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

Actor Michael Madsen of Reservoir Dogs received a final text from his child that said, “I love you dad,” and nothing more.

According to his father, 26-year-old Hudson Madsen, a prominent Hollywood actor’s son, shot himself in the head after completing his first tour as a U.S. Army Sergeant stationed in Hawaii.

Star of the Kill Bill franchise Madsen told the LA Times, “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.’”

“I saw no indications of depression. It is so terrible and tragic. He went on, “I’m just trying to make sense of it and comprehend what happened.

Hudson, the oldest child of Madsen and his wife DeAnna Madsen, had Quentin Tarantino as his godfather. The next oldest kids were brothers Luke and Kalvin. Madsen has two more boys, Christian and Max, with his former spouse Jeannine Bisignano.

In 2019, he wed Carlie, who posted encouraging remarks about their love on social media. Carlie’s social media accounts reveal that the couple, unable to conceive naturally, was thinking about doing IVF.

Just one week before he died on January 22, 2022, Carlie posted a selfie of herself wearing a hospital gown to Instagram, captioning it with the news that she had recently had a tumor removed.

She continues in the post, “I just want to give a shout-out to my amazing husband!” Throughout the entire process, he has shown a great deal of patience. I had surgery on one of my breasts yesterday to remove a tumor. Carlie went on, “We spent approximately seven hours at the hospital yesterday. He went to Target and purchased me a card, flowers, cozy pajamas, and my favorite candy while I was in surgery! He has also been tremendous in aiding with my recuperation, and I am incredibly appreciative.

A few weeks later, she posted a sweet photo of herself and Hudson to Twitter with the straightforward message, “I miss you so much.” The circumstances surrounding Hudson’s suicide baffled everyone.

According to Madsen, the 64-year-old father expressed his distress about his suicide by saying, “He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family.” This is mind-blowing, since he was thinking about his future. I just don’t know what went wrong.

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor Madsen also revealed that, despite his outward contentment, his son—who had served in Afghanistan—was struggling with mental health concerns. The actor claimed that because his son was keeping his difficulties to himself, he stopped getting counseling when he needed it.

Madsen felt “that officers and rank and file were shaming,” so he asked the military to look into it. However, the investigation’s findings are still under wraps.

Known for his work on Quentin Tarantino’s gory comedies, Madsen was arrested in Malibu at the mansion he had just been evicted from, one month after Hudson committed herself. Madsen was charged with trespassing and was given bail.

The actor has a past criminal history; TMZ reports that he was charged with child endangerment in 2012 and with DUI in 2019 following an SUV accident.

When the actor entered his house and saw that his teenage son was using marijuana, the two got into a fight.According to TMZ, Madsen and his young son got into a violent altercation, and when the police arrived, they saw multiple injuries on the boy. According to reports, Madsen looked to be intoxicated when he was taken into custody. Madsen’s name was disclosed, but not that of the son.

After Hudson passed away, the family released a statement in which they said, “We are crushed and overwhelmed with grief and pain at the loss of Hudson.” His memory and light will live on in the hearts of all those who were acquainted with and loved him.

Carlie posts a poignant homage to her spouse, whom she affectionately refers to as “Lump,” on Instagram on January 23, 2023.I have no idea how a year has passed without you. The pain is still exactly the same as it was that day. Every morning when I wake up and every evening before I go to sleep, my thoughts always turn to you. How much I miss you and how much I hurt is beyond words.

“I simply wish you would have spoken with me and told me what was going on that day,” she said. I apologize if you believed that there was no other way to turn things around. I apologize for not seeing the symptoms and for not being able to do more. Regretfully, I let you down. Please know that you are never far from my thoughts or side. Lump, I love you more and I miss you a lot.

Hudson Madsen passed away tragically, leaving behind a husband, best friend, son, and hero. If someone needs to hear it, this is the perfect opportunity to let them know how much you care.

There is always help available, and don’t forget that if you want to talk to someone anonymously, you can call the Suicide Hotline in the United States and Canada at 9-8-8.

My Brother-in-Law Tried to Seduce Me at My Husband’s Birthday Party

I never thought my husband’s birthday party would end up being the night that tore his family apart. But I guess life has a way of throwing curveballs when you least expect them.

I’ve been married to Ryan for five years now, and we’ve always had a pretty good life together. We both have solid careers and a nice group of friends, and we generally get along well with his family — his parents, Gina and Frank, and his younger brother, Cole.

A happy family gathering | Source: Pexels

The party was in full swing, our house filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses. Ryan was in his element, chatting with everyone and showing off the vintage record player I’d gotten him.

“Natalie, this is amazing!” he said, pulling me into a hug. “Best birthday ever!”

I grinned, watching him interact with our friends. Cole sidled up to us, a beer in hand.

“Yeah, sis, you really outdid yourself,” he said, giving me a wink.

A man looking to the side, seated with a beer in hand | Source: Pexels

I noticed Cole had been drinking quite a bit, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. If only I’d known what was coming.

As the night wore on, people started to trickle out. Soon, it was just us, Ryan’s family, and our friends Karen and Tom.

“You guys should stay the night,” I offered. “It’s late, and you’ve all had a few drinks.”

Everyone agreed, and I started assigning sleeping arrangements. Ryan’s parents took the guest room, Karen and Tom the pull-out couch, and Cole got the spare room in the basement.

A basement bedroom | Source: Pexels

After Ryan headed up to bed, I stayed behind to clean up a bit. I was elbow-deep in sudsy water when I felt someone come up behind me.

“Need a hand?” Cole’s voice was right in my ear, making me jump.

“Cole! You scared me,” I said, turning around. “No, I’m good. You should get some sleep.”

He leaned against the counter, a strange look in his eyes. “Nah, I’m not tired. Let me help.”

I shrugged and handed him a towel. We worked in silence for a few minutes before things got… weird.

A woman drying dishes at the sink | Source: Pexels

“You know, Natalie,” Cole said, his voice low. “I’ve always thought you were too good for my brother.”

I laughed nervously. “Good one, Cole. I think you’ve had a bit too much to drink.”

But he wasn’t laughing. He stepped closer, and I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

“I’m serious,” he said. “You’re smart, funny, beautiful. Ryan doesn’t appreciate you like I would.”

My heart started thumping. Was this really happening? I tried to shrug it off.

A man smiling as he talks to a woman in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

“Cole, you’re drunk. Go to bed.”

He grabbed my arm, his eyes intense. “Come with me. To my room. Ryan will never know.”

I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. This was my husband’s brother — the same guy who’d been best man at our wedding, who came over for dinner almost every Sunday. And here he was, propositioning me in my own kitchen.

For a split second, I considered slapping him. But then an idea struck me — a way to teach him a lesson he’d never forget.

A woman looking determined | Source: Pexels

I forced a smile. “You know what? You’re right. Ryan doesn’t appreciate me.”

Cole’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? You mean…?”

I nodded, trying to look seductive. “But we need to be careful. Here’s what we’ll do. Go down to your room and put this on.”

I handed him a sleep mask from the junk drawer. He looked at it, confused.

“Trust me,” I said. “It’ll make things more… exciting. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

A woman talking to a man in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

Cole grinned and practically ran to the basement. As soon as he was gone, I let out a shaky breath. Then I headed upstairs.

I shook Ryan awake. “Babe, wake up. We have a problem.”

Ryan blinked at me, confused. “What’s wrong?”

I took a deep breath. “It’s Cole. He… he just tried to get me to sleep with him.”

Ryan sat up, suddenly wide awake. “What? You’re kidding, right?”

I shook my head. “I wish I was. But listen, I have a plan.”

A woman sitting on a bed, looking up | Source: Pexels

I quickly explained what happened and what I wanted to do. Ryan’s face went through a range of emotions — shock, anger, and finally, a grim determination.

“Let’s do it,” he said.

We woke up his parents and our friends, explaining the situation in hushed tones. Everyone was shocked, but they agreed to help.

As we crept down to the basement, I felt nervous and angry. This was going to change everything, but Cole needed to learn that actions have consequences.

A flight of stairs leading to a basement | Source: Pexels

I opened the door to find Cole lying on the bed, the sleep mask in place. He stirred when he heard us enter.

“Natalie? Is that you?” he asked, a smile in his voice.

I took a deep breath. “Yeah, it’s me. Have you been waiting long?”

Cole chuckled. “It feels like forever. I hope the others don’t hear us.”

I saw Ryan clench his fists, but he stayed quiet. “Don’t worry about them,” I said. “Why don’t you take off that mask and look at me?”

A man’s clenched fist | Source: Pexels

Cole reached up and pulled off the mask. For a moment, he blinked in confusion at the group of people standing in front of him. Then realization dawned on his face.

“What the hell?” he sputtered, scrambling to sit up.

Ryan stepped forward, his voice cold. “That’s what I’d like to know, little brother. What the hell were you thinking?”

Cole’s face went pale. “Ryan, I… it’s not what it looks like.”

“Really?” Ryan said. “Because it looks like you were trying to sleep with my wife.”

An angry-looking man in the dark | Source: Pexels

Gina let out a choked sob. “Cole, how could you?”

Cole looked frantically around the room, his eyes landing on me. “Natalie, tell them! You came onto me!”

I shook my head, disgusted. “Don’t try to pin this on me, Cole. Everyone here knows what really happened.”

Frank, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “Son, I think it’s best if you leave. Now.”

Cole’s face crumpled. “Dad, please… It was a mistake. I was drunk.”

A sad-looking man looking away | Source: Midjourney

But Frank just shook his head, looking older than I’d ever seen him.

Ryan pointed to the door. “Get out, Cole. And don’t come back.”

We watched in silence as Cole gathered his things and left. The sound of his car starting and driving away seemed to echo in the quiet house.

After he was gone, Ryan turned to me, pulling me into a tight hug. “I’m so sorry, Nat. I can’t believe he would do this.”

A man and woman hugging in a dark space | Source: Midjourney

I hugged him back, feeling the tension of the night start to drain away. “It’s not your fault.”

We spent the rest of the night talking — about what happened, about how we’d move forward. It wasn’t going to be easy, but we’d get through it together.

Gina and Frank were devastated. “We raised him better than this,” Gina kept saying, tears in her eyes.

Frank just looked lost. “I don’t understand. He’s always looked up to Ryan. Why would he do this?”

An elderly man expressing sadness | Source: Pexels

Karen and Tom made coffee and tried to keep everyone calm. “It’s not anyone’s fault,” Karen said. “Cole made his own choices.”

As the sun started to rise, Ryan and I were sitting on the porch, cups of coffee in hand.

“Some birthday, huh?” I said, trying for a weak joke.

Ryan gave me a small smile. “Yeah, not exactly what I had in mind. But you know what?”

“What?”

A couple sitting on the front porch | Source: Midjourney

He took my hand, squeezing it gently. “I’m glad it happened. Not because of what Cole did, but because it showed me how lucky I am to have you. You’re amazing, Natalie.”

I felt tears prick my eyes. “We’re lucky to have each other.”

***

The next few weeks were tough. Ryan’s parents decided to cut ties with Cole, at least for the time being. It was hard on all of us, especially Ryan. He’d always been close to his brother, and now that relationship was shattered.

A morose-looking man sitting on a sofa | Source: Midjourney

“I keep thinking about all the times we hung out,” Ryan said one night. “Was he always thinking about you like that?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I think he was just drunk and made a terrible decision.”

But the damage was done. Family gatherings were awkward, with Cole’s absence hanging over everything like a cloud. Gina would get teary-eyed whenever someone mentioned him, and Frank would just stare off into space.

Slowly, though, we started to heal. Ryan and I grew even closer, if that was possible. We talked more, shared more. It was like we’d been through a war together and come out stronger on the other side.