Lizzie Mcguire dad Robert Carradine’s death reverberates across family and cast as bipolar struggle is revealed

Why this matters now: The actor’s death puts a spotlight on long-term mental illness inside a high-profile family and reminds viewers of the human cost behind familiar screen roles. lizzie mcguire fans, family members and colleagues are left grieving while conversations about bipolar disorder and stigma grow louder, even as confirmation timing is unclear in the provided context.

Immediate impact on family, co‑stars and public conversation

Robert Carradine’s passing has landed first and hardest with his immediate family and castmates who shared memories of him as both a performer and a family man. The family described a nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder and asked for privacy as they grieve. Here’s the part that matters: his death has refocused attention on how mood disorders are discussed publicly and privately, and how families cope when a relative lives with a chronic mental‑health condition.

Event details and what’s clear (and unclear)

Robert Carradine died by suicide at age 71; reports in the provided context note that he "took his own life Monday. " His brother Keith Carradine confirmed the death in a Feb. 24 statement and another confirmation is noted late Monday, Feb. 23—this timing is unclear in the provided context. The family called his struggle with bipolar disorder "valiant, " saying they hope it encourages confronting stigma around mental illness. They also asked for privacy at this time and noted he is survived by children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews, and others close to him.

Career highlights and family background tied to the roles fans remember

Robert Carradine was best known on-screen for roles including Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds, parts in The Long Riders, and his role as the father in Lizzie McGuire. Born March 24, 1954, he was the youngest son of actor John Carradine and a brother of David Carradine, Keith Carradine and Christopher Carradine (the context names Christopher as a Disney Imagineer). He made his big‑screen debut in 1972 alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys after encouragement from his brother David. He later appeared in Mean Streets and in the Oscar-winning Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. In 1980 he had two films at Cannes: Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin, and Walter Hill’s The Long Riders, in which he and brothers David and Keith played the Younger brothers. Walter Hill’s casting used real siblings for several outlaw families: 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. During The Long Riders shooting, David bought the movie horse Z‑Tan, which later lived on Robert’s Hollywood Hills property; in the 1980s Robert’s daughter Ever Carradine sometimes rode Z‑Tan on Mulholland Drive between their home and Runyon Canyon. His role as Lewis Skolnick in 1984’s Revenge of the Nerds became a defining part of his career, alongside Anthony Edwards.

Reactions and memories from family and cast

Castmates and family members expressed grief and shared personal remembrances. His daughter Ever Carradine recalled a childhood in the 1970s and 1980s with a single dad in Laurel Canyon, saying she always felt his love and protection. A niece described Uncle Bobby as the best of her extended group of brothers, recalling he cuddled her on visits to Los Angeles as a child and praising his kindness, decency and acting talent. Castmates from Lizzie McGuire said they felt cared for by his on‑screen family and were deeply sad to learn he had been suffering. Keith Carradine described his brother as profoundly gifted, funny, wise, accepting and tolerant—qualities the family will miss every day.

It’s easy to overlook, but these personal recollections underline how one actor’s career threaded through several generations and different genres, from Westerns to teen TV.

Mini timeline of public appearances and notable dates

• Jan. 8, 2003 — Attended the premiere of the TNT television movie Monte Walsh at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.
• Feb. 2, 2006 — Attended the SBIFF opening night film and gala Ask The Dust at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, California.
• Feb. 24, 2008 — Appeared at the 18th annual Night of 100 Stars Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
• Oct. 9, 2014 — Participated in a King of the Nerds panel at New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
• March 9, 2016 — Performed onstage at the 24th and final A Night at Sardi’s to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
• March 27, 2017 — Attended the premiere of The Zookeeper’s Wife at ArcLight Hollywood in Hollywood, California.
• Oct. 26, 2023 — Attended a 2023 AFI Fest screening of Pee‑Wee’s Big Adventure at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Schedule and attendance notes above are drawn from the public record and are given as a compact career timeline; details are subject to change in broader reporting.

Mental‑health context and immediate resources

The family emphasized that Carradine struggled for nearly two decades with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder (formerly called manic depression) is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as a condition that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and concentration. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates about 4. 4% of U. S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives, roughly 11. 3 million people. Over the years other public figures have discussed living with bipolar disorder, including Carrie Fisher, Kanye "Ye" West, Selena Gomez and Halsey. If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, crisis lines cited in the provided context include calling 988 any time day or night or using Crisis Text Line by dialing 741741 for free 24/7 confidential support.

The real question now is how the family’s openness about a nearly two‑decade illness will shape conversations about stigma and support in the public sphere.

Survivors, timeline details and family requests for privacy are all noted by the family; exact timing of confirmations is unclear in the provided context.