Skip to main content

Vivica A. Fox reacts to ‘Kill Bill’ co-star Michael Madsen’s death at 67: ‘Talented man’

Vivica Fox is mourning the loss of her former co-star Michael Madsen.

The actor reportedly died from cardiac arrest at age 67, per his manager, Ron Smith.

Fox, 60, and Madsen starred in the “Kill Bill” movies together in 2003 and 2004.

Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Lucy Liu in "Kill Bill: Volume 1."
Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Lucy Liu in “Kill Bill: Volume 1.” A Band Apart/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

“I had the pleasure of working with Michael Madsen on ‘Kill Bill’ & several other films!” the actress exclusively told The Post in a statement on Thursday.

Michael Madsen, Carl Weathers and Vivica A. Fox speak during the Explosion Jones panel during the  2017 New York Comic Con.
Michael Madsen, Carl Weathers and Vivica A. Fox speak during the Explosion Jones panel during the 2017 New York Comic Con. Getty Images

“Michael was a talented man with an AMAZING on screen presence! My deepest condolences & prayers to his family. #GoneToSoon #RestInParadise.”

“Kill Bill” follows a former assassin (Uma Thurman), who wakes up from a coma four years after her jealous ex, Bill (David Carradine), attempted to kill her on her wedding day.

In the action thriller, Madsen starred as Bill’s brother Budd, while Fox portrayed Vernita Green, a member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad.

Vivica A. Fox attends Project Angel Food's Lead with Love 5.
Vivica A. Fox attends Project Angel Food’s Lead with Love 5. Getty Images for Project Angel Food’s Lead with Love 5
Michael Madsen in "Reservoir Dogs."
Michael Madsen in “Reservoir Dogs.” Courtesy Everett Collection

Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed both “Kill Bill: Volume 1” and “Kill Bill: Volume 2,” with the projects soon becoming cult-classics.

Madsen had previously worked with the director, 62, on the 1992 crime thriller “Reservoir Dogs.”

Looking back at their time together, the “Donnie Brasco” alum told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018 that being typecasted as the go-to heavy stems from that hit film.

Michael Madsen, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Quentin Taratino in "Reservoir Dogs."
Michael Madsen, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Quentin Taratino in “Reservoir Dogs.” Courtesy Everett Collection

“I think it was ‘Reservoir Dogs,’” Madsen admitted. “I think it was the Tarantino phenomenon. It hit so hard, it was such a big punch. Quentin is, in my estimation, the best director of my generation. He’s up there with George Stevens and Alfred Hitchcock, Elia Kazan.”

He added, “Because of that, because of my relationship with him, it became bigger than anything I ever did. And then ‘Kill Bill’ put the final stamp on that one. It’s a great blessing to have that and at the same time, it is really hard to get out of it. And people don’t want you to get out of it.”

According to Madsen, “it’s really hard to break out of that nest once you’ve built it.”

“People tend to want to see the thing you’ve been known for. Madsen is the go-to guy for the mean guy, the mean husband or the bad boyfriend or the hitman. It’s all good, and I think I hit it pretty good in ‘Kill Bill,’ but I was the dad in ‘Free Willy’ for God’s sake! Or ‘Thelma & Louise.’ I don’t get that kind of material and I don’t know why.”