Quentin Tarantino fired Lawrence Tierney after only a week of filming his 1992 debut Reservoir Dogs due to the actor’s disruptive conduct and a physical confrontation with co-star Michael Madsen. This decision arose during production in California as Tierney’s behavior became unmanageable for the director and the cast.
Incident Between Lawrence Tierney and Michael Madsen During Reservoir Dogs Production
Michael Madsen, who portrayed Vic Vega, also known as Mr. Blonde, in Reservoir Dogs, recounted a tense episode involving his co-star Lawrence Tierney, who played Joe Cabot. The film marked Tarantino’s emergence as a director, featuring Tierney, known for his intense screen presence and earlier roles, including John Dillinger in 1945’s Dillinger.
In an interview with After Movie Diner, Madsen revealed that Tierney aggressively demanded twenty dollars from him. Despite producers’ warnings to keep Tierney from drinking, Madsen and fellow actor Tim Roth took Tierney out, which escalated the situation. Outside a restaurant, the confrontation nearly turned physical when Tierney swung wildly at Madsen but missed by inches.
He took this wild crazy swing at me, I backed off, and he missed me by inches.
—Michael Madsen, Actor
Following Madsen’s refusal to comply with the demand, Tierney’s agitation increased to the point that he exposed himself on a busy street. Despite this volatility, Madsen maintained no ill will toward his former co-star, describing Tierney as a “wild character.”
Quentin Tarantino’s Decision to Terminate Lawrence Tierney’s Role Early in Filming
While Madsen saw Tierney’s erratic behavior with a sense of bemusement, it proved intolerable for Tarantino. In an interview with The Guardian, the director called Tierney a “complete lunatic” by the time they worked together. The chaotic atmosphere culminated in a physical altercation between Tarantino and Tierney, leading to the director’s firm decision to remove him from the production after only one week.
He was personally challenging to every aspect of film-making. By the end of the week everybody on set hated Tierney.
—Quentin Tarantino, Director
Tarantino admitted that firing Tierney risked studio backlash that could have jeopardized his own career, but he prioritized maintaining order on set. Tierney’s behavior challenged the filmmaking process, causing widespread dissatisfaction among the cast and crew.
The Legacy and Final Days of Both Actors
Lawrence Tierney passed away in February 2002 at the age of 82 due to pneumonia. Meanwhile, Michael Madsen recently died at 67 following a cardiac arrest at his Malibu home on July 3, 2025. Reports confirmed that Madsen was found unresponsive before being declared dead, leaving family, fans, and colleagues mourning his loss.
Reservoir Dogs remains a cult classic and is currently available to stream on Paramount+ in the United States, continuing to showcase Madsen’s memorable performance despite the turbulence during production.
