Denise Richards Devastated Over TV Star's Sudden Passing — Heartbreaking Details

Denise Richards is mourning the sudden death of a man she has known since she was a teenager, and those close to her say they have never seen her this devastated.

The actress has been left in tears since the news broke, and sources paint a picture of a bond that went far deeper than a Hollywood friendship. What happened in the hours before his death — and the discovery that followed — makes the story even more gut-wrenching.

Richards and the TV star first met in acting class when she was just 19. Decades later, they were still in each other's lives, still working together, and still showing up for each other. But on the morning of April 19, 2026, everything changed — in a matter of minutes, inside a Beverly Hills bathroom.

A Bond That Outlasted the Romance

A source close to the actress spoke to the Daily Mail about just how deeply the news hit her. "She's devastated. Really, really sad. I'd even call her inconsolable. She can't stop crying," the insider said.

The two met when he was 21, and Richards was 19, connecting in an acting class before dating on and off throughout the '90s.

What followed their breakup was something less common in Hollywood — a genuine, lasting friendship built on mutual respect rather than lingering romance.

"Patrick is the ex that she had the best relationship with," the source told the outlet. "It was so amicable that they were better friends than lovers, and they remained in constant contact. She was his biggest supporter; he was hers."

As recently as March, the two were photographed together on the red carpet at the 2026 Saturn Awards — his last public appearance. They were also both cast in "Dirty Hands," an action-thriller opening this Friday, making his death feel all the more surreal for Richards.

The source put it plainly: "They had a long history [...] She's known him her entire adult life, she was literally a teenager when they met [...] She's just devastated right now."

A Normal Morning Turned Fatal

His sister has since spoken about what unfolded in the final hour of his life — and nothing about it suggested what was coming.

He and his girlfriend, producer Miriam Rothbart, had shared a normal morning coffee at their Beverly Hills home. He then stepped into the bathroom to shower while Rothbart took a phone call. Minutes passed. Then a few more.

"She just thought it seemed [like he'd been in there] a little long — it was probably 10 minutes. So she went in, and he was on the floor not breathing," his sister revealed.

Rothbart called 911 immediately and worked to revive him until paramedics arrived. His family, already in the area, raced to the home, but he was gone before they got there.

He died on April 19, 2026, at 57, after suffering an apparent heart attack. He is survived by Rothbart, his parents Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr., his sister Shana, her husband Ahmet Zappa, and their children, Halo and Arrow Zappa.

A Heartbreaking Goodbye

While the circumstances surrounding his death continue to resonate, what makes the loss even more striking is how active his life remained right up until the end.

Just days before his sudden passing, Patrick Muldoon shared a hopeful update about his latest project — one that now reads very differently.

At the time, it looked like just another moment in a long, active career. Now, it has become something fans can't stop revisiting.

In the weeks leading up to his death, there were no clear signs that anything was wrong. Muldoon was still showing up, still working, and still looking ahead to what came next.

From a red carpet appearance in March to a social media post hours before his passing, everything seemed to point forward. What followed instead came as a shock.

A Career That Never Slowed Down

Patrick Muldoon, who died on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at age 57, built a decades-long career across television and film.

Born in San Pedro, California, Muldoon attended USC, where he played football before shifting into acting. Early appearances on shows like "Who's the Boss?" and "Saved by the Bell" helped launch his career.

He was best known for originating the role of Austin Reed on "Days of Our Lives," playing the character from 1992 to 1995 and again from 2011 to 2012. He later appeared as Richard Hart on "Melrose Place" from seasons three through five.

On the big screen, he played Zander Barcalow in the 1997 film "Starship Troopers." His upcoming movie, the crime thriller "Dirty Hands," is still scheduled for release later this year, according to Deadline.

Over time, he expanded his work behind the scenes, producing a range of films while continuing to act.

He served as an executive producer on multiple films, including "The Tribes of Palos Verdes," "Arkansas," "Marlowe," "The Card Counter," "The Dreadful," and "Riff Raff."

Most recently, he was working on "Kockroach," a crime film directed by Matt Ross and starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz, and Alec Baldwin, which is currently filming.

That project would become directly tied to his final social media post.

His Final Public Appearance

In early March, Muldoon attended the 53rd annual Saturn Awards in Universal City, California. Photos from that night show him standing on the red carpet in a blue suit, calm and composed.

At the time, it was simply another appearance. Now, it marks the last time he was seen publicly.

Behind the scenes, his work was continuing. According to Deadline, he had been involved as an executive producer on several films, including "Kockroach," which is currently filming.

Music Remained Part of His Life

Outside of film and television, Muldoon stayed closely connected to music throughout his life.

He performed as the lead singer of The Sleeping Masses and often spoke about how long music had been part of his journey. In a past interview, he said, "I have been on the music road since my early 20s."

He described traveling to Nashville during breaks from filming, meeting with producers, and continuing to develop his work there.

His personal website reflected that same tone, introducing himself with humor and a relaxed, self-aware voice.

How He Approached His Work

Muldoon didn't just move between roles — he also spoke openly about how he chose them. In a past conversation, he explained that his process was often personal.

He said, "I tend to look at things backwards. When you get a part, there is something going on within that character. There is a question that the character is living at that time. There is probably something you need to look at from your own personal life."

He continued, "As things come to you, I kind of look at it on a spiritual tip a little bit. Whatever obstacle that character has to face, somehow I am being asked to look at that in my own life."

For Muldoon, the connection didn’t stop there. He added, "In order to be able to play the part, you have to look at it from your own life. That is generally what I pay attention to when a part comes across the desk."

That perspective helps frame the kind of career he built — one that stayed active and evolving right up to the end.

The Post Fans Are Now Looking Back On

On April 18, Muldoon shared a post on Instagram that, at the time, felt routine. The post featured a screenshot of a Deadline article confirming the cast of "Kockroach."

Alongside it, he wrote: "So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazzie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia 🇦🇺 @chrishemsworth @taron.egerton @zaziebeetz #tarinedgerton #chrishemsworth #mattross #producer."

The message highlighted his role as a producer on the film and tagged several of the actors involved. It was upbeat and forward-looking, the kind of post he had shared many times before.

What Caused His Passing?

A day later, news of Muldoon's death was confirmed. According to Deadline, he died after suffering a heart attack.

The timing is what has made the moment so difficult for many to process.

The gap between that final post and the news of his death was just hours — turning what seemed like a simple update into something far more poignant.

He is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart, along with his parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr., his sister Shana, her husband Ahmet Zappa, and their children, Halo and Arrow Zappa.

He leaves behind a career that spanned decades, along with projects that are still on the way. With "Dirty Hands" still set for release and "Kockroach" currently in production, his work continues beyond his passing.

For many fans, that final Instagram post now stands as a reminder of how quickly things changed — a snapshot of a moment that, at the time, felt like just the beginning of something new.