Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Donnie Brasco, Species and Kill Bill as well as Free Willy) returns to the big screen in Quentin Tarantino's gritty biker thriller Hell Ride and Madsen's own cop thriller, Vice, with Daryl Hannah. Madsen lives in Malibu with his wife, Deanna Morgan, and five boys, ages 2 to 20. His mother is Elaine Madsen, Emmy-winning writer and producer; actress Virginia Madsen (Sideways) is his sister. During the interview, his youngest son is pulling his ear while another bangs on the piano.
Question. How do you approach your boys about your more violent roles?
Answer. Obviously, I don't have the younger ones watching Kill Bill. The older ones have seen this. Most of the kids have grown up visiting me on the set—they know it's make-believe. They're not that fascinated by what I do, it's just Dad's an actor. They'd rather watch their own shows and play their video games.
Q. You're said to have a natural aversion to violence.
A. The question is, what's mindless and what's entertainment? I wonder where that's going now with movies like Saw. Maybe I'm just getting mellow. Now, I'd rather play the guy who rides over the hill into the sunset with the girl on the horse.
Q. Or the motorcycle?
A. I have a really bitchin' motorcycle picture coming out with Dennis Hopper, it premiered at Sundance, and I do have a girlfriend in that…. I couldn't believe we were getting paid to ride motorcycles. I have a Harley-Davidson. My sons have dirt bikes. My father bought me a minibike when I was 10—I never got over it. I have a big property in the hills—there are all kinds of dirt trails around here. We ride around quite a bit. [On the Harley,] I'd head up PCH—away from Hollywood!
Q. You're also a published poet.
A. I wrote a lot for a while, three or four books, then I ran out of things to say. I've started taking photographs. I buy those little plastic snappers at the market—those pictures are pretty good! Diesel carries my photo book, Signs of Life. I recently reread Jack Kerouac's On the Road. My older boy reads Ferlinghetti to me when I'm driving him to school. It's interesting to see your sons coming of age, discovering books that you read.
Q. Where in L.A. might you celebrate a milestone birthday?
A. The penthouse at Chateau Marmont—I'd set up a barbecue grill and make steaks. Dining out? I like Carney's, Pink's, In-N-Out, the atmosphere at Musso & Frank's. A lot of things in L.A. are too clubby for me—I'm not into that scene. The pizza at Joe D'Amore's is probably the best there is in the state of California.
Q. If your wife gave you a gift card, to what store would it be?
A. I'm not really into shopping. I got some Ed Hardy stuff. I get stuff from Affliction—they're breaking into the fight world with their line, but I don't know if they have a store yet. I like suits from Dolce & Gabbana.
Q. You've got lots of movies in the works. What else?
A. I'm trying to get into the restaurant business. I'd like to get in the tequila business—all I need are partners with a distillery.
—Benjamin Epstein
Details
Carney's Restaurant 8351 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.654.8300 • Chateau Marmont 8221 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.656.1010 • D'Amore's Pizza Express 22601 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, 310.317.4500 • Diesel, A Bookstore 3890 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, 310.456.9961 • Dolce & Gabbana 8641 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.360.7283 • Ed Hardy 7817 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.951.9692 • In-N-Out Burger 7009 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, 800.786.1000 • Musso & Frank Grill 6667 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.467.7788 • Pink's 709 N. La Brea Blvd., L.A., 323.931.4223 |
