will miss his charisma and impact.
