Michael Madsen was trying to turn his life around right up until the very end.<\/p>\n
The \u201cReservoir Dogs\u201d actor, who passed away<\/a> Thursday, July 3, at 67, was said to be sober before his death despite a yearslong battle with alcoholism, per TMZ<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sources close to Madsen told the outlet that the \u201cKill Bill\u201d star was making a \u201cconsistent and valiant effort\u201d on his sobriety after spending years in and out of rehabs as well as grappling with depression and other personal issues.<\/p>\n Michael Madsen was said to be sober before his sudden death despite a years-long battle with alcoholism AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n Sources close to Madsen said that the \u201cKill Bill\u201d star was making a \u201cconsistent and valiant effort\u201d to turn his life around in the months before his death. Chris Pizzello\/Invision\/AP<\/p>\n The insiders also claimed that the \u201cOnce Upon a Time\u2026in Hollywood\u201d actor was \u201cconstantly\u201d trying to get his alcohol addiction under control, and that Madsen even helped mentor other struggling addicts at a recovery facility in Malibu.<\/p>\n While those closest to Madsen \u201choped and believed\u201d he was still working on his recovery, they were also said to be \u201cuncertain about his state of mind\u201d in the days and weeks leading up to his death.<\/p>\n One source, who claimed to have last spoken with Madsen on June 10, claimed that the \u201cThelma and Louise\u201d actor was in \u201cbad shape\u201d less than one month before his sudden passing<\/a>.<\/p>\n Insiders further claimed that the \u201cOnce Upon a Time\u2026in Hollywood\u201d actor was \u201cconstantly\u201d trying to get his alcohol addiction under control Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cHe called me on June 10 and said, \u2018I\u2019m getting evicted from my house,\u2019 and he was asking me for $10,000 to help him out,\u201d the insider claimed to The Sun<\/a> after Madsen\u2019s death. \u201cHe told me \u2018I\u2019m going to rehab,\u2019 and all this kind of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe really opened up to me. It was clear he had a lot going on in his life that was difficult for him to navigate,\u201d the source added. \u201cHe was in bad shape, man.\u201d<\/p>\n Madsen\u2019s final years were filled with heartbreak.<\/p>\n Madsen\u2019s final years were filled with heartbreak. Getty Images<\/p>\n In January 2022, Maden\u2019s 26-year-old Army veteran son, Hudson, tragically took his own life in O\u2019ahu, Hawaii.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was looking towards his future, so it\u2019s mind-blowing,\u201d Madsen told the Los Angeles Times<\/a> in a statement at the time. \u201cI just can\u2019t grasp what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n In August 2024, the \u201cSin City\u201d actor was arrested\u00a0for misdemeanor domestic battery<\/a>. Weeks later, in September 2024, he filed for divorce from his third wife<\/a>, DeAnna Madsen, after 28 years of marriage.<\/p>\n The \u201cSin City\u201d actor had filed for divorce from his third wife, DeAnna Madsen, in December after 28 years of marriage. Getty Images<\/p>\n While the actor cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split, he also\u00a0blamed DeAnna for their son\u2019s suicide <\/a>in the divorce documents, which he later took back.<\/p>\n Ron Smith, one of the \u201cDonnie Brasco\u201d star\u2019s managers, confirmed Madsen\u2019s death<\/a> on Thursday. He claimed that Madsen died from cardiac arrest; however, no official cause of death has been disclosed by authorities.<\/p>\n A rep for the Los Angeles County Sheriff\u2019s Department confirmed to The Post that Madsen was found unresponsive at his Malibu home and pronounced dead at the scene at 8:25 a.m. No foul play was suspected.<\/p>\n Ron Smith, one of the \u201cDonnie Brasco\u201d star\u2019s managers, said that Madsen passed away from cardiac arrest. Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images<\/p>\n Madsen\u2019s reps were the first to release a statement about his shocking passing.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films \u2018Resurrection Road,\u2019 \u2018Concessions\u2019 and \u2018Cookbook for Southern Housewives,\u2019 and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,\u201d managers Smith and Susan Ferris, plus publicist Liz Rodriguez, told The Post.<\/p>\n \u201cMichael was also preparing to release a new book called \u2018Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems,\u2019 currently being edited,\u201d they added. \u201cMichael Madsen was one of Hollywood\u2019s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.\u201d<\/p>\n Tributes poured in for Madsen after the news of his sudden death. Kill Bill<\/p>\n Other tributes also poured in. <\/p>\n Madsen\u2019s sister, actress Virginia Madsen, remembered her late brother as a \u201cpoet disguised as an outlaw.\u201d <\/a>Harvey Keitel, who starred alongside Madsen in Quentin Tarantino\u2019s \u201cReservoir Dogs,\u201d remembered his \u201cdear friend\u201d as a \u201cgreat American poet.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n