Actor Patrick Muldoon suffered a fatal heart attack at his Beverly Hills home on April 19, cutting short a multifaceted entertainment career that included iconic soap opera roles, science fiction films and music. He was 57.
Muldoon’s girlfriend, Miriam Rothbart, found him unconscious on the bathroom floor after he had gone to shower following their morning coffee together, according to his sister Shana Muldoon-Zappa, who spoke to TMZ. Despite paramedics rushing to the scene and attempting resuscitation, their efforts were unsuccessful. His manager confirmed the death to Variety on April 20.
The San Pedro, California, native, born September 27, 1968, first gained widespread recognition originating the role of Austin Reed on “Days of Our Lives” in 1992. Playing opposite Christie Clark’s Carrie Brady, he became a daytime television sensation and won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer in 1994. Muldoon left the NBC soap opera in 1995 but returned for another stint from 2011 to 2012, though Austin Peck had taken over the character during the years between and continued portraying Austin through 2021 in a spinoff.
Just three days before his death, Muldoon had posted enthusiastically on Instagram about “Kockroach,” a film he was executive producing that had begun shooting in Australia. “So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH,” he wrote in what became his final social media message. The Matt Ross-directed production stars Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz and Alec Baldwin, with Hemsworth replacing Channing Tatum after scheduling conflicts.
Before becoming a household name in daytime drama, Muldoon attended the University of Southern California, where he played tight end for the Trojans football team, earning 2 Rose Bowl rings and joining the Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated in 1991. While still in college, he launched his acting career with a 2-episode arc on “Who’s the Boss?” in 1990, playing Alyssa Milano’s boyfriend. Following graduation, he landed a memorable 3-episode run on “Saved by the Bell” as Jeff Hunter, the smooth-talking manager of the Max who stole Tiffani Thiessen’s beloved Kelly Kapowski away from Zack Morris.
His primetime career flourished after his daytime success. Muldoon portrayed the villainous Richard Hart on “Melrose Place” across seasons 3 through 5, showcasing versatility that defined his professional trajectory. During the 1990s, he became the only actor holding an exclusive development deal with Spelling Entertainment. He also made appearances in “Silk Stalkings” and became a fixture in television films for Lifetime and Hallmark, including “A Boyfriend for Christmas” and “All About Christmas Eve.”
In director Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 science fiction spectacle “Starship Troopers,” Muldoon played Zander Barcalow alongside Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards and Neil Patrick Harris, delivering his most prominent film performance. Van Dien, who described Muldoon as one of his closest friends, said he was “deeply saddened, devastated and overwhelmed” by the loss. Muldoon’s final completed film, “Dirty Hands,” a crime thriller reuniting him with Richards, is scheduled for release on April 24 via Saban Films. He also worked alongside Bruce Willis in 2021’s “Deadlock.”
Through his Storyboard Productions company, Muldoon served as executive producer on numerous projects including “The Tribes of Palos Verdes,” “Arkansas,” “Marlowe,” “The Card Counter,” “The Dreadful” and “Riff Raff.” His creative pursuits extended to music as lead singer of the rock band The Sleeping Masses. 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.”
Actress Denise Richards, who co-starred with Muldoon in “Starship Troopers” and his forthcoming “Dirty Hands,” paid tribute on Instagram on April 21, 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.”
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.”
Those close to Muldoon, known to loved ones as “Bobo,” described him as “endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence,” according to Deadline. Friends and colleagues paid tribute to an artist who brought warmth to his personal relationships as he did to his performances.
The abrupt nature of his passing stunned Hollywood, where Muldoon had built a distinctive career spanning soap operas, science fiction blockbusters, independent film production and music across more than 30 years. His enthusiasm for “Kockroach” revealed an artist who remained engaged and passionate about new creative ventures.
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 until the very end.
