Robert Carradine dies at 71 after long struggle with bipolar disorder

robert carradine, the actor known for Revenge of the Nerds and as the on-screen father in Lizzie McGuire, has died at age 71 after taking his own life, his family said — and they have framed his death as part of a nearly two-decade fight with bipolar disorder.

A family statement and a request for privacy

The Carradine family released a statement saying: “It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away. ” The family called him “a beacon of light to everyone around him, ” said they are “bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul, ” and asked for privacy as they grieve.

What the family said about his illness and death

The family acknowledged his “valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder” and said they hope his journey can “shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness. ” They also confirmed he took his own life on Monday and asked for privacy “at this time. ”

Keith Carradine’s words about his brother

Keith Carradine described Robert as the bedrock of the family and said the family wanted the public to know about his struggle. “We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it, ” Keith said, adding: “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. ”

Robert Carradine's career in film and TV

Born on March 24, 1954, and the youngest son of actor John Carradine, Robert built a long career on screen. He made his film debut in 1972 alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys; David Carradine encouraged him to audition, telling him he “had everything to gain, and nothing to lose. ” He went on to appear in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets — in which, in his role, he shot his brother David — and in the Oscar-winning Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight.

Key films, co-stars and a lasting role as Lewis Skolnick

In 1980 he appeared in The Big Red One with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin, and in Walter Hill’s The Long Riders, where Walter Hill cast real brothers as real-life outlaw brothers: Robert, Keith and David as the Younger brothers; 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. His biggest hit came in 1984 with Revenge of the Nerds, in which he starred as Lewis Skolnick alongside Anthony Edwards; he later returned for sequels in 1987, 1992 and 1994. Later credits mentioned in the provided context include Django Unchained.

Lizzie McGuire, Ever Carradine and personal notes

To a new generation he was Sam McGuire, the father on the children’s series Lizzie McGuire, appearing alongside Hilary Duff in 65 episodes between 2001 and 2004. His family noted personal details from his life on the Hollywood Hills property: during The Long Riders shoot David Carradine bought the movie horse Z‑Tan, which later lived on Robert’s property, and in the 1980s Robert’s daughter Ever Carradine could be seen riding the horse between their home and Runyon Canyon. Carradine is survived by his children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews and “anyone who had the honor of having him in their life. ”

Tributes and context around his mental-health journey

Lizzie McGuire co-star Hilary Duff led public tributes, writing on Instagram: “This one hurts. It's really hard to face this reality about an old friend. ” Another tribute in the provided context used the spelling “Hillary Duff” unclear in the provided context and said: “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. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him. ”

Earlier family tragedy and a later diagnosis

In 2009 Robert’s older half-brother David died aged 72 from asphyxiation in a hotel room in Thailand; Robert later said his mental illness was triggered by that death and he was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder, per the information in the provided context.

The family’s statement closed by asking for privacy “at this time” while they grieve and by expressing gratitude for understanding and compassion. At the family’s request, they will be given space to grieve as they decide next steps.