Actor Robert Carradine passes away at 71

Robert Carradine has passed away at the age of 71. He died by suicide. The actor was renowned for his roles in The Long Riders, Revenge of the Nerds, and Lizzie McGuire.

A cherished member of the famous acting family, Robert served as a foundation for his relatives, as described by his older brother Keith Carradine. 

However, he faced a lengthy battle with Bipolar Disorder that eventually overwhelmed him.

The family conveyed this message to Deadline: “With great sadness, we announce that our dear father, grandfather, uncle, and brother, Robert Carradine, has left us. In a world that often seems dark, Bobby was always a source of light for those around him. We are heartbroken by the loss of this wonderful soul and wish to highlight Bobby’s brave fight against his nearly twenty-year struggle with Bipolar Disorder. We hope his story sparks a discussion about the stigma surrounding mental illness. At this moment, we request privacy to mourn this incomprehensible loss. Thank you for your kindness and understanding.”

Keith Carradine expressed the family’s desire for people to know about what he described as his brother’s courageous battle with Bipolar Disorder.

“There is no disgrace in it; we want that to be known,” he stated. “It is an illness that defeated him, yet I wish to honor him for his struggle against it and celebrate his beautiful essence. He was incredibly talented, and we will miss him daily. We find comfort in recalling how humorous, wise, and exceptionally accepting and tolerant he was. That is who my younger brother was.”

Robert Carradine leaves behind his children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, and everyone fortunate enough to have known him. His family requests privacy during this time.

Born on March 24th, 1954, Carradine was the youngest child of actor John Carradine, brother of actors David Carradine, Keith Carradine, and Disney Imagineer Christopher Carradine. 

He made his film debut in 1972 alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys, a role encouraged by his brother David, who told him he “had everything to gain, and nothing to lose.” 

He went on to carve his own niche in acting, featuring in Hal Ashby’s Oscar-winning Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. 

This performance sparked discussions that he might be the most talented actor in his family. He followed up with Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets in 1973.

In 1980, Robert had two movies featured at the Cannes Film Festival: Samuel Fuller’s semi-autobiographical The Big Red One with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin, and Walter Hill’s The Long Riders, which he co-starred in alongside his brothers, David and Keith. 

His notable film success came in 1984 with Revenge of the Nerds, where he played the lead nerd, Lewis Skolnick, alongside Anthony Edwards. 

This role ingrained him in the collective memory of a generation and became one of the most adored series of the era. 

In later years, he attracted a new generation of fans as the father in the Lizzie McGuire TV show.