Grappling with his son’s suicide, Michael Madsen still hopes to find answers

The final text that Reservoir Dogs actor Michael Madsen got from his kid was simply, “I love you dad,” and that was it.

Sergeant stationed in Hawaii who had just completed his first tour when he shot himself in the head, according to his father.

“I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy–my last text from him was ‘I love you dad,’” Madsen, the star of the Kill Bill franchise, told the LA Times.

“I didn’t see any signs of depression. It’s so tragic and sad. I’m just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened,” he continued.

The eldest of Madsen’s children with wife DeAnna Madsen was Hudson, whose godfather was Quentin Tarantino. Brothers Kalvin and Luke were the next-oldest children. With his ex-wife Jeannine Bisignano, Madsen has two further boys, Christian and Max.

His wife, Carlie, whom he married in 2019, shared positive social media messages about their relationship. According to Carlie’s social media, the couple was considering IVF because they were unable to conceive naturally.

Carlie uploaded a selfie of herself in a hospital gown to Instagram exactly one week before he passed away on January 22, 2022, stating that she had recently had a tumor removed.

“I just want to give a shout-out to my amazing husband!” she adds in the post. He has been extremely patient throughout the entire procedure. Yesterday, I had surgery to remove a tumor from one of my breasts. Carlie continued, “We were at the hospital for about 7 hours yesterday and while I was in surgery he went to target and got me flowers, comfy pajamas, my favorite candy and a card! He’s also been amazing in helping with my recovery and I’m just so thankful…”

A few of weeks later, she tweeted a cute picture of herself and Hudson along with the simple caption, “I miss you so much.” Everyone was perplexed by the circumstances that led to Hudson’s suicide.

The father, who was 64 at the time, was upset about his suicide and stated, “He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family,” according to Madsen. He was considering his future, so this is mind-blowing. I simply don’t understand what happened.

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor Madsen also disclosed that his son, who had served in Afghanistan, was dealing with mental health issues behind the scenes of his seeming contentment. The actor stated that his son, who need counseling, stopped seeking assistance because of problems he was keeping to himself.

Madsen asked the military to conduct an investigation because he suspected “that officers and rank and file were shaming,” but the results of the investigation are remained classified.

One month after Hudson committed suicide, Madsen, known for his work on Quentin Tarantino’s bloody comedies, was detained in Malibu at the mansion from which he had just been evicted. Madsen was granted bail after being accused of trespassing.

The actor has a criminal record; according to TMZ, he was charged with child endangerment in 2012 and was charged with DUI in 2019 after wrecking his SUV.

The actor walked into his home, and finding his teenaged son smoking pot, the two got into an argument. TMZ writes, “…Madsen had gotten into a physical fight with his juvenile son–and when cops arrived, they observed several signs of injury on his son. We’re told Madsen also appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of his arrest.” The son’s name was not released, and Madsen was.

The family issued a statement following Hudson’s passing, writing, “We are crushed and overwhelmed with grief and pain at the loss of Hudson. All those who knew and loved him will keep his memories and light in their hearts.

On January 23, 2023, offering a heartfelt tribute to her husband, whom she lovingly calls “Lump,” Carlie writes on her Instagram, “…I don’t even know how it’s been a year without you. It still hurts just as much as it did that day. You’re the first thing I think about everyday when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep at night. I can’t even describe how much I’m hurting and how much I miss you.”

She continued, “I just wish you would have talked to me and told me what was going on that day. I’m so sorry you thought this was the only way to make things better. I’m so sorry I couldn’t do more and I didn’t see the signs. I’m sorry I let you down. Just know you’re always with me and always on my mind. I miss you so much and I love you more Lump.”

The tragic passing of Hudson Madsen marks the loss of a hero, son, best friend, and spouse. It’s time to tell everybody you know that you love them if they need to hear it.

There is always aid available, and keep in mind that you can call the Suicide Hotline in the U.S. and Canada by dialing 9-8-8 if you’d like to speak with someone anonymously.

I Finally Found Love in My 40s, but My Boyfriend Disappeared When I Needed Him the Most

At 42, Anya finally dares to love again, only to be met with silence from the man who promised to be there. He vanishes without a word when she needs him the most, leaving her questioning if love is worth the risk after all.

I’ve built a life most would call complete. A successful career as an architect, good friends, and a steady rhythm to my days.

Yet, I’d often feel so lonely in my quiet apartment. My friends would tell me it was about time I found a partner, but I’d never agree.

A woman sitting in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman sitting in her house | Source: Midjourney

“Anya, when was the last time you went on a date?” my friend Lisa teased one day.

“Oh, I think my soulmate must be my drafting table at this point.” I laughed it off, but deep down, her words struck a nerve.

She rolled her eyes. “Come on, seriously. Don’t you miss having someone around?”

I forced a half-smile. “I don’t think it’s in the cards for me. Too much history, too much… complication.”

A woman talking to a friend | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to a friend | Source: Midjourney

I was 25 the last time I was in love.

My high school sweetheart, Stephan, and I had dreams as big as the sky. But life happened. My mom passed away, and grief consumed me.

I still remember Stephan’s last words before he left.

“Anya, I can’t do this anymore,” he’d said in a cold voice. “You’ve changed. You’re just too sad, and I need someone who’s happy. I need someone who’s there for me. Not someone who just spends her entire day crying!”

A young man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

A young man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

I couldn’t believe it. Instead of staying with me during the worst time of my life, Stephan chose to walk away.

I didn’t even ask him to stay back. I cried like a baby the night he left me.

However, I soon picked up the broken pieces of my heart and tried to distract my mind by focusing on my work.

As years passed, I told myself I didn’t need a man to be happy. I had a thriving career and became the strong, independent woman I’d dreamed of.

But deep down, I’d feel the ache for something more whenever I’d see couples on the street.

A couple walking on the street | Source: Pexels

A couple walking on the street | Source: Pexels

Lately, though, it wasn’t just the loneliness bothering me. I’d feel worn down and fatigued and would often get headaches and spells of dizziness.

Lisa and some others nudged me to see a doctor, but I brushed it off as stress from work. After all, a few aches were nothing compared to what I’d been through, right?

A few weeks after Lisa’s pep talk, I found myself at a neighborhood charity event. It was one of those pop-up art galleries that featured local artists.

People in an art gallery | Source: Pexels

People in an art gallery | Source: Pexels

I was standing in front of a watercolor painting of a misty mountain when a deep, cheerful voice spoke beside me.

“Not bad, right? Although the brushwork here is, uh, interesting.”

I looked over, meeting the eyes of a man with a mischievous grin and an infectious energy that caught me off guard.

“I’d say unique,” I replied, raising an eyebrow. “I take it you’re an art critic in disguise?”

“History professor, actually,” he laughed. “Liam’s the name. And you?”

A man standing in an art gallery | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in an art gallery | Source: Midjourney

“Anya,” I said, trying not to smile too much. But something about him drew me in. I guess it was his intelligence.

As we talked, his sense of humor and insight made me feel instantly comfortable. I learned he was a history professor, just 35, but surprisingly mature for his age.

Unlike other men I’d known, he didn’t rush to impress or make advances.

He seemed genuinely interested in art, and in me, without any hidden agenda. There was something refreshingly steady about him.

A man talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

I told myself he was just a nice guy I’d chat with once and then forget. But that turned out to be wishful thinking.

Over the next few weeks, we kept running into each other at different places. We even started meeting up on purpose.

I found myself looking forward to seeing him in a way I hadn’t felt in years.

One evening at the diner, we were talking over coffee when I asked him about his family.

A woman holding her coffee | Source: Pexels

A woman holding her coffee | Source: Pexels

“They, uh, they’re a bit different,” he told me. “And I don’t see them often.”

He didn’t elaborate, and quickly changed the topic. He rarely mentioned them after that.

It was strange, but I didn’t push. I understood the need to keep some things close to the chest.

Soon, our friendship blossomed into something deeper, something I hadn’t let myself feel in years. Every time I’d catch myself replaying our conversations in my head, I knew it was more than just companionship.

A woman standing in her kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her kitchen | Source: Midjourney

Liam and I were together now. He was my boyfriend, though saying it out loud still felt surreal.

One afternoon, we met up for lunch at a small diner. In the background, the TV was showing a weather report.

Suddenly, I noticed Liam’s attention snap to the screen as the reporter announced, “Cosolia is expected to have a bout of bad weather. Prepare your umbrellas, folks, because this isolated town is sure to become even more closed off with the upcoming rain…”

Liam’s focus sharpened at the mention of the small town.

A man standing in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

Meanwhile, I’d never heard of the place before.

“You know the place?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah, uh, I’ve been there a few times,” he said. “I didn’t know they were going to have rain right now. Anyway, what are we having for lunch?”

He quickly changed the topic, but it didn’t bother me. I thought it was just the historian in him who was fascinated with odd places.

A man looking away while talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

A man looking away while talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

After a wonderful evening with Liam, I found myself feeling unusually dizzy and faint. This was different. It was worse than the usual fatigue I’d brushed off as work stress.

My head felt heavy, and for a moment, my vision blurred. That was the day I finally decided it was time to see a doctor.

Sitting in the sterile waiting room, I kept telling myself it was nothing serious.

Just stress, just work, I thought. You’re gonna be okay.

But the doctor’s expression told me otherwise.

A doctor studying a report | Source: Pexels

A doctor studying a report | Source: Pexels

He explained that the tests showed I had Multiple Sclerosis. The words didn’t sink in right away.

“It’s probably just stress, right?” I laughed weakly.

The doctor told me to calm down before he explained more.

He said words like “tests,” “rare”, and “serious,” but I have no idea what he told me. I could only feel my heart pound against my chest as I looked at him.

A woman in a doctor's office | Source: Midjourney

A woman in a doctor’s office | Source: Midjourney

At that point, I thought of Liam. He was the one person who’d brought light back into my life. Maybe he’d know what to say to make this all feel less terrifying.

As I left the doctor’s office, I felt tears stream down my cheeks. I quickly sat inside my car and typed out a message to Liam.

A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels

A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels

Liam, I need to tell you something. I was at the doctor’s today… they diagnosed me with Multiple Sclerosis. I’m so scared. I don’t even know where to start dealing with this. I thought I’d be okay, but I’m not. I could really use your support right now, babe. Please meet me.

I hit send, praying he’d respond quickly.

Hours passed, though, and my phone stayed silent. By the time night turned to dawn, I was nearly sick with worry.

Maybe he doesn’t want to deal with this, I thought.

A worried woman in her house | Source: Midjourney

A worried woman in her house | Source: Midjourney

Day one turned into day two, then day three, and still, there was no word.

He’s gone silent. Maybe he’s busy, but it’s been days. What if… what if he doesn’t want to deal with this? The thought hit me again, hard. I was alone again.

Memories of Stephan flooded back and his cold words echoed in my mind. “You’re just too sad, and I need someone who’s happy.”

Was I about to lose Liam the same way?

A worried woman | Source: Midjourney

A worried woman | Source: Midjourney

Desperation took over, and I combed through his social media, looking for any sign of life. I called him repeatedly, but it went to voicemail. I even went to his apartment, but his neighbor told me he’d left suddenly.

“Why would he just leave without a word? Did my illness scare him that much?” I whispered to myself.

The pain of abandonment was too familiar. I was convinced Liam had chosen to walk away, just when I needed him the most.

On the fourth day, just as I was starting to accept that Liam had disappeared, my phone finally rang. His name lit up the screen.

A woman looking at her phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking at her phone | Source: Midjourney

“Anya, I’m so sorry. I had to leave in such a rush,” he started, his voice sounding strained and exhausted. “My grandmother… she lives in Cosolia. She got really sick, and I just—”

Cosolia. That small town on the weather report, the one that had captured his attention at the diner. It all clicked, but the anger I’d felt these past days pushed through.

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“Do you have any idea what that did to me, Liam?” I interrupted. “You just vanished. I thought… I thought you were gone. Like everyone else.”

There was a pause, and his voice softened when he spoke again.

“I know, Anya. And I hate that I put you through that. I wanted to reach out, but everything went wrong. The storm knocked out all the power, the roads flooded… I couldn’t get to you.” His words poured out in a rush. “I couldn’t even find a working phone. The whole area was cut off.”

A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels

A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels

Was he telling the truth? I wondered, feeling a flicker of doubt. Why hadn’t he ever mentioned this grandmother before? Or even that she lived in Cosolia? And what about all those times I’d asked about his family… why had he dodged my questions? Was he hiding more? My mind raced with questions, one after another. Should I trust him?

“Anya? Are you there?” His voice broke into my thoughts, pulling me back.

I took a breath. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about your family, Liam? Every time I asked, you brushed it off.”

A woman talking to her boyfriend on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her boyfriend on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“Because…” he sighed. “I was ashamed. My family doesn’t have much. They live in a small town, and I thought you’d see me differently if you knew. My life’s messy, Anya. I didn’t want you to see that part of me.”

I stayed quiet for a moment, letting his words sink in. The sincerity in his words felt real.

“Liam,” I said softly, “I’m not the kind of person who judges someone for where they come from or how much they have. I care about you for who you are.”

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“Thank you, Anya,” he said before taking a deep breath. “That… means everything to me. I’ll be back by tomorrow. And I’ll be here for you, for whatever you need.”

When Liam returned the next day, he came straight to my place. We sat on the couch and talked about everything. About my diagnosis, his family, and our fears.

And for the first time, I let down my walls completely.

“I don’t want to be a burden, Liam,” I said quietly, tears brimming. “You didn’t sign up for this…”

He took my hand and looked straight into my eyes.

A man holding his girlfriend's hands | Source: Pexels

A man holding his girlfriend’s hands | Source: Pexels

“Anya, life isn’t about ‘signing up’ for things. It throws us surprises. Good and bad. And I’m not going anywhere.” He squeezed my hand gently. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’ll be here with you, for as long as you need me.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I looked at him.

“I’m so sorry for putting you through this, Liam,” I managed to say between sobs. “I…”

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. It was exactly the kind of hug I needed at that moment.

A man hugging his girlfriend | Source: Pexels

A man hugging his girlfriend | Source: Pexels

A few days later, Liam drove me to my next doctor’s appointment. He opened the door for me and held my hand as we entered the office.

For the first time in years, I had someone standing by my side during one of the lowest points of my life. Someone who wouldn’t leave if I cried too much. Someone who was ready to accept both the good and the messy sides of me.

I don’t know what I did to deserve a person like Liam. He’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.

A man smiling at his girlfriend | Source: Midjourney

A man smiling at his girlfriend | Source: Midjourney

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: Inheriting her beloved grandmother’s house, Claire pours her heart into its renovation for her mom. But the unexpected return of her estranged sister, Emma, after fourteen years, with a demand for a share of the inheritance, throws Claire’s plans into turmoil. What will she do now?

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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