Hollywood said a heartfelt goodbye to one of its most beloved leading men last weekend, as friends, family and former co-stars gathered to celebrate the life of actor Patrick Muldoon, who died last month at the age of 57.
The “Days of Our Lives” and “Melrose Place” star was honored during a memorial mass on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica, followed by a reception attended by USC football teammates, longtime friends and Hollywood peers. The celebration of life came nearly one month after Muldoon’s sudden death on April 19.
A Gathering of Hollywood and USC Family
Among those who attended and paid tribute was Muldoon’s former USC Trojans teammate Rodney Peete, who shared photos from the service on Instagram, calling the day “tough” and reflecting on their decades of brotherhood.
“Tough Day saying goodbye to my friend Pat Muldoon!!! He was my Teammate, My Brother, My Friend miss you already brotha,” Peete wrote in his tribute.
Though Muldoon was best known for his soap and primetime work, he was also a star football player as a teenager, playing tight end for USC in the 1980s. That chapter of his life was front and center at the reception, where former teammates traded stories alongside the actor’s Hollywood circle.
Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon Zappa, reposted tributes throughout the day, writing, “I know Patrick is smiling and saying Fight On from Spirit” — a nod to her brother’s enduring loyalty to the USC Trojans.
Sami Sheen and Andrea Bendewald Pay Tribute
Sami Sheen, the 22-year-old daughter of Muldoon’s ex-girlfriend Denise Richards, was among those in attendance at the celebration of life. Sheen shared a photo of the program via Instagram, simply captioning it, “Miss u so much Patrick.”
Actress Andrea Bendewald, a longtime friend, posted lyrics from Muldoon’s 2009 song “Become Everything,” which he recorded with his band the Sleeping Masses. She described the day as a celebration of “an extraordinary life, family & legacy.”
A statement released to the media in the days following his death captured the spirit of the man being mourned. “With his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence, [Patrick] loved animals and people alike, gave unforgettable hugs, and possessed a rare quality of making others feel safe and seen,” the statement read. “Stylish, charismatic, and full of life, he embraced each day with a full-tilt, rock ‘n’ roll spirit.”
The Cause of Death Revealed
The entertainment world was rocked on April 19 when news broke that Muldoon had died from a heart attack. According to a death certificate obtained exclusively by Us Weekly, there were multiple underlying causes in Muldoon’s death, including a pulmonary embolism and a coagulopathy disorder — a genetic condition that impairs the blood’s ability to form clots properly.
Sources close to the actor said Muldoon had gone to take a shower after drinking coffee with his girlfriend when he suffered the fatal episode, making the loss all the more shocking to those around him.
A Legacy on Screen and a Final Reunion
Tributes had poured in from across Muldoon’s industry in the weeks leading up to the memorial, including remembrances from former “Days of Our Lives” castmate Lisa Rinna, ex-girlfriend Tori Spelling and numerous soap stars.
Perhaps the most emotional tribute came from Richards, who dated Muldoon in the late 1990s after the two starred together in the 1997 science fiction classic “Starship Troopers.” Richards mourned him publicly on April 21, describing herself as “deeply heartbroken & devastated” and calling Muldoon her “best friend & family.”
In her tribute, Richards reflected on a friendship that began long before either of them became household names. She recalled meeting Muldoon in their first acting class, when she was 19 and had never had an acting job, while he was 21 and a student at USC, doing a recurring role on “Who’s the Boss.” That, she noted, was 36 years ago — nearly her entire adult life.
Adding a bittersweet coda to his career, Muldoon and Richards had recently reunited onscreen in the crime drama “Dirty Hands,” which was released just days after his passing. The film offered fans one final look at the chemistry between the two longtime friends who first crossed paths in an acting class more than three decades ago.
As the reception wound down on Saturday and mourners filed out of the Santa Monica church, the message from those closest to Muldoon was clear: the actor’s larger-than-life presence, easy humor and deep loyalty would not soon be forgotten — by Hollywood, by USC, or by the family and friends he leaves behind.