Ever Carradine and Co-Stars Remember Robert Carradine After His Death at 71
ever carradine and other family members and castmates posted public tributes after Robert Carradine, the actor best known for Revenge of the Nerds and the father on Lizzie McGuire, died by suicide at age 71. His family described a nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder and asked for privacy as they grieve.
Ever Carradine’s Instagram tribute
Ever Carradine, identified in public posts as Robert Carradine’s daughter, wrote on Instagram about growing up with a single father in Laurel Canyon in the 1970s and 1980s. She said she always knew her dad loved her, that “my dad was a lover, not a fighter” and called him “all heart, ” urging people to “open our hearts and feel and share the love. ”
Family statement and Keith Carradine’s message
The family issued a statement saying they were “with profound sadness” sharing that “our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away. ” They described Bobby as a beacon of light and acknowledged his nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder, saying they hope his journey “can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness. ” The family asked for privacy to grieve.
Robert’s older brother, Keith Carradine, called his sibling “profoundly gifted” and said, “We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it. ” Keith added that the illness “got the best of him” but emphasized Robert’s humor, wisdom and tolerance, concluding, “That’s who my baby brother was. ”
Career highlights: from The Cowboys to Revenge of the Nerds
Robert Carradine was born on March 24, 1954, and was the youngest son of actor John Carradine. He made his film debut in 1972 alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys, after his brother David told him he “had everything to gain, and nothing to lose. ”
He appeared in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and in Hal Ashby’s Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight; Coming Home is identified as an Oscar-winning film. 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 Robert, Keith and David played the Younger brothers. Hill cast real brothers across the outlaw roles — 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.
In 1984 he starred as Lewis Skolnick, the head nerd, in Revenge of the Nerds opposite Anthony Edwards, a role that became one of his best-known screen performances and embedded him in the consciousness of a generation.
Personal details and on-set memories
During the shooting of The Long Riders, David Carradine bought a movie horse named Z-Tan that later lived on Robert’s Hollywood Hills property. The family noted that in the 1980s, Ever Carradine could be seen riding that horse between their home and Runyon Canyon. Robert is survived by his children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews.
Co-stars and nieces pay tribute
Several castmates and family members shared Instagram memories. One niece called Uncle Bobby “the best one of all 8 brothers; blood, adopted, and step, ” praising his kindness and calling him “the best actor of the bunch. ” A Lizzie McGuire co-star said, “This one hurts, ” and added that the McGuire family always felt warm and cared for on set; another castmate said Robert was “funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric” and remembered him as a talented actor, musician and director.
Bipolar disorder context and resources
The family highlighted Robert’s nearly 20-year battle with bipolar disorder. The National Institute of Mental Health defines bipolar disorder as a condition that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and concentration. The NIMH estimates that 4. 4% of U. S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives, totaling about 11. 3 million people, and notes there are three types — Bipolar I disorder, Bipolar II disorder and Cyclothymic disorder. Bipolar I is defined by manic episodes that last at least one week and can include prolonged periods of extreme increases in energy or euphoria, or alternatively depression or unusual irritability.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, call 988 any time day or night, or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free, confidential support.
Robert Carradine’s family has asked for privacy as they mourn. The family said they will take solace in his humor and generosity, and that his passing underscores the seriousness of long-term mental illness.
