Robert Carradine, Lizzie Mcguire and Revenge of the Nerds Star, Dies at 71 After Long Battle With Bipolar Disorder

Robert Carradine, who played the father on lizzie mcguire and starred in Revenge of the Nerds, died by suicide at age 71. The announcement and family statements underline a nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder and a push from his family to confront stigma around mental illness.

Keith Carradine and family statement on Robert Carradine’s death

Family members confirmed the actor’s death, with a family statement describing him as a beloved father, grandfather, uncle and brother. The family said they are "bereft" and emphasized Robert Carradine’s "valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder, " asking for privacy as they grieve. Surviving family listed by the statement include his children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews, and the family asked for space at this time.

Keith Carradine, Robert’s older brother, characterized Robert as the bedrock of the family, saying his brother was "profoundly gifted" and that the illness ultimately "got the best of him. " Keith provided a public statement on the family’s wish that Robert’s journey help shine a light on mental-health stigma. The family’s death confirmation was shared with Deadline late Monday, Feb. 23, and Keith offered a statement to a national outlet on Feb. 24.

lizzie mcguire role and cast reactions

Carradine was widely known to a younger generation as the on-screen father to Hilary Duff’s character on lizzie mcguire. Co-stars and colleagues expressed sorrow on social media, with one castmate describing the warmth of the McGuire family and saying they were "deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. " A second castmate recalled knowing him for most of their life and described him as funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, and always a family man.

Remembrances from family included a post by his daughter, Ever Carradine, who recalled growing up in the 1970s and 1980s with a single father in Laurel Canyon and said she always knew her dad loved her and had her back. A niece called him "the best one of all 8 brothers" and praised his kindness and acting talent, writing that he was the best actor of the bunch by "a THOUSAND MILES. "

Career milestones: The Cowboys, The Long Riders, Revenge of the Nerds and Cannes

Born March 24, 1954, Robert Carradine was the youngest son of actor John Carradine and a brother to David, Keith and Christopher Carradine. He made his big-screen debut in 1972 alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys, a role his brother David encouraged him to audition for. He appeared in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and in Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight.

In 1980 Carradine had two films at the Cannes Film Festival: Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One, which included Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin, and Walter Hill’s The Long Riders, in which Robert, Keith and David played the Younger brothers. Director Walter Hill cast real brothers to portray real-life outlaw siblings, alongside James and Stacy Keach, Randy and Dennis Quaid, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest.

His most enduring mainstream role came in 1984 as Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds, opposite Anthony Edwards, a part that embedded him in popular culture for a generation.

Personal details, on-set anecdotes and public appearances

During The Long Riders production, David Carradine fell for the movie horse Z-Tan and later brought the horse to live on Robert’s property in the Hollywood Hills. Ever Carradine rode that horse around the neighborhood; the family noted that if one drove Mulholland Drive in the 1980s they might have seen Ever riding between their home and Runyon Canyon.

Robert Carradine continued to appear at public events over the years, including the premiere of Monte Walsh at Warner Bros. Studios on Jan. 8, 2003; the SBIFF opening night gala on Feb. 2, 2006; the Night of 100 Stars gala on Feb. 24, 2008; New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center on Oct. 9, 2014; A Night at Sardi’s on March 9, 2016; the premiere of The Zookeeper's Wife at ArcLight Hollywood on March 27, 2017; and the AFI Fest screening of Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure at TCL Chinese Theatre on Oct. 26, 2023.

Bipolar disorder, public context and resources

The family highlighted Robert Carradine’s struggle with bipolar disorder—described as nearly two decades in length—and urged that his experience be part of a larger conversation about mental-health stigma. Bipolar disorder is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as a condition that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and concentration. The institute estimates that 4. 4% of U. S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives, a figure it says equals about 11. 3 million people.

There are three types of bipolar disorder—Bipolar I, Bipolar II and Cyclothymic disorder. Bipolar I is marked by manic episodes lasting at least one week; manic episodes can involve extreme increases in energy or euphoria, or alternatively deep depression or irritability. Public figures who have spoken publicly about their experiences with bipolar disorder include Carrie Fisher, Kanye "Ye" West, Selena Gomez and Halsey.

The family’s statements included a plea to address stigma and encouraged people struggling with suicidal thoughts to seek help. Crisis resources available nationwide include calling 988 any time day or night and Crisis Text Line at 741741 for 24/7 confidential support.