Patrick Muldoon, the actor celebrated for his performances in ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Melrose Place,’ has passed away at the age of 57. The news of his untimely death has left fans and colleagues in mourning.
According to his manager, Muldoon succumbed to a heart attack at his Beverly Hills residence, where he lived with his girlfriend, Miriam Rothbart. The tragic incident occurred on a Sunday morning, as reported by Variety.
In a statement to TMZ, Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, revealed the distressing details of the incident. Muldoon had gone to take a shower, and when Rothbart checked on him, she discovered him unconscious on the bathroom floor. Despite efforts by paramedics to revive him at the scene, their attempts were unsuccessful.
Muldoon’s journey in the entertainment industry began during his college years at the University of Southern California. He made his acting debut with a brief appearance on the sitcom ‘Who’s the Boss?’ which set the stage for his future in television.
After graduating in 1991, Muldoon quickly found his footing in Hollywood, securing a recurring role in the popular teen series ‘Saved By The Bell.’ This early exposure paved the way for more significant opportunities.
His career truly took off when he was cast as Austin Reed, a boxer, on the beloved soap opera ‘Days of Our Lives.’ Muldoon captivated audiences with his portrayal from 1992 to 1995, and he later reprised the role from 2011 to 2012, leaving a lasting impact on the show’s fans.
He is also known for playing villain Richard Hart in Melrose Place from seasons three to five and on the big screen, for his role as Zander Barcalow in the 1997 sci-fi movie Starship Troopers, alongside his ex-girlfriend Denise Richards.
Patrick Muldoon, known for his roles in Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place, has died at the age of 57; Pictured in 2024
He reunited with Richards to film his latest acting role in a crime thriller titled Dirty Hands, which is slated to be released later this year.
Richards and the actor had remained close friends after dating on and off for five years during the 1990s.
He appeared on an epsiode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when Richards was a cast member as well as on her reality show, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, to film a music video together.
Muldoon also dated Lisa Rinna, Tori Spelling and Juliette Binoche.
Muldoon had followed his passion for music and was the lead singer and guitarist for the rock band, The Sleeping Masses.
The star also worked as a producer, earning an executive producer credit in many films including The Tribes of Palos Verdes, Arkansas, Marlowe, The Dreadful,, and most recently Kockroach, which is currently filming and stars Chris Hemsworth and Taron Egerton.
In his last Instagram post a day before his death, he wrote: ‘So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia.’
Fans flooded the post with tributes, with one writing: ‘Grew up watching you in starship troopers . R.I.P legend.’
His breakthrough role came when he landed the part of boxer Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives, appearing from 1992 to 1995 and later returning from 2011 to 2012; Pictured with Christie Clark as Carrie Brady in a 1993 episode
He is also known for his role as Zander Barcalow in the 1997 sci-fi movie Starship Troopers, alongside his ex-girlfriend Denise Richards
The actor dated Richards for five years during the 1990s, they remained close friends and walked the red carpet together at the 2026 Saturn Awards in March – Muldoon’s final public appearance
He is also known for playing villain Richard Hart in Melrose Place from seasons three to five
Patrick made a final public appearance at the 2026 Saturn Awards in March, posing for photos alongside Richards.
Last year the actor teased a possible return to Days of Our Lives, appearing in a video shared on Peacock’s official Instagram page.
In the brief clip, he could be seen wandering around the set of the daytime show before telling the cameras: ‘Oh my God I’m in Salem! It’s good to be back’.
Muldoon is survived by his partner Miriam Rothbart, and his parents Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr, as well as his sister Shana and brother-in-law Ahmet Zappa, and their children, niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.
