Patrick Muldoon, the actor who brought Austin Reed to life on “Days of Our Lives” and captivated audiences across daytime and primetime television for more than three decades, died Sunday at his Beverly Hills home after suffering a heart attack. He was 57.
His manager confirmed the actor’s death to Variety on Monday. Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, told TMZ that her brother went to take a shower Sunday morning after drinking coffee with his girlfriend at their Beverly Hills residence on April 19. His girlfriend, Miriam Rothbart, checked on him after he was taking too long and discovered him unconscious on the bathroom floor. Paramedics rushed to the scene and attempted to revive him, but nothing could be done.
The loss reverberated through Hollywood, where Muldoon had carved out a distinctive career that spanned soap operas, science fiction blockbusters, independent film production and music. Three days before his death, the actor had celebrated a new milestone on Instagram, confirming that production had begun in Australia on “Kockroach,” a film directed by Matt Ross and starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz and Alec Baldwin. Hemsworth had replaced Channing Tatum, who stepped away due to scheduling conflicts.
“So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH,” Muldoon wrote in what would become his final social media post. He was serving as an executive producer on the film, adding to a portfolio through his Storyboard Productions that included “The Tribes of Palos Verdes,” “Arkansas,” “Marlowe,” “The Card Counter,” “The Dreadful” and “Riff Raff.”
Born September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, California, Muldoon’s path to acting began at the University of Southern California, where he played tight end on the Trojans football team, earned two Rose Bowl rings and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated in 1991. His professional acting career launched while he was still in college with a two-episode arc on the sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” in 1990, where he played Alyssa Milano’s boyfriend. Shortly after graduation, he landed a memorable three-episode arc on “Saved by the Bell,” where he played Jeff Hunter, the smooth-talking manager of the Max who stole Tiffani Thiessen’s beloved Kelly Kapowski away from Zack Morris.
But it was daytime television that provided Muldoon’s breakthrough. In 1992, he originated the role of Austin Reed on “Days of Our Lives,” quickly becoming a fan favorite alongside Christie Clark’s Carrie Brady. He won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer in 1994 and remained a fixture on the NBC soap opera until 1995. The character proved enduring enough that Muldoon returned for another run from 2011 to 2012, though Austin Peck had assumed the role during the intervening years and continued to portray Austin through 2021 in a spinoff.
Muldoon’s success in daytime drama opened doors to primetime. He portrayed the villainous Richard Hart on “Melrose Place” across seasons three through five, demonstrating a range that would serve him throughout his career. During the 1990s, he became the only actor to hold an exclusive development deal with Spelling Entertainment. He also appeared in the crime drama “Silk Stalkings” and starred in numerous television films that became staples of Lifetime and Hallmark programming, including “A Boyfriend for Christmas” and “All About Christmas Eve.”
His most prominent film role came as Zander Barcalow in director Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 science fiction spectacle “Starship Troopers,” alongside Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards and Neil Patrick Harris. More recently, he worked alongside Bruce Willis in 2021’s “Deadlock.” His final completed film, “Dirty Hands,” a crime thriller reuniting him with Richards, is set for release on April 24 via Saban Films.
Beyond acting, Muldoon was the lead singer of the rock band The Sleeping Masses. Their song “The Woman Is the Way” was featured in the 2009 film “Powder Blue” and on the reality series “The Hills.” He described himself on Instagram as an “actor, producer, musician, in the most Rock & Roll way possible.”
Friends and colleagues remembered Muldoon, known to loved ones as “Bobo,” with tributes that painted a picture of an artist who brought the same warmth to his personal relationships as he did to his performances. Those close to him told Deadline that Muldoon was “endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence.”
Actress Alison Sweeney, who played Sami Brady opposite Muldoon’s Austin Reed on “Days of Our Lives,” called him “a rare kind of person — brilliantly talented, endlessly kind, and generous in spirit.” She added that when she first started at “Days,” Muldoon “made me feel at ease right away.”
The sudden nature of Muldoon’s death shocked the entertainment community, cutting short a career that showed no signs of slowing. His involvement in “Kockroach” demonstrated his continued relevance in an industry where longevity remains elusive for many performers.
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 niece Halo Zappa and nephew Arrow Zappa. The family has not yet announced arrangements for memorial services.
For fans who followed his career from college football player to soap opera heartthrob to character actor, producer and musician, Muldoon’s death marks the end of a Hollywood journey that embodied versatility and perseverance. His final Instagram post, brimming with enthusiasm for the work ahead, now stands as a testament to an artist who remained passionate about his craft until the very end.