Harvey Keitel Pays Tribute to Late Co-Star Michael Madsen

In the wake of the tragic passing of renowned actor Michael Madsen, his Reservoir Dogs co-star Harvey Keitel has released a heartfelt tribute.

Madsen, who first gained fame in the 1980s with WarGames, became a staple in Quentin Tarantino’s films, appearing in notable titles like Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and The Hateful Eight. He sadly passed away on July 3rd, having been found unresponsive at his Malibu home. Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene.

During the filming of Reservoir Dogs, Madsen worked closely with Keitel. In a statement to The Post, Keitel expressed his sorrow, saying, “We’ve lost another great American poet. Farewell, my dear friend.” He fondly recalled one of their film’s most memorable moments, stating, “I’ll never forget one of the best scenes I’ve ever seen on film — of you and Chris Penn fighting in Reservoir Dogs. A great love scene. Give Chris a hug for me.” This mentioned Chris Penn, who portrayed “Nice Guy” Eddie Cabot and sadly passed away in 2006.

Madsen’s sister, Virginia, echoed Keitel’s sentiments, referring to him as a “poet.” In a touching tribute shared with Variety, she described her brother as “thunder and velvet” and a “poet disguised as an outlaw,” emphasizing the complexity of his character.

Virginia wrote, “A father, a son, a brother—etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark. We’re not mourning a public figure or a myth, but a man of flesh and blood with a ferocious heart. He stormed through life loud, brilliant, and half on fire, leaving us echoes—gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable—half legend, half lullaby.”

After his last role in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2019, Madsen’s team shared that he was diving into independent films. They noted, “In the last two years, Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film, including upcoming features like Resurrection Road, Concessions, and Cookbook for Southern Housewives.”