Robert Carradine, remembered by Ever Carradine, Martha Plimpton and Hilary Duff, was star of Lizzie Mcguire

Robert Carradine, who played Hilary Duff’s father on the Disney series and was a lead in Revenge of the Nerds, has died by suicide at 71 after what his family describes as a nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder. The actor’s death and family statement have prompted public remembrances from castmates and relatives and renewed attention to the illness that his family says defined his final years.

Family statement, Keith Carradine and privacy requests

Carradine’s family called his death the culmination of a longtime battle with mental illness and asked for privacy to grieve. The family described Robert as a beloved father, grandfather, uncle and brother and said he had a nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder. The family added that "in a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him" and asked for privacy and gratitude for understanding and compassion.

His older brother, actor Keith Carradine, said the family wanted people to know about Robert’s "valiant struggle" and emphasized there is no shame in the illness. Keith described his brother as "profoundly gifted, " funny, wise, accepting and tolerant, and said, "That’s who my baby brother was. " The context gives differing notes about when Keith confirmed Robert’s death; the exact date of that confirmation is unclear in the provided context.

Early life and family ties in Hollywood

Robert Carradine was born on March 24, 1954, the youngest son of actor John Carradine. He was a brother of actors David Carradine, Keith Carradine and Disney Imagineer Christopher Carradine. The Deadline context lists him as a beloved member of a storied acting family and says he is survived by his children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews and anyone who had the honor of having him in their life.

Film beginnings: The Cowboys, Mean Streets and Coming Home

His big-screen debut came in 1972 alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys; his brother David reportedly convinced him to audition, saying he "had everything to gain, and nothing to lose. " He went on to appear in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and Hal Ashby’s Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. Those early roles led some to speculate he might be the best actor in his family.

The Long Riders, Cannes and on-screen brothers

In 1980 Carradine had two films shown at the Cannes Film Festival: Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One, starring Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin, and Walter Hill’s The Long Riders, in which Robert, Keith and David played the Younger brothers. Walter Hill cast real brothers to play real-life outlaw brothers; the film also paired 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.

Revenge of the Nerds and television recognition, including lizzie mcguire

His best-known film breakthrough came in 1984 with Revenge of the Nerds, in which he starred as Lewis Skolnick alongside Anthony Edwards. He later reached younger audiences as the on-screen father to Hilary Duff on the Disney Channel series lizzie mcguire.

Personal details: horses, Runyon Canyon and his daughter Ever Carradine

During shooting of The Long Riders, David Carradine fell in love with and bought a movie horse named Z‑Tan; that horse later lived on Robert’s property in the Hollywood Hills. In the 1980s, if you drove Mulholland Drive you might have seen Robert’s daughter, actress Ever Carradine, riding Z‑Tan between their home and Runyon Canyon. The Deadline context notes the horse and those neighborhood rides as part of the family’s memories.

Castmates and family posts on Instagram

Castmates and relatives have posted memories on Instagram. The actor and daughter of Robert Carradine wrote that growing up in the 1970s and 1980s with a single dad in Laurel Canyon was not an easy recipe for a grounded childhood, but she always knew her father loved her; she called him "a lover, not a fighter" and urged opening hearts and sharing love. An actor identified as Carradine’s niece posted that "Uncle Bobby was the best one of all 8 brothers, " recalled being cuddled when she visited her father in Los Angeles at 8 or 9 years old, praised his acting "by a THOUSAND MILES, " and described his kindness and decency despite mistakes.

A Carradine co-star from lizzie mcguire wrote that "this one hurts, " noting the warmth in the McGuire family and saying they were deeply sad to learn Robert had been suffering. Another lizzie mcguire castmate posted that his heart hurts, calling Robert one of the coolest guys, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric, and praising him as a talented actor, musician and director who was more than anything family.

The broader set of names attached to remembrances in the provided context includes Ever Carradine, Martha Plimpton and Hilary Duff, among others who have publicly reacted.

Mental health details, definitions and resources

The provided context describes bipolar disorder—formerly called manic depression—as a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and concentration. It says there are three types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I disorder, Bipolar II disorder and Cyclothymic disorder. Bipolar I is described as marked by manic episodes that last at least one week; manic episodes are prolonged periods of mood instability that can include extreme increases in energy or euphoria, or alternately feeling depressed or unusually irritable.

The National Institute of Mental Health statistics included in the context estimate that 4. 4% of U. S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives, about 11. 3 million people. The context also notes that several well-known performers have spoken about living with bipolar disorder, including Carrie Fisher, rapper Kanye "Ye" West, Selena Gomez and Halsey.

The context provides crisis resources for anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts: calling 988 any time day or night, or using the Crisis Text Line by dialing 741741 for free, confidential support.

• Selected public appearances listed in the provided context: Monte Walsh premiere, Jan. 8, 2003, Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank; SBIFF opening night "Ask The Dust, " Feb. 2, 2006, Arlington Theater, Santa Barbara; Night of 100 Stars Gala, Feb. 24, 2008, Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills; "King of the Nerds" panel, Oct. 9, 2014, New York Comic Con, Jacob Javitz Center; "A Night at Sardi's" benefit, March 9, 2016, The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills; premiere of The Zookeeper's Wife, March 27, 2017, ArcLight Hollywood; AFI Fest screening of Pee‑Wee's Big Adventure, Oct. 26, 2023, TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood.