Ever Carradine among those remembering Robert Carradine after suicide at 71
Actor Robert Carradine has died by suicide at age 71, his family says, ending what they describe as a nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder. The actor’s daughter, ever carradine, and a wide circle of family and former co‑stars have posted memories and tributes in the days after his death, underscoring both his long career and his public struggles with mental illness.
Family Statement from Keith Carradine and the broader Carradine family
Robert’s older brother, Keith Carradine, framed the death as the culmination of a prolonged illness and called the loss devastating. The family released a statement saying Robert was a beloved father, grandfather, uncle and brother and asking for privacy to grieve. The statement noted his “valiant struggle against his nearly two‑decade battle with Bipolar Disorder” and expressed hope that his journey would encourage confronting the stigma attached to mental illness.
His death was confirmed late Monday, Feb. 23, and Keith issued a related statement on Feb. 24. The family said Robert is survived by his children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews.
Roles in Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire that defined public memory
Many tributes referenced the roles that kept Robert Carradine in the public eye across generations. He is widely remembered as Lewis Skolnick in the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds, a part he shared with Anthony Edwards and a role described as embedding him in the consciousness of a generation. Later television audiences knew him as the on‑screen father to Hilary Duff in the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire.
Early career: The Cowboys, Mean Streets and Coming Home
Born March 24, 1954, Robert was the youngest son of actor John Carradine and the brother of David Carradine, Keith Carradine and Disney Imagineer Christopher Carradine. He made his big‑screen debut in 1972 alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys, a part his brother David encouraged him to try. He went on to appear in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and Hal Ashby’s Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight.
The Long Riders, Cannes and the Z‑Tan anecdote
In 1980 Robert had two films at the Cannes Film Festival: Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One and Walter Hill’s The Long Riders. For The Long Riders, Hill cast real brothers as real‑life outlaw brothers—Robert, Keith and David portrayed the Younger brothers; James and Stacy Keach played Frank and Jesse James; Randy and Dennis Quaid were the Miller brothers; Christopher and Nicholas Guest were the Ford brothers. During that production David Carradine bought a horse named Z‑Tan that later lived on Robert’s Hollywood Hills property. Film recollections include an anecdote that if one drove Mulholland Drive in the 1980s they might have seen Robert’s daughter, actress ever carradine, riding Z‑Tan between their home and Runyon Canyon.
Reactions from Ever Carradine, Martha Plimpton, Hilary Duff and castmates
Castmates and family posted emotional remembrances on social media. Robert’s daughter described growing up with a single father in Laurel Canyon in the 1970s and 1980s, saying she always felt his love and protection. A niece called him the best of the extended group of eight brothers—blood, adopted and step—and praised his kindness, decency and acting talent. A co‑star from Lizzie McGuire said the news was deeply painful and expressed gratitude for the warmth the McGuire family showed on set. Another Lizzie McGuire castmate remembered Robert as funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, and always family‑minded—talented as an actor, musician and director but, above all, dear to those who knew him.
Keith Carradine said his baby brother was “profoundly gifted, ” that the family would miss his humor and tolerance, and that they would take solace in memories of his wit and wisdom.
Mental health details, NIMH context and public resources
The family emphasized bipolar disorder in statements about Robert’s death. 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 NIMH notes three types—Bipolar I, Bipolar II and Cyclothymic disorder—and defines Bipolar I by manic episodes lasting at least one week. The institute estimates that 4. 4% of U. S. adults will experience bipolar disorder at some point in their lives, a figure put at roughly 11. 3 million people.
Public discussion of bipolar disorder has included a range of high‑profile figures over the years, with names such as Carrie Fisher, Kanye "Ye" West, Selena Gomez and Halsey invoked as examples of celebrities who have spoken about their experiences. The family and cast responses combined remembrance of Robert’s career with a call to confront stigma around mental illness.
For anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts, crisis resources are available 24/7 by calling 988 or—by text—741741 for confidential support.
