Robert Carradine Cause of Death: Lizzie McGuire and Revenge of the Nerds Actor Dies by Suicide at 71

Robert Carradine, the beloved Hollywood actor known to generations of fans as Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds and Sam McGuire on Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire, died on Monday, February 23, 2026 (ET), in Los Angeles at the age of 71. His family confirmed that Robert Carradine's cause of death was suicide, following a nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder — a struggle that was kept private until the moment of his passing.

Robert Carradine Cause of Death: The Family's Statement

The Carradine family chose to be fully transparent about the circumstances of Robert's death, releasing a statement to Deadline that named his bipolar disorder directly. "It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away," the family wrote. "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."

Brother Keith Carradine: "There Is No Shame"

Robert's older brother Keith Carradine spoke directly to Deadline following the announcement, delivering a message aimed squarely at erasing the stigma of mental illness. "We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it," Keith said. "It is an illness that got the best of him, and 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."

What Triggered Robert Carradine's Bipolar Disorder

Robert Carradine's battle with bipolar disorder had a clear and documented origin. In 2009, his half-brother David Carradine died in a hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand, under circumstances that were ruled accidental asphyxiation. The loss devastated Robert and, as family members later revealed, directly triggered the onset of his mental illness. He was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder and fought the condition privately for the next 17 years.

His struggles were not entirely hidden from those closest to him. During his 25-year marriage to ex-wife Edie Carradine — which ended in divorce in 2015 — Edie alleged in court documents that Robert once deliberately veered a car into a semi-truck on a Colorado highway, telling her afterward he had intended to kill them both. Robert's own account cited "acute psychosis" from not taking his bipolar medication. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash.

Robert Carradine: A Life and Career in Summary

Robert Carradine's career began with a film debut opposite John Wayne in The Cowboys (1972) and included roles in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, Hal Ashby's Oscar-winning Coming Home, and Samuel Fuller's The Big Red One. His biggest cultural moment came in 1984 when he played Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds, a role he reprised in three sequels. A second iconic chapter came in 2001 when he joined Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire as the warm, dependable dad Sam McGuire — appearing in over 60 episodes alongside Hilary Duff and reprising the role in the 2003 theatrical film.

Tributes from the Lizzie McGuire Cast

Hilary Duff wrote on Instagram: "This one hurts. 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'm deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering." Jake Thomas, who played brother Matt McGuire, said: "He was one of the coolest guys you could ever meet." Lalaine, who played best friend Miranda, wrote: "I love you Bobby."

Daughter Ever Carradine shared an emotional tribute on Instagram: "My dad died today. My sweet, funny dad, who's only 20 years older than I am, who never missed an opportunity to drive me to the airport or tell me how much he loved my homemade salad dressing, is gone."

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Available 24/7. Chat at 988lifeline.org. You are not alone.