Patrick Muldoon was a familiar face on television for decades, best known for his role as Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives and appearances in Melrose Place and Starship Troopers. He died on April 19, 2026, at age 57, his manager confirmed to Variety. Muldoon’s sudden death came after a heart attack, according to Deadline.
Following the news, tributes poured in, including from actor Jake Getman, who shared a throwback photo of the pair on Instagram. “RIP Patrick Muldoon. 🕊️ Worked with him when I was 8 on Little Dead Rotting Hood — a great guy and always kept the energy light,” he wrote, adding, “#gonetoosoon.”
Others also remembered Muldoon’s impact, with a friend describing him to Deadline as “endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence.” He was also said to have “loved animals and people alike,” giving “unforgettable hugs” and making others “feel safe and seen,” while embracing life with a “full-tilt, rock ’n’ roll spirit.”
Amid news of his passing, learn more about Muldoon below.
He Was Born & Raised in California
Muldoon was born on September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, California. He grew up in a close-knit family and remained closely tied to Los Angeles throughout his life and career.
He Studied at the University of Southern California and Played Football
Muldoon attended the University of Southern California, where he played tight end for the Trojans football team. He graduated in 1991 and began pursuing acting soon after.
He Worked as an Actor & Producer
Muldoon built a steady career across television and film. Early on, he appeared in a three-episode arc on Saved by the Bell before rising to fame as Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives, a role he played from 1992 to 1995 and again from 2011 to 2012. He also portrayed Richard Hart on Melrose Place for three seasons in the mid-1990s.
In 1997, he starred in Starship Troopers alongside Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, and Neil Patrick Harris, and continued working steadily through the ’90s and 2000s in films like Born to Ride, Spiders 3D, and Saving Christmas, along with made-for-TV dramas such as Deadly Revenge and His Secret Past.
Muldoon was also an active producer, working on a number of films including The Tribes of Palos Verdes, Arkansas, Marlowe, The Card Counter, The Dreadful, and Riff Raff through his company, Storyboard Productions. He was set to produce the upcoming feature Kockroach, starring Chris Hemsworth.
Just days before his death, Muldoon shared his excitement about the project on Instagram, writing, “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.”
Patrick Muldoon Relationships
Muldoon kept his personal life largely private, but reports from TMZ say he was with his girlfriend, Miriam Rothbart, at their home shortly before his death.
Earlier in his life, he was also romantically linked to Denise Richards, and the two remained on good terms over the years.
He Also Pursued Music
In addition to acting, Muldoon was passionate about music. He was the lead singer of the band The Sleeping Masses and also released solo tracks, including “I Believe” and “Gray Again.” The music video for “Gray Again” starred his ex, Richards.
