Patrick Muldoon, Star of Days of Our Lives and Starship Troopers, Dead at 57

April 20, 2026 

Hollywood is in mourning today. Actor and producer Patrick Muldoon — known and loved for his roles in the daytime drama Days of Our Lives, the primetime soap Melrose Place, and the cult sci-fi film Starship Troopers — died suddenly on April 19 following a heart attack. He was 57 years old.

The news has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, with fans and co-stars flooding social media with heartfelt tributes to a man who was, by every account, one of the warmest and most genuine souls in the business.

👤 Who Was Patrick Muldoon?

Born William Patrick Muldoon III on September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, California, Patrick grew up in a household that breathed creativity. His parents' backgrounds in painting, writing, and music instilled the same passions in their son — alongside a deep love for athletics.

He attended Loyola High School before going on to graduate from the University of Southern California in 1991, where he played tight end on the USC Trojans football team and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He even earned two Rose Bowl rings — not bad for someone who would go on to become a soap opera heartthrob.

Before acting fully took over, his first job in entertainment was as a model for Calvin Klein, signed with the prestigious Wilhelmina Modeling Agency. It was a fitting start for someone with movie-star looks and natural charisma.

📺 The Role That Made Him a Star: Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives

Patrick got his first taste of television during college with a small arc on Who's the Boss?, and shortly after graduating in 1991, he landed a recurring role on Saved by the Bell. But it was what came next that changed everything.

He originated the role of Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives, which he played from 1992 to 1995 and again from 2011 to 2012. The character became an instant fan favourite — a magnetic, complex figure who kept audiences glued to their screens week after week.

Before his first exit in 1995, Muldoon picked up the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer in 1994 — recognition that he wasn't just a pretty face but a genuinely talented performer. As recently as June 2025, it was announced he was set to return to Days of Our Lives once again, a testament to how deeply the show and its audience loved him.

🎬 Melrose Place, Starship Troopers & Beyond

After his breakout on daytime TV, the offers started rolling in. Muldoon became the only actor ever to hold an exclusive development deal with Spelling Entertainment — an extraordinary distinction that speaks to how much Hollywood believed in him.

He recurred on Melrose Place as the villainous Richard Hart from Season 3 through Season 5 — a role that showed off a darker, edgier side of his acting range. He could be the charming leading man or the menacing antagonist, and he was compelling either way.

Then came his biggest big-screen moment. In 1997, Muldoon played Zander Barcalow in Paul Verhoeven's cult classic Starship Troopers — the bold, action-packed sci-fi film that has only grown in cultural stature over the decades. His performance alongside Casper Van Dien introduced him to an entirely new generation of fans.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, he remained active across film and television, appearing in Super Troopers, Saving Christmas, Stigmata, and numerous television movies for Lifetime and Hallmark channels. He also quietly built a strong parallel career as a producer.

🎥 A Successful Producer Behind the Scenes

Patrick Muldoon wasn't just an actor — he was a serious creative force behind the camera. He executive produced a number of notable features, including The Tribes of Palos Verdes, Arkansas, Marlowe, The Card Counter, The Dreadful, and Riff Raff.

His most recent producing project was particularly exciting. Kockroach, starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, and Zazie Beetz, is currently in production — a film that would have been another major milestone in his producing career.

His latest acting role, the crime thriller Dirty Hands, is still slated to be released later this year. It's a bittersweet thought — audiences will still get to see Patrick Muldoon on screen one final time.

🎸 The Man Behind the Artist: Music, Poetry & Pure Heart

What made Patrick Muldoon truly special wasn't just the work he did on screen. He was a passionate musician who loved performing live. He led the rock band The Sleeping Masses and could often be spotted at events with his beloved guitar in hand, completely in his element.

He was also a poet — someone who expressed himself through words as naturally and freely as through performance. Known as "Bobo" to his loved ones, he was the life of every party, bringing infectious energy and genuine warmth into every room he entered.

Just last month, Patrick was seen at the 2026 Saturn Awards — full of life, laughing, and giving no sign that the world was about to lose him so suddenly and so soon.

Those closest to him have painted a picture of a man who was rare in an industry that can often make people harder and more guarded. Friends described him as "endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence," adding that he "loved animals and people alike, gave unforgettable hugs, and possessed a rare quality of making others feel safe and seen."

"Stylish, charismatic, and full of life," they said, "he embraced each day with a full-tilt, rock 'n' roll spirit."

👨‍👩‍👧 Who He Leaves Behind

Patrick 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 beloved niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.

A family deeply rooted in art and music — his brother-in-law Ahmet Zappa is the son of legendary rock musician Frank Zappa — Patrick fit right in from the start. He was not just a member of that family. He was one of its brightest, most joyful lights.

🌟 A Legacy That Will Live On

Patrick Muldoon packed several lifetimes into his 57 years. He was a college athlete with Rose Bowl rings, a Calvin Klein model, a soap opera heartthrob, a Hollywood villain, a sci-fi hero, an award-winning actor, a film producer, a musician, a poet, and by all accounts, a deeply beloved human being.

Daytime TV fans will forever remember Austin Reed — the character he made iconic and returned to, because some roles fit a person so perfectly they can never quite let go. Sci-fi fans will remember the bravado and spark he brought to Starship Troopers. And those who knew him personally will remember "Bobo" — the man with the guitar, the warm hugs, and the rare gift of making everyone around him feel like they truly mattered.

The entertainment world is a little quieter today. Rest in peace, Patrick Muldoon.