The entertainment world lost a multifaceted talent when Patrick Muldoon suffered a fatal heart attack at his Beverly Hills home on April 19. The 57-year-old actor, best known for originating the role of Austin Reed on “Days of Our Lives,” collapsed in his bathroom after having morning coffee with his girlfriend, Miriam Rothbart.
Rothbart discovered Muldoon unconscious on the bathroom floor after he had been in the shower longer than usual, according to his sister Shana Muldoon-Zappa, who spoke with TMZ. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and attempted to revive him, but were unsuccessful. His manager confirmed his passing to Variety on April 20.
The timing of Muldoon’s death was particularly shocking given his active involvement in new projects. Just three days earlier, he had posted enthusiastically on Instagram about “Kockroach,” a film that had just begun production in Australia under director Matt Ross. The project stars Chris Hemsworth, who took over the role after Channing Tatum withdrew due to scheduling conflicts, alongside Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz and Alec Baldwin.
“So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH,” Muldoon wrote in what would become his final social media post. 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.”
Muldoon’s career in Hollywood spanned more than three decades across multiple entertainment platforms. Born September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, California, he attended the University of Southern California, where he played tight end on the Trojans football team, earned 2 Rose Bowl rings and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated in 1991.
While still at USC, Muldoon launched his acting career with a 2-episode arc on the sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” in 1990, where he played Alyssa Milano’s boyfriend. After graduating, 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.
His big break arrived in 1992 when he originated the role of Austin Reed on “Days of Our Lives,” quickly becoming a fan favorite alongside Christie Clark’s Carrie Brady. He won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer in 1994 and remained a fixture on the NBC soap opera until 1995. The character proved enduring enough that Muldoon returned for another run from 2011 to 2012, though Austin Peck had assumed the role during the intervening years and continued to portray Austin through 2021 in a spinoff.
Alison Sweeney, who played Sami Brady opposite Muldoon on the soap, called him “a rare kind of person — brilliantly talented, endlessly kind, and generous in spirit.” She noted that when she first joined the cast, “Muldoon made me feel at ease right away.”
His daytime success launched a primetime career that included portraying 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 film, Muldoon’s most prominent role came as Zander Barcalow in director Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 science fiction spectacle “Starship Troopers,” 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.
Richards 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.”
Beyond acting, Muldoon was the 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.”
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.”
The sudden nature of Muldoon’s death shocked the entertainment community. His involvement in “Kockroach” demonstrated his continued relevance in an industry where longevity remains elusive for many performers.
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.
