|
Vital
Statistics Place of
Birth: Height: Father: Mother: Sisters: Cherie Married: Spouse: Children: Christian
Send
|
|
||
|
|
|||
|
The Michael Madsen
International Fan Club (MMIFC) is the Official Fan
Club |
|||
|
|
|||
|
There is no simple way to describe Michael Madsen. You can try “piercing blue eyes…the trademark raspy voice…..a real man’s man.” But that’s where the simplicity begins and ends. Just as his credits run the gamut from the hippest of cult films to the biggest studio blockbusters, his characters transcend beyond both ends of the spectrum. He is the ear-slicing Mr. Blonde, in Quentin Tarantino’s RESERVOIR DOGS, dancing and humming to the tune “Stuck in the Middle with You;” the deviant killer in THE GETAWAY with Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin; the psycho killer in John Dahl’s KILL ME AGAIN; the Mafia family captain, Sonny Black in DONNIE BRASCO with Al Pacino and Johnny Depp; the over-the-top cop in MULHOLLAND FALLS and the hard-core government operative in SPECIES. Yet, Madsen is also the lovable and caring father in FREE WILLY; Susan Sarandon’s supportive, understanding boyfriend in THELMA AND LOUISE; and the gentle Virgil Earp opposite Kevin Costner in WYATT EARP. The list continues. Michael Madsen personifies the word “superstar,” yet he also defies the definition of the stereotypical “Hollywood actor.” As part of the elite group of leading men who rank among the industries’ heaviest hitters, the only thing that’s simple about Madsen is that there is more to him than meets the eye. With a starring role in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming World War II film and two films screening at this year’s prestigious Cannes Film Festival, SACRIFICE and THE GHOST, Madsen just shot another independent film called BAD GUYS, where he portrays a DEA agent. In typical Madsen style, this versatile actor traded in his BAD GUY badge and headed straight to Calgary to portray “Miller the Killer,” in the remake of the 1952 Gary Cooper/Grace Kelly Western HIGH NOON, opposite Tom Skerritt, Reed Diamond, Maria Conchita Alonso and Susanna Thompson. HIGH NOON is slated to air on TBS Superstation (Turner Broadcasting System) in August 2000. Madsen will also grace the silver screen this spring as the star of Josh Evans’ (son of filmmaker Robert Evans) feature THE PRICE OF AIR, a high drama, intense thriller where Michael plays Mr. Ball, a mysterious and corrupt character who acquires the rights to an herbal substance more addictive than air. Additionally, Madsen will star in Katrina Bronson’s, Charles Bronson’s daughter, debut film RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION. Katrina, under the direction of Quentin Tarantino, used Tarantino’s movie camera to shoot the short film, which captures Michael’s heartwarming portrayal of a jaded character whose perspective on life is transformed when a 10 year-old girl fills his otherwise miserable world with innocence, laughter and joy. As Madsen unravels the complexity of his personality on both the small and silver screen, his compilation of short stories entitled Burning in Paradise further proves that there’s more to him than meets the eye. Burning in Paradise, winner of the Independent Book Publisher’s “Firecracker Poetry Book of the Year” Award, explores the intense and gritty experiences of a man living on the edge who is exposed to the various elements of human weakness. Not only has Burning in Paradise sold over 10,000 copies worldwide, no small feat for a book of this nature, it has received such resounding worldwide critical acclaim that Madsen has been invited to read his written words at both the prestigious Cologne Poetry Festival and the International Poetry Festival in Rotterdam. It’s no wonder Rolling Stone Magazine heralds Madsen “a natural menace,” while Dennis Hopper, who composed the book’s foreword, says Madsen is “Better than Kerouac. Raunchier, more poignant. Burning in Paradise is not only in bookstores around the world, but is also available on CD exclusively at “michaelmadsen.com.” With his extensive resume, it is hard to believe that Madsen had not acted his entire life. But then again, he defies the typical Hollywood story. Born in Chicago, Madsen and his two siblings, including actress Virginia Madsen, were reared in a close-knit family environment. As a rebellious teenager growing up in a big city, Madsen sought refuge in old films and live theater. As the story goes, Michael entered the world of acting after seeing a production of Of Mice and Men at the Steppenwolf Theater. It wasn’t long before Madsen wound up performing at the theater himself. When director Sergio Leone saw Madsen in CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, he was so taken with his performance that he insisted on meeting the young performer after the show, only to encourage Madsen to pursue an acting career. After painting houses, repairing cars, working as an orderly in a hospital and pumping gas in his late teens and early twenties, Madsen took the director’s advice and moved to Los Angeles. It wasn’t long before he landed guest-starring roles on “Miami Vice,” “Cagney and Lacey,” and “St. Elsewhere,” to name a few, only to make his film debut in the hit feature WAR GAMES. After roles in RACING WITH THE MOON, THE NATURAL, KILL ME AGAIN and “War and Remembrance,” among others, Ridley Scott cast him in THELMA AND LOUISE opposite Susan Sarandon, and Madsen became an “overnight" success. However, it was his riveting performance as the infamous Mr. Blonde in Tarantino’s RESERVOIR DOGS that catapulted the actor in to the realm of superstardom. Joining the elite ranks of the industry’s biggest players, Michael Madsen became one of Hollywood’s hottest leading men. With a long list of features in such notable films as MONEY FOR NOTHING, MAN WITH A GUN, THE DOORS, LAST DAYS OF FRANKIE THE FLY, and THE FLORENTINE, to name a few, in addition to television stints on “Inspectors 2,” “The Outsiders,” “Quantum Leap,” “Tour of Duty,” and “The Hitchhiker,” Michael also starred in his own series “Vengeance Unlimited,” a one-hour drama on ABC where he played Mr. Chapel, vigilante extraordinaire. And with the impressive, yet select list of upcoming projects mentioned above, Madsen continues to be one of Hollywood’s hottest leading men, continually proving that there is more to him than meets the eye. When Michael isn’t working, he relaxes in Malibu at home with his wife, De Anna, and his four children. A dedicated husband and father, Michael loves to ride his Harleys as well as restore and race old American classic cars. Defying the definition of the “stereotypical Hollywood actor,” whether in front of a camera or behind the scenes, there’s only one simple way to describe Michael Madsen. He personifies the word “superstar.” |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Biography | FAQ | Filmography | Forward | Join | Main | Member Log In | Movie Mall | TV Guide |
|||
|
|
|||
