'Days of Our Lives' star Patrick Muldoon dies at fifty-seven following heart attack

• Patrick Muldoon originated the role of Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives in 1992.
• The actor was also a musician and the lead singer of the band The Sleeping Masses.
• His final film project, Dirty Hands, is scheduled for release later this year.
  

The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of actor and producer Patrick Muldoon, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 57.

According to reports from Deadline, Muldoon died following a sudden heart attack. Best known for originating the role of Austin Reed on the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives, Muldoon was a fixture of 1990s television and a versatile talent who bridged the gap between daytime drama and cult cinema.

Born in San Pedro, California, Muldoon was a standout athlete at the University of Southern California before launching his acting career with roles on Who's the Boss? and Saved by the Bell.

He reached widespread fame in 1992 as Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives, a role he played until 1995 and later reprised in 2011.

Beyond the soap world, he earned a permanent place in pop culture as the villainous Zander Barcalow in the 1997 sci-fi classic Starship Troopers and as Richard Hart on Melrose Place.

In his later years, Muldoon transitioned into a prolific producer, serving as an executive producer on acclaimed films such as The Card Counter and The Tribes of Palos Verdes.

He was also a passionate musician, serving as the lead singer for the band The Sleeping Masses. Those closest to him described him as an "endlessly generous" individual with an "unmistakable presence" and a "full-tilt, rock ’n’ roll spirit." He is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart, his parents, and his sister, Shana Zappa.