Virginia Madsen Says ‘I Miss My Big Brother’ After Michael Madsen’s Death: ‘I’ll Miss Our Inside Jokes, the Sudden Laughter, the Sound of Him’

Virginia Madsen is mourning the loss of her brother and fellow actor, Michael Madsen. The “Kill Bill” and “Reservoir Dogs” star died at 67 years old from what appeared to be a cardiac arrest, according to his representatives. Virginia is Michael’s younger sister. The two supported each other’s acting careers over the years and often showed up on the red carpet for each other’s premieres.

“My brother Michael has left the stage,” Virginia wrote in a statement to Variety. “He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother — etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark.”

“We’re not mourning a public figure,” she continued. “We’re not mourning a myth — but flesh and blood and ferocious heart. Who stormed through life loud, brilliant, and half on fire. Who leaves us echoes — gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable — half legend, half lullaby.”

Virginia concluded, “I’ll miss our inside jokes, the sudden laughter, the sound of him. I’ll miss the boy he was before the legend; I miss my big brother. Thank you to everyone reaching out with love and memory. In time, we’ll share how we plan to celebrate his life — but for now, we stay close, and let the silence say what words can’t.”

Michael Madsen was found unresponsive in his Malibu home on Thursday morning, according to his rep. His manager issued a statement revealing Michael was working on a new book, “Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems,” before his death. The project is currently being edited.

The two siblings appeared together as fictionalized versions of themselves in director Michael Mongillo’s 2007 comedy mockumentary “Being Michael Madsen.” The film included many of Michael’s former co-stars, including David Carradine, Harry Dean Stanton and Daryl Hannah.