Michael Madsen

Michael Søren Madsen (born September 25, 1958 or 1957 sources say) is an American actor, producer, director, writer, poet and photographer. He has starred in over 200 films, including Thelma & Louise, Reservoir Dogs, Wyatt Earp, Free Willy, Species, Donnie Brasco, Sin City, Kill Bill, The Hateful Eight and many direct-to-video films. He has also guest starred in numerous television series and has done voice work in several video games. Madsen is known for making many films with Quentin Tarantino. 2Early life Madsen was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Elaine Madsen (née Melson), a filmmaker and author, and Calvin Madsen, a firefighter. His parents divorced in the 1960s, and his mother left a career in finance to pursue a career in the arts, encouraged by film critic Roger Ebert. His siblings are Cheryl Madsen, an entrepreneur, and Academy Award-nominated actress Virginia Madsen. Madsen's paternal grandparents were Danish, while his mother is of English, German, Irish, Native American and Scottish ancestry. 2Career Madsen's acting career began at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, where he served as an apprentice under actor John Malkovich and appeared in a production of Of Mice and Men. In 1982, Madsen made his debut role playing an alcoholic in independent film Against All Hop