Ever Carradine and Castmates Pay Tribute After Robert Carradine’s Death at 71
Robert Carradine, the character actor known for Revenge of the Nerds and as Hilary Duff’s on-screen father in Lizzie McGuire, has died by suicide at age 71. The disclosure of his nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder has prompted public remembrances from family, including his daughter ever carradine, and former castmates.
Family statement and Bipolar Disorder
The family issued a statement saying they are "bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul" and asking for privacy to grieve. They acknowledged what they described as Robert Carradine’s valiant struggle with bipolar disorder over nearly two decades and said they hope his journey will help reduce the stigma around mental illness. Surviving relatives listed include his children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews.
Ever Carradine Remembers Her Father
On social media, Robert Carradine’s daughter framed her upbringing—growing up in the 1970s and 1980s with a single father in Laurel Canyon—as shaped by his love and care. She wrote that she always knew he loved her and that he was "all heart, " urging others to open their hearts in his memory. Another family member, a niece, described him as the kindest of the extended family and called him the best actor of the bunch "by a thousand miles, " recalling childhood visits to Los Angeles when he comforted her as a child of 8 or 9.
Career milestones: The Cowboys, Mean Streets, The Long Riders and Revenge of the Nerds
Born March 24, 1954, Robert Carradine made his film debut in 1972 alongside a major screen star in The Cowboys and went on to appear in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and Coming Home. In 1980 he had two films at the Cannes Film Festival: Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One and Walter Hill’s The Long Riders. In Hill’s film, real brothers were cast to play real-life outlaw brothers—Robert, Keith and David Carradine portrayed the Younger brothers; James and Stacy Keach portrayed Frank and Jesse James; Randy and Dennis Quaid played the Miller brothers; and Christopher and Nicholas Guest played the Ford brothers. His most widely recognized role came in 1984 with Revenge of the Nerds, in which he starred as Lewis Skolnick alongside Anthony Edwards, and he later played the father of Hilary Duff’s character on Lizzie McGuire.
On-set memories, Z-Tan and Mulholland Drive
Production anecdotes from The Long Riders include David Carradine purchasing the movie horse Z-Tan during shooting; that horse later lived on Robert Carradine’s property in the Hollywood Hills. One family recollection notes that if you drove Mulholland Drive in the 1980s you might have seen Robert’s daughter, actress ever carradine, riding that horse between their home and Runyon Canyon.
Tributes from castmates and co-stars
Former co-stars in Lizzie McGuire expressed sorrow, describing warmth from the McGuire family on set and saying they are deeply sad to learn he was suffering. Other colleagues called him funny, pragmatic, sometimes eccentric, a talented actor, musician and director, and above all family. His older brother Keith Carradine said Robert was "profoundly gifted, " praised his humor and tolerance, and emphasized there is no shame in his struggle with bipolar disorder.
Mental health context and help resources
The family and public commentary have highlighted the clinical nature of bipolar disorder. The condition is discussed in three named forms—Bipolar I disorder, Bipolar II disorder and Cyclothymic disorder. Bipolar I is described as involving manic episodes that last at least one week; such manic episodes are prolonged periods of mood instability in which a person can experience extreme increases in energy or euphoria, or alternatively feel depressed or unusually irritable. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 4. 4% of U. S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives, a figure equivalent to roughly 11. 3 million people. The family’s public remarks and cast reactions repeatedly urged compassion and reduced stigma for people living with mental illness.
If someone may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, crisis resources exist: a national hotline reachable by dialing 988 any time day or night, and a 24/7 confidential text support option at 741741.
Details about when the family’s confirmation was first made public are unclear in the provided context. What makes this notable is the convergence of high-profile career milestones with a long private struggle, prompting both personal recollections and a broader conversation about mental health.
Robert Carradine’s public timeline of appearances includes attendance at the premiere of the TNT television movie Monte Walsh on January 8, 2003; the Santa Barbara International Film Festival opening night on February 2, 2006; the 18th annual Night of 100 Stars Gala on February 24, 2008; a New York Comic Con panel on October 9, 2014; a benefit performance on March 9, 2016; the premiere of The Zookeeper’s Wife on March 27, 2017; and an AFI Fest screening on October 26, 2023.
