Reservoir Dogs Actors You May Not Know Are Dead

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The cult classic movie “Reservoir Dogs” significantly shaped not only independent films and crime genres but cinema as a whole for an entire generation. It catapulted writer-director Quentin Tarantino into stardom, although it was his later work on “Pulp Fiction” that truly brought him the recognition he deserved in retrospect. Furthermore, with the exception of Harvey Keitel, every actor considers their role in “Reservoir Dogs” as a career-defining moment, either marking their entry into mainstream recognition or introducing them to a new audience.

Over time, a number of notable performers involved in the creation of the iconic ensemble for “Reservoir Dogs” have regrettably passed away. Some of these actors continued to secure roles and even collaborated again with Tarantino on other projects, while others were nearing retirement and only appeared in a handful of subsequent productions. From the original cast members who sported color-coded aliases as part of the main crew, to characters who played pivotal roles outside that group, this is a list of actors from Tarantino’s first feature film directing effort who are now deceased.

Chris Penn

It can be challenging when an actor has a more renowned sibling, but this is particularly difficult if your more famous sibling is Sean Penn. However, Chris Penn managed to establish a commendable career for himself, working together with his brother in just two films. Interestingly, it might have been to his advantage that he wasn’t always acting alongside Sean, as this allowed him to create a distinct identity, separate career path, and unique acting style for himself.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reflect on Chris Penn’s extraordinary career, particularly his unforgettable portrayal as “Nice Guy Eddie” Cabot in “Reservoir Dogs.” Yet, it’s not always this role that defines him for many. He graced the silver screen in a multitude of blockbusters like “Footloose,” “Best of the Best,” and “Rush Hour,” as well as the Quentin Tarantino-penned (though not directed) masterpiece, “True Romance.” His talent was further showcased when he collaborated with legendary directors such as Robert Altman, Clint Eastwood, and Francis Ford Coppola. Moreover, he lent his voice to the iconic video game, “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” one of gaming’s greatest triumphs. Tragically, Chris passed away in 2006 due to complications from heart disease, leaving us at just 40 years old. His legacy continues to inspire fans like me.

Edward Bunker

In the movie “Reservoir Dogs”, Mr. Blue (Edward Bunker) doesn’t play a large role or have a distinctive characteristic among the main characters, neither is he portrayed as the nervous one, wild card, brains, muscle, etc. However, he does express strong views about Madonna. Following their famous debate about the real significance of her smash hit “Like a Virgin”, Mr. Blue shared that he was once a fan but lost interest during the time of her song “Papa Don’t Preach”.

In “Reservoir Dogs”, Bunker might have been the most suitable actor among the cast members for portraying a criminal, given his real-life experience as a convicted felon. At the tender age of 17, he was incarcerated in the notorious San Quentin prison in California, making him the youngest inmate there. However, Bunker managed to transform his life, going on to write several novels and acting in films such as “Reservoir Dogs”, “The Running Man”, “Tango & Cash”, and the 2005 remake of “The Longest Yard”. These are just a few examples from a long list of his film roles. Tragically, he passed away in 2005 at the age of 71 during a surgery aimed at improving poor circulation brought on by diabetes.

Lawrence Tierney

In “Reservoir Dogs,” it’s Joe Cabot, portrayed by Lawrence Tierney, who organizes the team and devises the heist plan. He proposes that the team members should be strangers to each other for a reason – to avoid complications and potential betrayals due to familiarity. Known as a seasoned actor in Hollywood, Tierney’s career goes back to the 1940s, where his imposing figure was utilized in playing notorious tough guys like Jesse James and John Dillinger on screen.

Following his transition into acting, Tierney consistently kept himself occupied, never spending more than a few years without a acting gig. Notable movies after his breakthrough role in “Reservoir Dogs” (which contained a tribute to his debut character, as Joe mentioned one henchman was “as dead as Dillinger”) included “Junior,” “2 Days in the Valley,” and “Armageddon.” In the latter film, he portrayed Eddie “Gramp” Stamper. His last on-screen credit was a 1999 movie called “Evicted.” Tragically, he passed away three years later due to pneumonia resulting from an earlier stroke. He was 82 years old.

Robert Ruth

Hidden in the credits of the movie “Pulp Fiction” is a fascinating fact known only by devoted fans: actor Robert Ruth was credited as “Coffee Shop.” Intrigued fans discovered why he received such an unusual credit. During the film, his character intended to tell robber Ringo (played by Tim Roth) that he’s just a coffee shop manager, but was interrupted before finishing. Director Quentin Tarantino playfully carried this through to the end credits, crediting himself as a coffee shop in homage to Ruth’s character. Now, you might be curious about how this connects to “Reservoir Dogs” – well, it turns out that Robert Ruth also appeared in an early scene of “Reservoir Dogs,” playing a character named “Coffee Pot.” So, it seems Tarantino enjoys weaving these subtle references and inside jokes into his films.

In the movie I watched recently, guess who made a brief appearance? None other than me, portraying one of those cops who gets gunned down by the gang. I didn’t get to speak much and was on screen for only a short while, but Quentin Tarantino acknowledged my presence in the film’s humble cast list. Though many remember me from “Pulp Fiction,” I was also part of his debut feature and should be recognized alongside other late cast members. You might have seen me in minor roles in “Catch Me If You Can” or TV shows like “Mannix,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Frasier,” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.” In articles about my passing at 82 due to pneumonia complications, people often mentioned “Reservoir Dogs” and that show as my most notable works.

Michael Madsen

In every Quentin Tarantino film, there’s no debate about the standout scene – it’s when Mr. Blonde (played by Michael Madsen) performs an infamous dance leading to the gruesome act of cutting off a hostage’s ear in “Reservoir Dogs”. This scene will undoubtedly be featured in every compilation of both Madsen and Tarantino’s filmography, for all time. Despite boasting more than 300 acting credits throughout his career, Madsen is indelibly linked to his collaborations with Tarantino, which extend beyond “Reservoir Dogs” to include “Kill Bill: Volume 2”, “The Hateful Eight”, and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”.

Regardless of removing any of Tarantino’s films from Michael Madsen’s filmography, he would still possess an impressive collection of notable movies that stand alone. Some of his most renowned films include “Thelma & Louise,” “Donnie Brasco,” “Die Another Day,” “Sin City,” “The Natural,” “WarGames,” “Species,” and “Wyatt Earp.” Beyond the silver screen, Madsen made appearances on popular TV shows such as “St. Elsewhere,” “Miami Vice,” “Quantum Leap,” “CSI: Miami,” and “24.” Tragically, on July 3, 2025, Michael Madsen was found unresponsive at home and pronounced dead at the age of 67. An autopsy later revealed that heart failure due to heart disease and other factors were the cause of his death.

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2025-07-11 17:30