Richards and Muldoon, who died on April 19, dated and starred together in 1997’s “Starship Troopers.”

Denise Richards isn’t ready to watch late ex Patrick Muldoon in his final film but calls it ‘his best performance’

Richards and Muldoon, who died on April 19, dated and starred together in 1997's "Starship Troopers."

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

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April 29, 2026 11:58 a.m. ET

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Patrick Muldoon and Denise Richards in March 2026. Credit:

JC Olivera/Getty

- Denise Richards can't bring herself to watch her late ex Patrick Muldoon's final movie yet.

- The actress starred with Muldoon in his last project, *Dirty Hands, *and calls his turn in it "his best performance."

- "We've reunited on so many films over the years and have been so lucky and blessed to work with each other," Richards said of her longtime bond with Muldoon.

Denise Richards can't bring herself to press play on her and Patrick Muldoon's final film together.

The actress recently opened up about *Dirty Hands*, in which she stars opposite her late ex-boyfriend, who died at 57 on April 19, saying Muldoon is what drew her to the movie.

"Pat came to me with the project, and anytime he and I can work together, we do," Richards told Derek Hough on *Extra. *"Our friendship had gone on for almost 40 years. So I would have worked on anything with him."

Richards also spoke about the full-circle moment of the former couple reuniting on set. They had previously starred together in 1997's *Starship Troopers, *along with the holiday movies *My Adventures With Santa* and *A Christmas Reunion*. Though they dated on and off in the '90s, they had remained close friends before his Muldoon's death.

Patrick Muldoon and Denise Richards in 1999.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

"We've reunited on so many films over the years and have been so lucky and blessed to work with each other," Richards said. "Anytime we could work together, we have. We have always loved being on set together, and there's such a respect. There's a safety with us with being able to feel vulnerable … [with] no judgment."

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The actress told *Extra* that doing press for *Dirty Hands *was "very difficult" due to the "shocking" nature of his death. "However, I know he would want me to," she added, "because he wants us to still honor a project … he was so passionate about this movie."

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When asked if Richards' daughters had seen *Dirty Hands*, she said they have not, and neither had she. "I was going to watch it last weekend. I can't watch the final cut yet," she said.

She did, however, see scenes "along the way as it was being put together," and called Muldoon's acting in it "his best performance."

"My daughters were so close to Pat, so they can't watch it right now," she added. "One day we will come back to this, but I'm grateful … I have this memory."

Muldoon's girlfriend found the actor unconscious in the bathroom in his Beverly Hills home on April 19 after they'd had coffee together and he went to shower.**

Patrick Muldoon, Casper Van Dien, and Denise Richards in 1997's 'Starship Troopers'.

Columbia Tristar

Richards paid tribute to Muldoon on Instagram on April 21, saying she was "deeply heartbroken and devastated" by the loss.

"You were my best friend & my family," Richards wrote in part. "We met in our first acting class. I was 19, never had an acting job, and you were 21, a student at USC doing a recurring role on *Who's the Boss.* And here we are. 36 years later. My whole adult life & I don't know it without you."

"The friendship, love, support, respect & loyalty we had was unconditional and rare," she continued. "You lit up every room you walked into. You are larger than life & everyone was drawn to you. So talented & [the] most underrated actor. And most humble."

*Dirty Hands *is available to rent now on Prime Video.

Watch Richards' full interview with *Extra* below.

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