Patrick Muldoon was a beloved American actor, producer, and musician whose warm charisma and rock-and-roll spirit endeared him to fans across more than three decades in Hollywood.
Best known for originating the role of Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives and for his memorable appearance in Paul Verhoeven’s cult sci-fi classic Starship Troopers (1997), Muldoon was described by those who loved him as “endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence.”
On April 19, 2026, Patrick Muldoon passed away suddenly at the age of 57 from a heart attack at his Beverly Hills home.
Hollywood has been left in shock and mourning. This post is a tribute to his life, career, and the joy he brought to everyone around him.
Patrick Muldoon: Quick Info Table
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Patrick Muldoon |
| Date of Birth | September 27, 1968 |
| Date of Passing | April 19, 2026 (age 57) |
| Birthplace | San Pedro, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, Producer, Musician |
| Years Active | 1991 – 2026 |
| Education | University of Southern California (USC) — Football scholarship |
| Partner | Miriam Rothbart |
| Cause of Death | Heart attack |
| Known For | Days of Our Lives (Austin Reed), Melrose Place (Richard Hart), Starship Troopers |
Biography
- 🎬 Born September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, California — Patrick Muldoon grew up with a natural charisma and athletic ability that took him to the University of Southern California (USC), where he played on the Trojans football team on a scholarship.
- 🎭 He discovered his passion for acting while still at USC — landing a two-episode arc on the sitcom Who’s the Boss? before he had even graduated. Shortly after his 1991 graduation, he landed a recurring role on Saved by the Bell.
- 📺 In 1992, he originated the role of Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives — the beloved daytime soap opera — playing the character from 1992 to 1995 and then returning from 2011 to 2012. The role made him one of daytime television’s most recognised faces.
- 🏠 He also made a major impression on primetime with a recurring role as the villainous Richard Hart on Melrose Place (Seasons 3–5), cementing his status as a ’90s TV heartthrob.
- 🚀 His biggest big-screen moment came in Paul Verhoeven’s cult sci-fi classic Starship Troopers (1997), where he played Zander Barcalow alongside Casper Van Dien and Denise Richards — his real-life girlfriend at the time.
- 💑 Muldoon and Richards met at their very first acting class, when Richards was just 19 and Muldoon was 21 and a student at USC. Their real-life chemistry on Starship Troopers was undeniable, and they dated from the late 1990s until 2000 — remaining close friends for the rest of his life.
- 🎸 Beyond acting, Patrick was a passionate musician — he was the lead singer of the band The Sleeping Masses and was rarely seen without his guitar. Friends recalled him as “always the life of the party.”
- 🎬 In his later career, Muldoon transitioned into producing — executive producing acclaimed films including The Tribes of Palos Verdes, Arkansas, Marlowe, The Card Counter, Riff Raff, and most recently Kockroach — starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, and Zazie Beetz, which was actively filming in Australia at the time of his passing.
- 🐾 Known affectionately as “Bobo” by his loved ones, he was described as someone who “loved animals and people alike, gave unforgettable hugs, and possessed a rare quality of making others feel safe and seen.”
Body Measurements
| Measurement | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | Approx. 185 lbs (84 kg) |
| Body Type | Athletic / Muscular |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Brown / Dark Blonde |
🕯️ Passing & Tributes — April 2026
- 💔 (Deadline / Just Jared, April 19, 2026): Patrick Muldoon passed away suddenly on the morning of Sunday, April 19, 2026, from a heart attack at his Beverly Hills home. He was 57. His manager confirmed the news to Deadline. According to his sister Shana Muldoon-Zappa, Patrick had been drinking coffee with his girlfriend Miriam Rothbart that morning before going to take a shower — and when he didn’t return, she found him unconscious on the bathroom floor. Paramedics were unable to revive him.
- 📱 (Just Jared, April 17, 2026 — his final post): Just two days before his passing, Patrick shared what would be his last social media post — bursting with excitement about a new project. He wrote: “So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz and Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia 🇦🇺” — a post that has since been flooded with fan tributes and heartbroken messages.
- 📸 (Parade Magazine, April 20, 2026): His final public appearance was captured just one month before his death — at the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards on March 8, 2026, where he posed on the red carpet alongside his longtime friend and ex-girlfriend Denise Richards. The photo, showing both of them smiling warmly together, has become an instantly iconic final image of Muldoon in public.
- 💬 (Just Jared / Denise Richards tribute, April 21, 2026): Denise Richards penned a deeply moving tribute to her “Schweet Babe” — the affectionate nickname they had for each other. She wrote: “This is so hard for me to put into words. I am deeply heartbroken and devastated losing you. You were my best friend and my family. We met in our first acting class, I was 19 never had an acting job and you were 21 a student at USC doing a recurring role on Who’s the Boss?”
- 📺 (E! Online / Page Six, April 2026): Days of Our Lives co-stars Alison Sweeney and Lisa Rinna both paid heartfelt tributes. Lisa Rinna — who worked alongside Muldoon on both Days of Our Lives and later crossed paths with him at RHOBH events — mourned the loss of her co-star and friend on social media. Page Six reported on Rinna’s “decades after their fling” tribute to Muldoon with visible emotion.
- 🎸 (Deadline / friends’ statement, April 2026): Friends released a statement describing Muldoon as “stylish, charismatic, and full of life, embracing each day with a full-tilt, rock ‘n’ roll spirit.” They added: “He loved animals and people alike, gave unforgettable hugs, and possessed a rare quality of making others feel safe and seen.”
- 🙏 Survivors: Patrick 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 beloved niece Halo Zappa and nephew Arrow Zappa.
🕯️ Patrick Muldoon (September 27, 1968 – April 19, 2026). Rest in peace, Bobo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How did Patrick Muldoon die?
Patrick Muldoon passed away suddenly on April 19, 2026, at the age of 57 from a heart attack at his Beverly Hills home, confirmed by his manager to Deadline. He was found unresponsive by his girlfriend Miriam Rothbart and could not be revived by paramedics.
What was Patrick Muldoon best known for?
Patrick Muldoon was best known for originating the role of Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives (1992–1995, 2011–2012), playing the villainous Richard Hart on Melrose Place (Seasons 3–5), and starring as Zander Barcalow in the cult sci-fi film Starship Troopers (1997).
Yes — Patrick Muldoon’s sister Shana Muldoon married Ahmet Zappa (son of rock legend Frank Zappa), making Ahmet Muldoon’s brother-in-law. Their children, Halo and Arrow Zappa, were Patrick’s beloved niece and nephew.
Did Patrick Muldoon and Denise Richards date?
Yes — Patrick Muldoon and Denise Richards met at their first acting class when Richards was 19 and Muldoon was 21. They co-starred in Starship Troopers (1997) and dated from the late 1990s until 2000. They remained close friends until his passing, and Richards was one of the first to pay tribute after his death, calling him her “best friend” and “Schweet Babe.”
What was Patrick Muldoon’s last project?
Patrick Muldoon’s final project was Kockroach — a film starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz, and Alec Baldwin, directed by Matt Ross, which was actively filming in Australia at the time of his passing. He had executive produced the project and posted excitedly about it just two days before his death.
