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'Revenge of the Nerds' actor Robert Carradine passes away at 71
The actor died at 71 after a nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder, his family confirmed
Robert Carradine, beloved actor known for his roles in Lizzie McGuire and Revenge of the Nerds, has died at the age of 71, following a nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder, his family confirmed.
The actor’s brother, Keith Carradine, revealed that Robert took his own life after struggling with the mental health condition, which causes extreme mood swings.
“It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away,” the family said in a statement to Deadline.
“In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him. We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby’s valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder.”
Keith Carradine added that Robert’s illness “got the best of him” but emphasized that there is no shame in mental health struggles.
“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it. It is an illness that got the best of him, and I want to celebrate him for his struggle and celebrate his beautiful soul. He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day. We will take solace in how funny he could be, how wise and utterly accepting and tolerant he was. That’s who my baby brother was.”
Robert Carradine began his film career in the 1972 western The Cowboys opposite John Wayne and went on to appear alongside Jane Fonda and Jon Voight in the Oscar-winning Coming Home.
He also starred in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets 1973 and appeared with his brothers David and Keith in Walter Hill’s The Long Riders.
He rose to wider fame in 1984 with the comedy Revenge of the Nerds and later became familiar to a new generation as Sam McGuire, father of Lizzie, in Disney’s Lizzie McGuire TV series and The Lizzie McGuire Movie 2003.
Robert was part of the renowned Carradine acting family. His half-brother, David Carradine, star of Kill Bill, passed away in 2009 at age 72.
The family has requested privacy as they grieve Robert’s loss but hopes his story will help shed light on mental health struggles and encourage others to seek support.