Actor Patrick Muldoon suffered a heart attack and died at his Beverly Hills home on April 19. He was 57.
On the morning of his death, Muldoon had been drinking coffee with his girlfriend, Miriam Rothbart, at their Beverly Hills residence before going to take a shower, according to his sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, who spoke with TMZ. When he took longer than expected, Rothbart checked on him and found him unconscious on the bathroom floor. Despite paramedics rushing to the scene and attempting to revive him, he could not be saved. His manager confirmed his death to Variety on April 20.
Born September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, California, Muldoon attended the University of Southern California, where he played tight end on the Trojans football team, was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and earned 2 Rose Bowl rings. He graduated in 1991. While still in college, his professional acting career began with a 2-episode arc on the sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” in 1990, playing Alyssa Milano’s boyfriend. After graduation, he secured a memorable 3-episode arc on “Saved by the Bell,” portraying Jeff Hunter, the smooth-talking manager of the Max who stole Tiffani Thiessen’s beloved Kelly Kapowski away from Zack Morris.
The actor originated the role of Austin Reed on “Days of Our Lives” in 1992, becoming a fan favorite alongside Christie Clark’s Carrie Brady and winning a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer in 1994. He remained with the NBC soap opera until 1995, then returned for another run from 2011 to 2012, though Austin Peck had taken over the character during the intervening years and continued portraying Austin through 2021 in a spinoff. His success in daytime drama opened doors to primetime work.
He portrayed the villainous Richard Hart on “Melrose Place” across seasons 3 through 5, demonstrating a range that would serve him throughout his career. During the 1990s, he became the only actor to hold an exclusive development deal with Spelling Entertainment. He also appeared in the crime drama “Silk Stalkings” and starred in numerous television films that became staples of Lifetime and Hallmark programming, including “A Boyfriend for Christmas” and “All About Christmas Eve.”
In director Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 science fiction spectacle “Starship Troopers,” Muldoon landed his most prominent film role as Zander Barcalow, appearing alongside Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards and Neil Patrick Harris. Van Dien, who described Muldoon as one of his closest friends, said he was “deeply saddened, devastated and overwhelmed” by the loss. More recently, he worked alongside Bruce Willis in 2021’s “Deadlock.” His final completed film, “Dirty Hands,” a crime thriller reuniting him with Richards, is set for release on April 24 via Saban Films.
Just three days before his death, Muldoon had posted on Instagram to celebrate production beginning in Australia on “Kockroach,” a film directed by Matt Ross and starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz and Alec Baldwin. Hemsworth had replaced Channing Tatum, who stepped away due to scheduling conflicts. He was serving as an executive producer on the film, adding to a portfolio through his Storyboard Productions that included “The Tribes of Palos Verdes,” “Arkansas,” “Marlowe,” “The Card Counter,” “The Dreadful” and “Riff Raff.”
“So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH,” Muldoon wrote in what would become his final social media post.
The sudden death shocked the entertainment community, cutting short a career that demonstrated versatility across soap operas, science fiction blockbusters, independent film production and music. His involvement in “Kockroach” demonstrated his continued relevance in an industry where longevity remains elusive for many performers.
As lead singer of the rock band The Sleeping Masses, Muldoon pursued music beyond acting. Their song “The Woman Is the Way” was featured in the 2009 film “Powder Blue” and on the reality series “The Hills.” He described himself on Instagram as an “actor, producer, musician, in the most Rock & Roll way possible.”
Friends and colleagues remembered Muldoon, known to loved ones as “Bobo,” with tributes that painted a picture of an artist who brought the same warmth to his personal relationships as he did to his performances. Deadline reported that those close to him described Muldoon as “endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence.”
Actress Alison Sweeney, who played Sami Brady opposite Muldoon’s Austin Reed on “Days of Our Lives,” called him “a rare kind of person — brilliantly talented, endlessly kind, and generous in spirit.” She added that when she first started at Days, “Muldoon made me feel at ease right away.”
On Instagram on April 21, actress Denise Richards, who co-starred with Muldoon in “Starship Troopers” and his forthcoming “Dirty Hands,” paid tribute, calling him her best friend and saying the friendship and loyalty they shared over 36 years was “unconditional and rare.” “I am deeply heartbroken and devastated losing you,” Richards wrote. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you here.”
Muldoon is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart; his parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr.; his sister and brother-in-law, Shana and Ahmet Zappa; and their children, his niece Halo Zappa and nephew Arrow Zappa. The family has not yet announced arrangements for memorial services.
For fans who followed his career from college football player to soap opera heartthrob to character actor, producer and musician, Muldoon’s death marks the end of a Hollywood journey that embodied versatility and perseverance. His final Instagram post, brimming with enthusiasm for the work ahead, now stands as a testament to an artist who remained passionate about his craft for more than 30 years.