Denise Richards is mourning the devastating loss of her best friend Patrick Muldoon.
The Melrose Place alum died unexpectedly on Sunday, April 19, after suffering from an apparent heart attack. He was 57.
He and the Wild Things actress met when she was 19 years old and co-starred in Starship Troopers, and after dating for some years in the 1990s, remained close friends. Patrick's last public appearance was with Denise on March 8, at the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards held at Hilton Universal City Hotel.
© Getty ImagesDenise, 55, paid tribute to Patrick in an Instagram post on Tuesday, April 21, sharing a video montage featuring photos of them through the years, along with a lengthy message giving insight into their tight-knit relationship.
"This is so hard for me to put into words. I am deeply heartbroken & devastated losing you," she started. "You were my best friend & my family. 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."
She noted that now, almost 40 years later, she does not know her life "without" Patrick in it. "The friendship, love, support, respect & loyalty we had was unconditional and rare. You lit up every room you walked into. You are larger than life & Everyone was drawn to you."
© Getty ImagesDenise continued: "So talented & most underrated actor. And most humble. Everything you did was infectious. Your laugh, your kindness, your wit, your strength, your loyalty, your passion, and your zest for life."
Then reflecting on the support she received from Patrick during their more than three decades of friendship, she added: "We've been each other's rock. Our memories together are endless. You've had my back and protected me more than anyone. 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," she went on, seemingly referring to her recent, tumultuous split from ex-husband Aaron Phypers, who she has accused of physical abuse.
"Now I need you more than ever, for this pain and heartache [of] losing you," Denise emphasized, concluding with: "Schweetbabe we've had those conversations.. We thought we'd live forever or at least into our 90's. Schweetbabe I will be looking for those signs. I need to know you're still here with me. I love you so much & miss you dearly schweetbabe."
© Getty ImagesDenise's daughter Lola, who she shares with ex-husband Charlie Sheen, similarly paid tribute to Patrick, revealing in her own lengthy caption: "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."
"I will really miss hearing my mom laugh on the phone with you. Your voice always brightened my day and I'm gonna miss hearing it but I know my mom will more, but we will never stop talking about you. Thank you for being the best friend to her. Thank you for being the one to make her laugh and forget about all she's going through. That was a gift you had. The bond you two had was something so special, that no one can touch," she also wrote.
