Robert Carradine dies aged 71 as family recall David Carradine link

Robert Carradine has died aged 71. The actor’s family said he killed himself after a nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder, and noted that the 2009 death of his older half-brother david carradine helped trigger his illness.

Family statement and grief

on Monday the Carradine family said: "It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away. " The family added: "In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him. We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby’s valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder. We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness. At this time we ask for the privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion. "

David Carradine and family history

Carradine was born in 1954 as the youngest son of actor John Carradine. He had two older half-brothers, David and Bruce, from his father’s first marriage, and two older brothers, Keith and Christopher; all but Christopher went into acting in some capacity. In 2009 his older half-brother David died aged 72 from asphyxiation in a hotel room in Thailand. The family have said Robert later told them his mental illness was triggered by that death and that he was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Career highlights and film roles

Carradine made his film debut alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys in 1972, followed by a part in the Oscar-winning film Coming Home and a small role 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; the film also featured Randy and Dennis Quaid as the Miller brothers, Stacy and James Keach as Frank and Jesse James, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest as the Ford brothers. His biggest hit was the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds, in which he played the lead Lewis Skolnick. He reportedly spent time undercover at the University of Arizona convincing real students he was an actual nerd, and he returned for three sequels in 1987, 1992 and 1994.

Lizzie McGuire and tributes

Later in life Carradine became known to a new generation as Sam McGuire, Lizzie McGuire’s father, appearing alongside Hilary Duff. One account says he appeared in 65 episodes between 2001 and 2004; another account described the show as running from 2001 to 2024. He also appeared in the 2003 feature film tied to the series. His Lizzie McGuire co-stars paid tribute: Hilary Duff wrote on Instagram, "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. " He added: "I was fortunate to know Bobby for most of my life. And he was one of the coolest guys you could ever meet. Funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric. "

Personal life and legal claims

Carradine had a daughter, the actor Ever Carradine, with Susan Snyder. He later married Edith Mani and they had two children, named in one account as Marika and Ian; another account lists his three children as Ever, Marica Reed and Ian Alexander. He divorced in 2015 after 25 years of marriage. During divorce proceedings in 2017 Mani alleged Carradine had attempted to kill them both in a car crash in Colorado in 2015. The context states Carradine admitted he was in a "psychotic sta" — unclear in the provided context.

Brother’s reaction and survivors

Keith Carradine, Robert’s older brother, spoke about his brother’s mental health and said the family wanted people to know there is no shame in it. He said: "We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it. I want to celebrate him for his struggle with it, and celebrate his beautiful soul. He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day. We will take solace in how funny he could be, how wise and utterly accepting and tolerant he was. That’s who my baby brother was. " Carradine is survived by his children and grandchildren, and by brothers, nephews and nieces — one named relative listed was Martha Plimpton.

The family asked for privacy as they grieve and said they hoped sharing his struggle would encourage addressing the stigma around mental illness.