Robert Carradine, star of Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire and a member of the Carradine acting dynasty, has died aged 71.
In a statement, the American actor’s family confirmed he died by suicide on February 23 after a “valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder”.
“It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away,” the family told Deadline.
“In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon on light to everyone around him. We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul.
“We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness.”
Older brother and fellow actor Keith Carradine said the family wanted the public to know about Carradine’s battle with the mental illness, adding, “[T]here is no shame in it”.
“It is an illness that got the best of him, and I want to celebrate him for his struggle with it, and celebrate his beautiful soul,” he told Deadline.
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“He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day.”
Carradine was part of a famous showbiz family, born to two actors – mother Sonia Sorel and father John Carradine.
His older brother Keith and half-brothers Michael Bowen and the late Bruce and David Carradine also carved out careers on the screen and worked together on various projects.
Carradine’s daughter Ever Carradine is also an actress, as is his niece Martha Plimpton.
The actor made his big-screen debut alongside John Wayne in 1972’s The Cowboys and later starred in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets.
Other memorable roles include Joyride, Coming Home and The Long Riders, in which he starred alongside his brothers.
Carradine appeared as lead nerd Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds and its three sequels, and millennials will remember him as the father of Hilary Duff‘s titular character in the 2000s Disney TV series Lizzie McGuire.
The actress and singer has paid tribute to her on-screen dad via Instagram, saying it was “hard to face this reality about an old friend.”
“This one hurts,” Duff captioned photos of the pair on the set of the hit show.
“There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. I’ll be forever grateful for that.
“I’m deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him.”
Jake Thomas, the actor who played Carradine’s son, said he was “funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric.”
“My heart hurts today. I was fortunate to know Bobby for most of my life. And he was one of the coolest guys you could ever meet,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
“He was a talented actor, musician, and director. But more than anything, he was family. I have many fond memories being with him and his family throughout my life.”
The star is survived by two daughters, Ever and Marika, and a son, Ian.
Ever, who has starred in The Handmaid’s Tale and Goliath, shared a series of photos taken with her father a she paid tribute to him on Instagram.
“Growing up in the 70s and 80 with a single dad in Laurel Canyon is not exactly the recipe for a grounded childhood, but somehow mine was,” the actress wrote.
“Whenever anyone asks me how I turned out so normal, I always tell them it’s because of my dad. I knew my dad loved me, I knew it deep in my bones, and I always knew he had my back. ….
“My dad was a lover, not a fighter. He was all heart, and in a world so full of conflict and division, I think we can all take a page out of his book today, open our hearts and feel and share the love.”
Martha Plimpton also remembered her late uncle on Instagram, describing him as “dear, and loving, and nonjudgmental.”
“My Uncle Bobby was the best one of all 8 brothers; blood, adopted, and step. Out of all of them, he was the absolute best,” the actress wrote in a lengthy caption.
“He was the one who cuddled me when I came to visit my father in LA for the first time at 8 or 9 years old. He cuddled and kidded me for being the only Carradine from New York.
“I love you, Bobby. You made my world happier. I will miss you enormously.”
If you or someone you know is in need of support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue or in the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).
