Days of Our Lives star Patrick Muldoon’s horrific final moments: ‘Devastating’ scene in bathroom that left family collapsing in anguish… and why ex Denise Richards ‘can’t stop crying’

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The sister of actor Patrick Muldoon has shared the sad details of his final moments, shortly before he passed away at the age of 57.

The actor from Days of Our Lives apparently suffered a heart attack at his home in Beverly Hills on Sunday. He was found unconscious by his girlfriend, producer Miriam Rothbart.

In an exclusive and emotional interview with the Daily Mail, the actor’s sister, 48-year-old Shana Muldoon Zappa, explained that the day initially seemed normal, like any other Sunday.

Muldoon Zappa said he’d simply been enjoying a quiet morning with his girlfriend at home, having coffee together. He went to take a shower while she was talking on the phone.

She began to worry after about ten minutes, as he’d been inside a while. When she went in to check on him, she found him unresponsive on the floor.

She called 911 and attempted to help him until the paramedics arrived. My parents and I were all in Los Angeles, so we rushed over immediately. Sadly, he had already passed away by the time we got there.

We received videos of him the night before, showing him and his girlfriend enjoying the new event at LACMA. He seemed incredibly happy, so this is all very shocking.

According to Muldoon Zappa, their father was hurt while the family was rushing to find her brother.

She explained that her father rushed inside and unfortunately fell, breaking his shoulder. He’s now in the hospital being treated, and she said it was a shocking incident.

Muldoon was healthy and in excellent shape, so his unexpected death came as a complete shock, feeling like a terrible dream, according to his sister.

His sister described him as very healthy, explaining that he used to be a competitive athlete and now stays in shape through jiu-jitsu, martial arts, running, and regular workouts.

He was really at the peak of his life, so his sudden death is just shocking and hard to believe.

Oh my gosh, Easter was just… perfect. And I actually spoke to him! He was supposed to have lunch with my husband yesterday, can you believe it? It’s just… everything!

He was experiencing the typical, fast-paced, high-pressure life of someone working in Hollywood. He had planned to travel to Australia next week, followed by St. Bart’s, and seemed to be doing very well personally.

She added: ‘I just feel like… it’s a nightmare and I didn’t wake up this morning.’

Muldoon Zappa said her family were told by paramedics that Muldoon died from a sudden heart attack.

She said there were no other indications of what happened, but the good news is it appears to have been quick and without pain. He didn’t seem to have suffered any injury like a head trauma.

Friends and co-workers also expressed their shock and sadness over Muldoon’s death.

Someone close to Denise Richards, the actress and ex-girlfriend, said she is heartbroken and extremely upset. They described her as being unable to stop crying and completely devastated by the news.

She felt Patrick was the one she had the most fulfilling relationship with, and they genuinely respected each other.

Their relationship was more like a close friendship than a romance, and they stayed in touch regularly. They consistently supported and encouraged each other.

Muldoon and Richards first connected in acting class – she was 19, he was 21 – and had an on-again, off-again relationship throughout the 1990s.

Despite their breakup, Muldoon and Richards remained friendly. Muldoon’s last public event was the 2026 Saturn Awards in March, where he walked the red carpet and had his picture taken with Richards.

Both actors appear in the new action-thriller, Dirty Hands, which comes out this Friday.

They’ve known each other for a long time – it’s a complicated but ultimately positive relationship. She’s known him since she was a teenager, practically her whole adult life.

This is incredibly upsetting. She’s deeply concerned about what happened and wants to help his family, especially because she felt very close to him – like he was family. She’s understandably heartbroken right now.

Since the summer of 2023, Muldoon had been in a relationship with Miriam Rothbart, a 53-year-old who used to work as an entertainment lawyer and film producer. His sister says Miriam is his significant partner and is deeply upset by the recent news.

He uploaded a sweet post celebrating their two-year anniversary in August. 

People who knew him well said Muldoon was an incredibly vibrant person, both at work and in his personal life – he had a knack for bringing enthusiasm and innovation to everything he did.

His sister described him as a warm and joyful person who brightened up any gathering. He was incredibly selfless, always putting others before himself.

Honestly, he just radiated positivity. He truly loved people and had this amazing ability to make everyone around him feel incredibly valued and special. It was like he had a gift for making you feel seen. It’s just heartbreaking to think of someone with so much light being taken from us so young.

Muldoon Zappa shared that the family has been overwhelmed with kind messages and memories from friends and coworkers spanning decades, highlighting the significant influence his brother had on many people.

Erik Aude, appearing with Muldoon and Richards in Dirty Hands, shared with the Daily Mail that working with the actor was a pleasure, as they were already acquaintances. They occasionally played poker together and participated in charity poker events.

He was a genuinely likeable person – kind, funny, and easygoing. People instantly warmed up to him.

I’ll never forget filming Dirty Hands – he was incredible. He insisted on doing all his own stunts, and honestly, he was in fantastic shape, genuinely happy, and just really dedicated to making the film the best it could be. It was inspiring to watch.

I have nothing but good things to say about Pat. He was a truly kind person, and it’s heartbreaking that he passed away so young. I’ll miss him dearly, and I was lucky to have known him as a friend.

Patrick Muldoon became well-known in the 1990s for playing the popular character Austin Reed on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. He later gained a following for his role in the science fiction film Starship Troopers and continued to appear in many television shows over the years.

I’m so saddened to hear about the loss of Muldoon. He’ll be deeply missed by so many, including his beloved partner, Miriam Rothbart, and his parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr. My thoughts are also with his brother-in-law, Ahmet Zappa, and Ahmet’s wonderful children, Halo and Arrow, during this difficult time.

As a long-time follower of daytime television, I was truly saddened to hear about the passing of Patrick. The entire Days of Our Lives cast and crew are heartbroken by this unexpected loss, and I know fans everywhere are feeling it too.

He was the first actor to play Austin Reed and made a lasting impact on everyone in Salem, both as a colleague and a friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing and extend our condolences to his family and friends.

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2026-04-21 00:37