David Carradine: Robert Carradine, Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire actor dies aged 71
Robert Carradine has died at 71, his family said, ending what they described as his nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder. The family said he killed himself and asked for privacy while hoping his story would help reduce the stigma around mental illness; david carradine appears in their statement as part of the wider Carradine acting legacy.
Family statement and the struggle with bipolar disorder
"It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away, " the family said on Monday. They described him as "always a beacon of light" and said they wanted to "acknowledge Bobby’s valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder" and to "encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness. " The family asked for privacy to grieve and expressed gratitude for understanding and compassion.
David Carradine and the Carradine acting family
Born in 1954, Robert Carradine was the youngest son of actor John Carradine and the brother of Keith and Christopher, with two older half-brothers, David and Bruce, from his father’s first marriage. His older brother Keith spoke about Robert’s mental health, saying "We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it, " and calling him "profoundly gifted" and "funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric. " The family noted that Robert’s struggle with mental illness was triggered by the 2009 death of his older half-brother David, who died aged 72 from asphyxiation in a hotel room in Thailand, and that Robert was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Career highlights from The Cowboys to Lizzie McGuire
Carradine made his film debut in 1972 alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys. He followed with roles in the Oscar-winning Coming Home and a small part in Martin Scorsese’s 1973 Mean Streets, in which his character shot his brother David. In 1980 he appeared in The Long Riders with David and Keith as the Younger brothers; that film also cast Randy Quaid and Dennis Quaid as the Miller brothers, Stacy Keach and James Keach as Frank and Jesse James, and Christopher Guest and Nicholas Guest as the Ford brothers.
His breakout came in the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds, in which he played Lewis Skolnick and reportedly spent time undercover at the University of Arizona convincing real students he was an actual nerd. He returned for three sequels released in 1987, 1992 and 1994.
Later generations knew him as Sam McGuire on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire; he played Lizzie’s father in 65 episodes and in the 2003 feature film. The show connected him with co-stars such as Hilary Duff and Jake Thomas.
Co-stars and tributes
Hilary Duff paid an emotional tribute on Instagram, saying, "It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend. There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. I’ll be forever grateful for that. I’m deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him. " Jake Thomas, who played Lizzie’s brother Matt, wrote: "My head hurts today. " Other Lizzie McGuire cast members also posted tributes noting Carradine’s warmth and humor.
Personal life, survivors and legal claims
Carradine is survived by three children—Ever Carradine, Marica Reed and Ian Alexander—along with grandchildren, brothers, nephews and nieces, including Martha Plimpton. He had a daughter, the actor Ever Carradine, with Susan Snyder. He later married Edith Mani; they had two children, Marika and Ian, and divorced in 2015 after 25 years of marriage. During the divorce proceedings in 2017, Mani alleged Carradine had attempted to kill them both in a car crash in Colorado in 2015; the context states that Carradine admitted he was in a "psychotic sta"—the remainder of that admission is unclear in the provided context.
The family emphasized their hope that Bobby’s journey could shine a light on mental illness and reduce stigma, and asked for privacy as they grieve.
Funeral arrangements and further memorial plans were not specified; the family asked for privacy and said they were grateful for compassion and understanding. david carradine’s death closes a long public career that spanned film and television from 1972 through multiple decades of work.
Next: the family has asked for privacy as they grieve; any forthcoming memorial details will come from them.
