Robert Carradine Dies at 71: Family Details Bipolar Struggle, Hilary Duff Leads Tributes

Robert Carradine has died at age 71; he took his own life Monday. The performer best known for roles in The Long Riders, Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire is being remembered by family and colleagues, who have highlighted a nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder and asked for privacy.

Robert Carradine: family statement and the cause of death

The Carradine family released a statement expressing profound sadness at his passing and describing him as a beloved father, grandfather, uncle and brother. The family said that "in a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him" and acknowledged his "valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder. " They said they hope his journey can encourage addressing the stigma attached to mental illness and asked for privacy to grieve.

Keith Carradine’s response and the family view

Robert’s older brother Keith Carradine described him as the bedrock of the family and said the family wanted people to know about Robert’s struggle because "there is no shame in it. " Keith called the illness one that "got the best of him, " while celebrating Robert’s gifts and the qualities that defined him: humor, wisdom, acceptance and tolerance. The family list of survivors includes his children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews, and the statement asked for privacy at this time.

Career highlights: The Long Riders, Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire

Robert Carradine’s career spanned film and television. He made his big-screen debut in 1972 alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys, after being encouraged to audition by his brother David. He appeared in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and in Coming Home opposite Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. His performance in those films led to speculation that he might be the best actor in his family.

• 1980: Two films at Cannes — The Big Red One (with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin) and The Long Riders, in which Robert, Keith and David played the Younger brothers.
• 1984: Starred as Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds alongside Anthony Edwards; the film became one of the era’s most popular comedies and embedded him in the cultural consciousness. He later returned for three sequels in 1987, 1992 and 1994 and spent time undercover at the University of Arizona to prepare for the role.
• 2001–2004: Became familiar to a new generation as Sam McGuire, Lizzie McGuire’s father, appearing alongside Hilary Duff in 65 episodes of the series.

Family background and early life

Born on March 24, 1954, Robert Carradine was 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. The family has been described as a storied clan of actors, and Robert was called a beloved member of that family.

Personal details and anecdotes

Production anecdotes from his career are part of the public record: during shooting of The Long Riders, David Carradine fell in love with and bought the movie horse Z-Tan, which later lived on Robert’s property in the Hollywood Hills. The family noted that in the 1980s one might have seen Robert’s daughter, actress Ever Carradine, riding Z-Tan between their home and Runyon Canyon on Mulholland Drive. The actor’s life also included a painful family loss: his older half-brother David died in 2009 aged 72 from asphyxiation in a hotel room in Thailand, an event Robert later said triggered his mental illness and led to an eventual diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Tributes and reaction

Colleagues and former co-stars have paid tribute. Hilary Duff led messages of remembrance for her on-screen father, writing on social media that "this one hurts" and noting she felt cared for by her on-screen parents. In a separate message she said there was much warmth in the McGuire family, that she would be forever grateful for that care, and that she was deeply sad to learn Robert was suffering; she said her heart aches for him, his family and everyone who loved him.

What’s next

The family has asked for privacy while they grieve. They have also framed their announcement as an attempt to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental illness by acknowledging Robert Carradine’s nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder. Further details about memorials or services are unclear in the provided context.