Denise Richards shares touching tribute to ex-boyfriend, Starship Troopers co-star Patrick Muldoon

'Starship Troopers' co-stars dated in the 1990s and maintained a close relationship with one another throughout the years

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Published Apr 22, 2026  •  Last updated 27 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

Denise Richards and Patrick Muldoon seen in an Instagram tribute. Photo by Denise Richards /Instagram

Denise Richards is paying tribute to her “best friend,” Patrick Muldoon, after his shocking death at age 57 on Sunday following a heart attack.

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Richards, who dated the Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place star in the 1990s, and maintained a lifelong friendship with the actor, said processing Muldoon’s death was hard to “put into words” as she called him a “voice of reason” in her life.

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The Daily Mail reported Richards is “inconsolable” after Muldoon’s sudden death on April 19.

“She’s devastated. Really, really sad,” a source close to The World is Not Enough actress told the outlet. “I’d even call her inconsolable. She can’t stop crying.”

“I am deeply heartbroken & devastated losing you. You were my best friend & my family,” Richards wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post shared with her 1.7 million followers.

Richards recounted how they first met in acting class when she was 19 years old, and Muldoon was a student at the University of Southern California with a recurring role on Who’s the Boss?

“Here we are, 36 years later. My whole adult life & I don’t know it without you,” Richards continued. “The friendship, love, support, respect & loyalty we had was unconditional and rare.”

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The Wild Things star’s message included a montage of video clips and photos of the pair over the years that was set to Bread’s Everything I Own.

Patrick Muldoon and Denise Richards were seen together in an Instagram tribute. Photo by Denise Richards /Instagram

Richards said Muldoon “lit up every room” he entered and called her Starship Troopers co-star the “most underrated actor.”

“Everything you did was infectious. Your laugh, your kindness, your wit, your strength, your loyalty, your passion, and your zest for life,” Richards wrote.

She also credited Muldoon with supporting her following her messy split from husband Aaron Phypers last year.

“We’ve been each other’s rock. Our memories together are endless. You’ve had my back and protected me more than anyone,” Richards said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you here. You’re my voice of reason & pillar of strength. Especially during this last year of pain & heartache. And now I need you more than ever.”

Referring to Muldoon by his nickname “Schweetbabe,” Richards ended her post by pleading with him to send her “signs” that he’s “still here with” her.

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“We thought we’d live forever or at least into our 90’s,” she concluded. “I love you so much & miss you dearly.”

Lola Sheen says she ‘begged’ mom to ‘end up’ with ex

Richards’ Instagram dedication followed a remembrance from her daughter, Lola Sheen, who said she had always hoped her mother would “end up” with Muldoon.

“I thought you were the one that was supposed be in our lives forever. When I think of my childhood, I think of you Pat,” Lola wrote on Instagram alongside a pic of Richards and Muldoon in a car. “I always begged my mom, I’m sure she told you, that you guys would end up back together haha, but I guess staying best friends was better anyways.”

Lola Sheen, Denise Richards’ daughter, shared a tribute to her mother’s former boyfriend, Patrick Muldoon, who died of a heart attack on April 19, 2026. Photo by Lola Sheen /Instagram

Appearing on an October episode of Tori Spelling’s misSPELLING podcast, Muldoon, who was also an accomplished musician, told guest host Elisa Donovan that he had a “good relationship” with Richards’ kids with Charlie Sheen — daughters Lola, 20, and Sami, 22.

But on an episode of her reality series Denise Richards & Her Wild Things last year, Richards said that she and Muldoon lost touch during her marriage to Sheen.

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“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.”

Muldoon’s ‘nightmare’ final moments revealed

The actor’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, told the Daily Mail that Muldoon was drinking coffee with his girlfriend, Miriam Rothbart, at their Beverly Hills home on Sunday before he left to take a shower.

Rothbart went to check on Muldoon after realizing he was taking too long.

“She just thought it seemed (like he’d been in there) a little long – it was probably 10 minutes. So she went in and he was on the floor not breathing,” Shanna told the Mail.

Patrick Muldoon attends the 51st annual Daytime Emmys Awards at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles on June 7, 2024. Photo by Rodin Eckenroth /Getty Images

“She called 911 and she was trying to bring him back, then the paramedics got there. My parents were at our house because we’re all in LA and we all ran over there. But by the time we got there, he was gone,” Shanna said.

In the race to save his son’s life, Muldoon’s father injured himself and is now in hospital.

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“My poor dad ran in the house to see him and fell and fractured his shoulder. I mean, it’s just so crazy,” Shanna said.

Calling his death an “unbelievable nightmare,” Shanna said that her brother was planning to head to Australia later this month for an upcoming project with Chris Hemsworth and Taron Egerton.

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