CALIFORNIA April 19, 2026 – Veteran actor Patrick Muldoon, best known for his roles in the cult sci-fi film Starship Troopers, the primetime soap Melrose Place and the daytime drama Days of Our Lives, died Sunday at the age of 57.
Muldoon suffered a heart attack at his girlfriend’s home in Beverly Hills, according to a report first published by TMZ and confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. He passed away on April 19, 2026.
Born Patrick William Muldoon III on Sept. 27, 1968, in San Pedro, California, the actor attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles and later graduated from the University of Southern California in 1991 with a degree in English and communications. An athlete, he played football both in high school and for the Trojans before beginning his entertainment career as a model.
Muldoon’s screen debut came in 1990 with a guest spot on ABC’s Who’s the Boss?, followed by a recurring role on NBC’s Saved by the Bell. He landed his breakout part in 1992 as Austin Reed on the NBC daytime soap Days of Our Lives, playing the popular romantic lead opposite Christie Clark’s Carrie. He reprised the role in two telefilms and returned to the show from 2011 to 2012.
In 1995, Muldoon joined the cast of Fox’s Melrose Place in its third season as the charming yet ruthless Richard Hart, remaining with the series until his character’s death in season five.
His most memorable big-screen performance came in Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 blockbuster Starship Troopers, where he portrayed cocky pilot Zander Barcalow opposite Casper Van Dien and Denise Richards. The role featured one of the film’s most quoted death scenes, with Muldoon’s character famously shouting at an alien Brain Bug: “One day, someone like me is going to kill you and your whole fucking race!”
Over a four-decade career, Muldoon appeared in numerous films and television projects, including Stigmata (1999), Bad Karma (2001), Born to Ride (2011) alongside Van Dien, and several television movies such as Chain of Command (2000), Project Viper (2002) and A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004).
No immediate family statement or funeral arrangements have been announced.
Tributes from colleagues and fans poured in quickly on social media following the news, with many remembering Muldoon’s charismatic presence both on daytime television and in genre films.
Muldoon is survived by his girlfriend and other family members.
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