Overview

• Quentin Tarantino hosted a private memorial at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles to honor Michael Madsen’s prolific career and showcase personal memorabilia.
• During the tribute, Tarantino recounted firing Lawrence Tierney in the final hour of Reservoir Dogs’ first week after the actor’s erratic on-set behavior crossed a line.
• He shared Madsen’s voicemail praising the decision as vital and expressing unwavering respect for Tarantino as both a director and a man.
• Tarantino credited Harvey Keitel’s mediation for resolving tensions with Tierney and enabling the veteran actor to return and finish his scenes.
• The anecdotes underscored Madsen’s early influence on Reservoir Dogs’ enduring cult status and the creative partnership that followed between him and Tarantino.