Lola Sheen's Emotional Tribute to Patrick Muldoon
Following the shocking death of actor Patrick Muldoon at age 57, Lola Sheen has shared a heartfelt tribute to the Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place star, revealing she had long hoped her mother, actress Denise Richards, would ultimately reunite with him.
A Childhood Presence Remembered
"I thought you were the one that was supposed to be in our lives forever. When I think of my childhood, I think of you Pat," Lola wrote on Instagram alongside a nostalgic photo of Richards and Muldoon in a car. "And it's gonna be so weird to go on without you in our lives. You were such a huge part of our family and life will never feel the same, but that's just because of how much you impacted us."
Muldoon reportedly died of a heart attack on April 19, 2026, at his Beverly Hills home. According to sources close to Richards, the actress is devastated and inconsolable, unable to stop crying since learning the news.
A Lasting Friendship Beyond Romance
Richards and Muldoon first met in acting class when she was 19 and he was 21, dating on and off throughout the 1990s before Richards married Charlie Sheen in 2002. Despite their romantic relationship ending, they maintained an exceptionally close friendship for decades.
"Patrick is the ex that she had the best relationship with," an insider revealed. "There was a ton of respect on both sides. It was so amicable that they were better friends than lovers and they remained in constant contact. She was his biggest supporter, he was hers."
In a March 2025 Instagram post, Richards herself referred to Muldoon as one of her "besties," highlighting the enduring nature of their bond.
Family Connections and Shared History
Muldoon spoke openly about his connection to Richards' family during an October appearance on Tori Spelling's misSPELLING podcast. He told guest host Elisa Donovan that he had a "good relationship" with Richards' daughters, Lola, 20, and Sami, 22, whom she shares with ex-husband Charlie Sheen.
"The thing about Denise and I is everybody thinks we met on Starship Troopers," Muldoon said, referencing the 1997 film they both starred in. "But we met in acting class when she was 19 and I was 21. We both don't come from entertainment families, and our families got to know each other over the years and kind of checked in with each other on navigating the crazy stuff that we all go through."
Lola's Personal Memories and Hopes
In her tribute, Lola recalled specific joyful memories with Muldoon, writing: "You were the definition of what it means to have fun. I'll never forget when we were on that trip with my mom and you wouldn't stop singing that Lola song to me, and made me laugh so hard... you know that song will always make me think of you."
She expressed gratitude for his friendship with her mother, stating: "When I think of my mom I think of you. You guys came as a package and I'm so thankful I got to witness a friendship so pure and special in front of my eyes."
Lola also revealed a personal wish, writing: "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."
Muldoon's Final Days and Upcoming Projects
Just days before his passing, Muldoon had shared exciting news about his next project, a film titled KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross and starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz, and Alec Baldwin, which was filming in Australia.
On his personal website, Muldoon described himself as "a guy who doesn't take himself too seriously" whose job was "to entertain, surprise and maybe make you laugh." He was set to appear alongside Richards once more in the upcoming thriller Dirty Hands.
According to his sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, the actor was having coffee with his girlfriend, Miriam Rothbart, at their home before going to take a shower. Rothbart found him unconscious on the bathroom floor after he had been gone for an unusually long time.
Lola concluded her emotional tribute by calling Muldoon a "rockstar" and writing, "Have fun up there I know you will," a fitting farewell to an actor who dedicated his life to bringing joy to others.
