Miami Vice, Jake And The Fatman and noir thriller Kill Me Again with Val Kilmer in 1989.
It was in the early 1990s that Michael Madsen's star quickly began to rise, thanks to a small but memorable ing turn in Thelma & Louise and Oliver Stone's The Doors. He played his most iconic role as the sociopathic Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. Madsen was actually more interested in Mr. Pink - who Steve Buscemi ended up playing - and even read for the character, but director Quentin Tarantino felt he was perfect for Mr. Blonde. The infamous ear slicing scene became a source of controversy during the movie's release, though the most twisted part - where Mr. Blonde talks into the severed ear - was a Madsen improv.
Michael Madsen was soon high in demand, but despite his talent for playing villains, he had a few heroic roles during this period too. This includes 1993's Free Willy and its first sequel, and Preston Lennox in 1994 sci-fi creature feature Wyatt Earp instead. Madsen has rarely been offscreen following his 1990s breakthrough and according to TheRichest, his net worth is $10 million.
Other notable 1990s movies from Michael Madsen include The Getaway remake and Donnie Brasco; he also played the lead in the short-lived ABC series Vengeance Unlimited between 1998 and 1999. It was during this time that Madsen started to become a prolific presence in STV action and horror, starring the likes of Extreme Honor and Pressure Point. He soon reunited with Tarantino for the Kill Bill movies as Budd, the estranged brother of the titular character whom Uma Thurman's Bride is also seeking vengeance against. Madsen also played a small role in Pierce Brosnan's final James Bond outing Die Another Day in 2002.
It's almost hard to keep track of the sheer wealth of projects Michael Madsen has appeared in from the 2000s onwards, but it's worth noting the number of video games he has appeared in too, thanks to his famous gravelly tones. This includes Driv3r, Narc and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.
