Martin William Madden, 59, of Los Angeles, California, passed away on May 5, 2024. Born on January 13, 1965, in Evanston, Illinois, to loving parents William Martin and Mary Ellen Madden (née McPartlin), Marty was the third child in a family of five siblings. He grew up in Itasca, Illinois, and graduated from Lake Park High School in 1983. His life is celebrated by his friends, family, and former colleagues, who knew him as a man of compassion, generosity, and fierce advocacy.

Marty’s creative career began at the University of Illinois, where he earned a BFA in the Performing Arts in 1987. After college, Marty moved to Los Angeles, California, to further his career in the performing arts. Those who were closest to Marty knew of his struggle with addiction, but thanks to the support he received through rehab and meetings, he enjoyed decades of successful sober living, making life-long friends and allowing him to give back to his community in many ways.

Returning to Chicago in his mid-twenties, Marty volunteered with Open Hand Chicago, delivering meals to gay men suffering from AIDS during the height of the epidemic. His work with Open Hand Chicago and Test Positive Aware Network was groundbreaking and impactful. Marty later pursued a Juris Doctor degree at Chicago-Kent College of Law, graduating in 1997 with a focus on Native American Law.

After working in the legal field for years, Marty sought a more creative path. He appeared in various stage, film, and TV roles. His work in the arts, combined with his volunteer efforts, fostered a powerful sense of advocacy. This commitment extended to women’s empowerment and wildlife conservation. In Musanze, Rwanda, he helped build a shelter for women artisans in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation, John Logan, and Janet Carrus, aiming to preserve the endangered gorilla population and support women post-genocide.

Marty’s creative journey was equally distinguished. In 2011, he wrote “Musical Chairs,” a film directed by Susan Seidelman, which won six awards at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival in 2013. In 2015, he wrote and directed “Everyday Miracles” (originally entitled, “Cotton”), earning accolades at the St. Tropez Film Festival and the Trail Dance Film Festival. One of Marty’s biggest passions was the theater. In 2018, he played Gloucester in “King Lear” at the Adobe Rose Theater and Ed in “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” at the Santa Fe Playhouse. He also portrayed John in “The Shawl” at Los Alamos Little Theatre, earning rave reviews. In 2019, Marty was part of the cast of “Measure for Measure” at the Swan Theater. In 2021, he wrote and directed “Funeral Queen,” a short film about a Santa Fe funeral director and drag queen. His most recent work, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” opened on May 31, 2024, at Theatre Palisades.

Marty’s dedication to helping others inspired him to pursue a Master of Social Work degree. Accepted into the University of Southern California, he was set to begin his studies in the fall of 2024. His life was a mosaic of artistic brilliance, unwavering advocacy, and compassionate dedication. His legacy will continue to inspire and impact those who knew him and those who will learn of his remarkable contributions in the years to come.

Marty leaves behind his mother, Mary Ellen Madden, his sisters Maureen (Christopher) Durack, Margaret (Andrew) Ward, and Michelle (Liam) Dempsey, his brother-in-law Keith (Claudia) Grieshaber, many nieces and nephews, including six grand nieces and nephew, with one more grand-nephew on the way. Marty also leaves behind a family of friends whom he loved dearly.

Marty is reunited in death with his father, William Madden (1935-2018), and his sister, Mary Patricia Grieshaber (1967-2002).

A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, June 28, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Conley Funeral Home in Elburn, Illinois. A funeral mass to celebrate Marty’s life will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Gall Catholic Church in Elburn, Illinois. Interment will immediately follow the mass at Blackberry Township Cemetery in Elburn, Illinois. Marty will be laid to rest next to his beloved sister, Mary Pat, to whom he donated bone marrow during her fight against Aplastic Anemia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Rainbow Railroad (https://donate.rainbowrailroad.org/give/326731/#!/donation/checkout) or the Aplastic Anemia & MDS Foundation (https://www.aamds.org).