The Moment
One month after his sudden passing at 57, actor Patrick Muldoon was remembered at a celebration of life in Santa Monica. The intimate service took place on Friday at St. Monica’s Catholic Church, where friends and family paid tribute to the Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place alum.
Among those marking the moment: Sami Sheen, 22, who shared a photo of the program and a clip underscored by “I Believe,” a song written and sung by Muldoon, in an Instagram Story. Former USC Trojans quarterback Rodney Peete, a close friend since their college days, posted a heartfelt goodbye and old photos. Denise Richards, Muldoon’s ex and longtime confidante, shared a video montage and a message about their decades-long bond.
It was a faith-forward farewell for a star whose roots included Jesuit-run Loyola High School in Los Angeles. The tone was intimate, personal, and yes, musical. Very Patrick.
The Take
Soap stars don’t just pass through our screens; they set up camp in our daily routines. Losing Muldoon feels a bit like realizing the wallpaper in your favorite room has quietly faded. The pattern was always there, making the space feel like home. For many, he wasn’t simply “that guy from Days.” He was a familiar rhythm, the face you’d catch at lunch hour or in a midnight rerun, then suddenly bump into again in a cult favorite like “Starship Troopers”.
What struck me about these tributes is how consistent the through line is: loyalty, laughter, and an almost old-school earnestness. Hollywood loves a reinvention arc, but Muldoon’s friends keep describing something rarer: a person who stayed the course. The memorial’s mix of church pews, a program held close, and a song he wrote playing over a quiet clip? That’s not PR polish; that’s a community grieving someone who was, by all accounts, present.
Online, grief often curdles into rumor within 48 hours. Here, the focus stayed on the life: the teammate, the friend, the collaborator. It reads less like a headline and more like a scrapbook. And honestly, that’s the best kind of send-off.
Receipts
Confirmed:
- A memorial service for Patrick Muldoon was held at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica in mid-May 2026; posts from attendees, including Sami Sheen (Instagram Stories) and Rodney Peete (Instagram), shared images and messages from the day.
- Denise Richards posted a public tribute and video montage on Instagram reflecting on her decades-long friendship with Muldoon.
- Muldoon died on April 19, 2026, at age 57; his manager issued an on-record statement to the press describing a heart attack at his home.
- The official death certificate later listed contributing factors, including a pulmonary embolism and a coagulation disorder.
- Muldoon recently collaborated with Richards on the crime thriller Dirty Hands, which was released days after his death.
Unverified/Reported:
- A full, definitive list of memorial attendees beyond those who posted publicly.
- Specific program details or eulogies are not shown in public posts.
- Any speculation about Muldoon’s final hours beyond the manager’s statement and official records.
Backstory (for Casual Readers)
Patrick Muldoon first broke big as Austin Reed on “Days of Our Lives”, then popped over to “Melrose Place” during the era when primetime soaps ruled. Movie fans know him from the 1997 cult favorite “Starship Troopers”, where he co-starred with Denise Richards. Off-screen, the Los Angeles native played football at USC and stayed close with teammates like Rodney Peete. Friends often described him as spiritual, loyal, and quietly generous with his time.
What’s Next
Friends and former co-stars are likely to continue sharing memories in the coming weeks. For fans who want to revisit his work, Dirty Hands has now been released, and his turns on “Days of Our Lives”, “Melrose Place”, and “Starship Troopers” are easy touchstones. If the family announces a public charity tie-in or additional remembrances, we’ll update. For now, the most faithful way to honor him might be the simplest: cue up a favorite scene, turn up his music, and let the memories do their work.
When a familiar TV face leaves us, what kind of tribute feels most meaningful to you: a public memorial, a charity, or revisiting the roles that made them part of your life?
Sources:
- Instagram posts by Sami Sheen (May 2026), Rodney Peete (May 2026), and Denise Richards (April-May 2026); manager’s on-record statement to press (April 20, 2026); Los Angeles County death certificate filing (May 2026); production and release materials for “Dirty Hands” (late April 2026).
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