Patrick Muldoon, Star of Days of Our Lives and Starship Troopers, Dies at 57

Patrick Muldoon, an American actor and producer best known for his roles in the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" and the science fiction film "Starship Troopers," died on Sunday, April 19, 2026, following a heart attack at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 57 years old. His manager confirmed the death to Variety and Deadline. According to his sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, who spoke to TMZ, Muldoon had been drinking coffee with his partner, Miriam Rothbart, that morning before going to take a shower. When he did not emerge from the bathroom for an extended period, Rothbart went to check on him and found him unconscious on the floor. Rescuers arrived and attempted resuscitation, but were unable to revive him.

From USC football fields to Hollywood soap operas Born William Patrick Muldoon III on September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, California, Muldoon first pursued athletics before turning to acting. He attended the University of Southern California, where he played for the Trojans football team, and graduated in 1991 with a degree in English and Communication. He began his acting career during his university years, making early appearances in "Who's the Boss?" and "Saved by the Bell." His breakthrough came with the role of Austin Reed in the long-running soap opera "Days of Our Lives," a part he held from 1992 to 1995 and reprised from September 2011 to July 2012. He subsequently played the charismatic antagonist Richard Hart in "Melrose Place" for three seasons in the mid-1990s, a role that cemented his status as a recognizable face of American television in that era.

Muldoon's career spanned more than three decades of American film and television. He rose to prominence during the 1990s golden era of prime-time soap operas, a genre that produced some of the decade's most-watched programming. His role in "Starship Troopers," released in 1997 and directed by Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven, placed him alongside a cast that included Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, and Neil Patrick Harris. The film, based on the novel by Robert A. Heinlein, has since become a cult classic of science fiction cinema.

Cult film role and a final project still in production On the big screen, Muldoon achieved global recognition playing Zander Barcalow in Paul Verhoeven's 1997 film "Starship Troopers," a role he took alongside his then-partner Denise Richards. In later years, he expanded his work behind the camera, serving as executive producer on films including "The Tribes of Palos Verdes," "Arkansas," "The Card Counter," "Marlowe," and "The Dreadful." His most recent acting project, the crime thriller "Dirty Hands," which co-stars Denise Richards and Michael Beach, was slated for release on April 24, 2026. Just days before his death, he had posted on Instagram expressing enthusiasm for his latest producing venture, "Kockroach," directed by Matt Ross, which stars Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz, and Alec Baldwin and was filming in Australia at the time of his death.

„I am very excited to be part of this amazing venture.” — Patrick Muldoon via TVN24

Alongside his screen career, Muldoon was the lead singer and guitarist of the rock band The Sleeping Masses, which he formed with Neil Ives. The group's 2009 track "The Woman Is the Way" appeared in the film "Powder Blue" and on the MTV show "The Hills." He is survived by his partner Miriam Rothbart, his parents Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr., his sister Shana, and his grandchildren Halo and Arrow.

Colleagues pay tribute on social media Tributes from the entertainment industry followed quickly after news of Muldoon's death became public. Actor Antonio Sabato Jr., who collaborated with Muldoon on the set of "The Final Ascent" in 2000, posted a message on X describing him as a talented actor and a true friend.

„A talented actor and a true friend, he brought so much joy to those of us who had the privilege of working by his side.” — Antonio Sabato Jr. via polsatnews.pl

Actor Jake Getman, aged 18, also posted a tribute on Instagram, sharing a photograph of the two together on a red carpet. Getman recalled working with Muldoon as a child on the film "Little Dead Rotting Hood," describing him as a man who always kept the atmosphere light on set.

„I worked with him when I was 8 years old on 'Little Dead Rotting Hood' — a fantastic man who always kept the atmosphere light.” — Jake Getman via Notícias ao Minuto

Those close to Muldoon described him as generous, charismatic, and full of life, a person who left a mark not only through his professional work but through his personal relationships with colleagues and collaborators across more than three decades in the industry.