Patrick Muldoon, ‘Melrose Place’ and ‘Starship Troopers’ Actor, Dies at 57

Patrick Muldoon, an actor whose career spanned daytime television, primetime drama, and feature films, has died at the age of 57. His death was confirmed by his manager following reports that he suffered a heart attack on April 19.

Born on September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, California, Muldoon built a steady career in Hollywood beginning in the early 1990s. After graduating from the University of Southern California in 1991, he quickly moved into television roles, including an early appearance on Saved by the Bell, where he appeared in a brief arc that became memorable for its role in a central storyline involving the show’s main characters.

Muldoon’s breakthrough came with his casting as Austin Reed on the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives. He portrayed the character from 1992 to 1995 and later returned to the role between 2011 and 2012. The performance helped establish him as a recognizable presence in daytime television during a period when the genre held a prominent place in American popular culture.

He went on to appear in Melrose Place, playing Richard Hart in a recurring role across three seasons in the mid-1990s. The series, part of the era’s wave of serialized ensemble dramas, further expanded his visibility with a broader audience.

Muldoon’s transition to film included one of his most widely recognized roles in Starship Troopers, directed by Paul Verhoeven. The 1997 film, which also starred Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, and Neil Patrick Harris, later developed a cult following and remains a defining entry in late-1990s science fiction cinema.

Throughout the following decades, Muldoon continued to work across a range of projects, including independent films and made-for-television movies. His credits included titles such as Born to Ride, Spiders 3D, and Saving Christmas, as well as TV thrillers like Deadly Revenge and His Secret Past. While not always in leading roles, his consistent presence reflected a career built on versatility rather than a single defining genre.

In addition to acting, Muldoon took on producing work, contributing to projects including The Tribes of Palos Verdes, ArkansasMarloweThe Card CounterThe Dreadful, and Riff Raff. His most recent producing credit, Kockroach, remains in production and features a cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, and Zazie Beetz.

Outside of film and television, Muldoon was also active in music. He was the lead singer of the band Sleeping Masses, which he formed with Neil Ives. The group’s 2009 song “The Woman Is the Way” was featured in the film Powder Blue and on the MTV series The Hills.

Muldoon often spoke about his approach to acting in reflective terms, emphasizing personal connection to his roles. In a 2012 interview, he described viewing characters as opportunities for self-examination, suggesting that each role presented a question that resonated with his own life.

His final on-screen appearance is expected in the upcoming crime thriller Dirty Hands, scheduled for release on April 24, in which he stars alongside Denise Richards and Michael Beach.

Muldoon’s career, spanning more than three decades, reflected a steady presence across multiple corners of the entertainment industry, from network television to independent film and music.