Robert Carradine, star of Revenge of the Nerds, dies at 71
Robert Carradine has died at age 71, and his family says he died by suicide after a nearly two-decade struggle with Bipolar Disorder. The announcement has renewed focus on both his career — from The Cowboys to Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire — and the multigenerational Carradine acting dynasty.
Robert Carradine: family announcement and privacy request
The Carradine family released a statement expressing profound sadness at the loss of their "beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother, " calling Robert a "beacon of light" and acknowledging his "valiant struggle with his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder. " The family asked for privacy while grieving and said they hope his journey will help reduce the stigma attached to mental illness.
Keith Carradine on his brother’s struggle
Keith Carradine, who is 76, described Robert as "profoundly gifted" and said the family wanted people to know about his decades-long fight with Bipolar Disorder, insisting "there is no shame in it. " Keith added that the illness "got the best of him" and celebrated Robert’s humor, wisdom and tolerance as central to who he was.
Career milestones: The Cowboys, Coming Home and Mean Streets
Born March 24, 1954, Robert Carradine made his big-screen debut in 1972 in The Cowboys opposite John Wayne — a part his brother David urged him to audition for, telling him he "had everything to gain, and nothing to lose. " He later appeared in Hal Ashby’s Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight, and followed that with Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets in 1973.
The Long Riders, Cannes and the on-screen brothers
In 1980 Carradine had two films at the Cannes Film Festival: Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One, which featured Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin, and Walter Hill’s The Long Riders, in which Robert, Keith and David played the Younger brothers. Walter Hill cast real brothers to portray real-life outlaw siblings — James and Stacy Keach as Frank and Jesse James, Randy and Dennis Quaid as the Miller brothers, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest as the Ford brothers — a decision that shaped the film’s family dynamic.
Revenge of the Nerds, Lizzie McGuire and a generational legacy
Carradine’s most widely known film role came in 1984 when he starred as Lewis Skolnick, the head nerd, opposite Anthony Edwards in Revenge of the Nerds — a part that left a lasting mark on a generation. He is also known for work in Lizzie McGuire. His place in a storied acting family was underscored by his relationships with his father John Carradine and brothers David, Keith and Christopher.
The Carradine dynasty: John, David, Keith, Ever and Martha
Robert was the youngest son of John Carradine, who appeared in more than 200 films, worked extensively with director John Ford and had credits including Stagecoach and The Grapes of Wrath; John Carradine died in 1988 at age 82. Robert and David Carradine were paternal half-brothers; David, best known for starring as Kwai Chang Caine on the 1970s TV series Kung Fu and for his role as Bill in the Kill Bill films, died in 2009 at age 72 in Thailand — authorities initially suggested the possibility of death by suicide, though later family-commissioned forensic findings ruled that out.
Robert’s daughter Ever Carradine, 51, is an actress known for roles in The Handmaid’s Tale, Runaways and The Rookie. His niece Martha Plimpton, 55 and the daughter of Keith Carradine, has won recognition for stage and screen work, including Emmy-winning work. Robert is survived by his children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews.
Horse Z-Tan, Mulholland Drive and on-set memory
During the production of The Long Riders, David Carradine bought the film’s horse, Z-Tan, and the animal later lived on Robert’s property in the Hollywood Hills. The family notes that in the 1980s Ever could sometimes be seen riding Z-Tan between their home and Runyon Canyon along Mulholland Drive.
What makes this notable is that Robert Carradine’s career combined high-profile studio work, festival recognition and family collaborations that threaded through five decades of film and television; his death and the family’s frank discussion of mental illness are likely to shape how his work and legacy are remembered. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve.
