Denise Richards Shares Emotional Tribute to Patrick Muldoon After His Sudden Death: ‘I Don’t Know Life Without You’

Brenton BlanchetTue, April 21, 2026 at 6:33 PM UTC

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Patrick Muldoon and Denise Richards attend the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards on March 8, 2026Credit: JC Olivera/Variety via Getty -

Denise Richards is reflecting on her decades of friendship with Patrick Muldoon

Muldoon died at age 57 on Tuesday, April 27, his manager confirmed to Variety

"I am deeply heartbroken & devastated losing you," Richards wrote on Instagram

Denise Richards is remembering her "best friend" and "voice of reason," Patrick Muldoon.

The actress, 55, shared a moving tribute to the late actor on Tuesday, April 21, two days after his sudden death at 57. The pair, who starred together in the 1997 cult classic Starship Troopers, dated for nearly five years in the '90s and have since remained close friends.

In an Instagram tribute, Richards wrote that her feelings surrounding Muldoon's death were difficult to "put into words." The longtime friends also worked together on the upcoming crime thriller, Dirty Hands, which is set for a digital release on Friday, April 24.

"I am deeply heartbroken & devastated losing you," Richards wrote in her caption. "You were my best friend & my family. We met in our first acting class, I was 19 never had an acting job and you were 21 a student at USC doing a recurring role on who’s the boss. And here we are. 36 years later. My whole adult life & I don’t know it without you."

Denise Richards and Patrick MuldoonCredit: Denise Richards/Instagram

Richards paired her message with a video montage featuring clips and images of the pair throughout the last four decades, set to Bread's "Everything I Own." The video closed with footage of the them playfully cozying up on a table.

"The friendship, love, support, respect & loyalty we had was unconditional and rare," Richards wrote. "You lit up every room you walked into. You are larger than life & everyone was drawn to you. So talented & most underrated actor. And most humble. Everything you did was infectious. Your laugh, your kindness, your wit, your strength, your loyalty, your passion and your zest for life. We’ve been each other’s rock. Our memories together are endless. You’ve had my back and protected me more than anyone."

Richards added that she doesn't "know what I’m going to do without you here," referring to her friend as her "voice of reason & pillar of strength."

"Especially during this last year of pain & heartache. And now I need you more than ever, for this pain and heartache losing you," she wrote. "Schweetbabe we’ve had those conversations. We thought we’d live forever or at least into our 90’s. Schweetbabe I will be looking for those signs. I you’re still here with me. I love you so much & miss you dearly schweetbabe. 💔🙏🪽"

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Denise Richards and Patrick Muldoon attend the premiere of 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' in 1999Credit: SGranitz/WireImage

Muldoon's manager confirmed his death to Variety, as Deadline reported that it followed a heart attack. PEOPLE has reached out to a representative for Muldoon for comment. The actor notably played Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives from 1992-1995 and also starred as Richard Hart in Melrose Place for three seasons until 1996.

Among those to pay tribute to Muldoon were Days costars Alison Sweeney and Lisa Rinna, as well as Richards' daughter Lola Sheen. Sheen wrote in an Instagram caption that she "always begged' her mom to get "back together" with him.

"But I guess staying best friends was better anyways ♥️,” she wrote.

Lola also described Muldoon as being a “such huge part” of their family and "life," writing that he was "the definition of what it means to have fun."

“I will really miss hearing my mom laugh on the phone with you,” Lola wrote. “Your voice always brightened my day and I’m gonna miss hearing it but I know my mom will more, but we will never stop talking about you.

“Thank you for being the best friend to her," she added. “Thank you for being the one to make her laugh and forget about all she’s going through.”

Richards previously revealed on Denise Richards & Her Wild Things that she paused her friendship with Muldoon during her marriage to ex Charlie Sheen as the Two and a Half Men star had a “hard time” with their closeness. Muldoon made various appearances on the Bravo reality show.

“I did not speak to Pat when I was married to Charlie,” Richards said on a 2025 episode, per Bravo TV. “It was hard because I didn’t want to lose him as a friend friend. But, towards the end of the marriage, I talked to him all the time about him."

The friends were last seen together at the annual Saturn Awards at the Hilton Universal City in Los Angeles on March 8 — Muldoon's final red carpet appearance before his death.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”