Patrick Muldoon, the Hollywood actor who broke out in the 1990s as Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives before jumping to Melrose Place and cult favorite Starship Troopers, died on Sunday at 57. Friends and family described his passing as sudden, and early reports say he suffered a heart attack. The Los Angeles-based actor and producer had been publicly active in recent months, turning up at awards shows and posting about a new project just days before his death.
News of his death surfaced Monday. His manager confirmed the loss to Variety, according to E! News. Local station WBAL also carried the report. Officials have not yet released a coroner's statement.
How He Died
Reports indicate Muldoon’s death was sudden and medical in nature. TVLine reports that his sister, Shana Muldoon‑Zappa, told TMZ he was discovered unconscious in a bathroom at home after taking a shower and that paramedics were unable to revive him. Multiple outlets cite a suspected heart attack while official paperwork is still pending.
Career Highlights
Muldoon first made his name on daytime TV, originating Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives in 1992 and briefly returning to the role in 2011. He went on to play Richard Hart on Melrose Place and landed a memorable supporting role in Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers. That work kicked off a long run of film and TV credits alongside producing gigs that kept him in steady circulation around Hollywood for nearly two decades.
He balanced acting with producing projects and maintained a regular presence in the Los Angeles industry. E! News chronicles his career across soaps, prime-time dramas and the big screen.
Final Days and Projects
Muldoon was photographed on the red carpet in March at the 53rd Saturn Awards in Universal City. Reuters captured his appearance at the show.
He had posted on Instagram days earlier about joining the film KOCKROACH and wrote that filming had started in Australia, as reported by Us Weekly. He was also credited as a producer on several projects that remain in various stages of production.
Colleagues Remember
Friends and collaborators paid tribute online, with a group of close friends telling Deadline that Muldoon was “endlessly generous, with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence.” Us Weekly collected messages from former co‑stars, including Alison Sweeney, who called the news heartbreaking. Industry contacts also pointed to his work ethic and his warm presence off camera.
Muldoon is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart, his parents Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr., and his sister Shana Muldoon‑Zappa, who spoke to TMZ about the circumstances surrounding his death. Funeral or memorial arrangements have not yet been announced. For now, colleagues and fans are trading memories of an actor who moved easily between daytime soaps, prime-time television and the movies.
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