- Robert Carradine has died at 71
- Legacy family, friends and co-stars pay tribute
- A life in film, a legacy beyond the screen
The film world is mourning the death of actor Robert Carradine, who has died at the age of 71. According to his family, the star of 'Revenge' of the 'Nerds' and 'Lizzie McGuire' took his own life after living with bipolar disorder for many years, as reported by The Guardian.
In a joint statement, the family described Carradine as “a light for everyone around him” and spoke of an “inconceivable loss.” At the same time, his relatives emphasized how important it is to break the stigma surrounding mental illness, combining their grief with an urgent appeal.
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Keith Carradine Pays Tribute to His Brother’s Fight
Actor Keith Carradine spoke openly about his younger brother’s mental illness. “We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” he explained, according to Variety. He said he wanted to honor Robert for the way he had dealt with his illness and celebrate his “beautiful soul.”
Keith remembered a “deeply gifted” man who was loved for his wisdom, tolerance, and humor. The death of his half-brother David Carradine in 2009 had hit Robert hard; in later interviews, he described how it had triggered his own struggles.
Career From Westerns to 'Lizzie McGuire'
Robert Carradine was born in 1954 as the youngest son of actor John Carradine and grew up in a family of artists. He made his film debut in 1972 in the western The Cowboys alongside John Wayne. This was followed by roles in 'Coming Home' and Martin Scorsese’s 'Mean Streets.' In 1980, he appeared with his brothers David and Keith in 'The Long Riders,' in which several famous pairs of brothers portrayed historical outlaw families.
He achieved international cult status in 1984 with the college comedy 'Revenge of the Nerds,' playing the lead character "Lewis Skolnick" and later reprising the role in several sequels.
Father Figure in 'Lizzie McGuire' Shapes a New Generation
In the early 2000s, Carradine became a TV father figure for a younger audience. In the Disney series 'Lizzie McGuire,' he played family patriarch "Sam McGuire," appearing in 65 episodes alongside Hilary Duff.
Other projects included films such as Escape from L.A., The Big Red One, Body Bags, and an appearance in Quentin Tarantino’s 'Django Unchained.' His relationship with Susan Snyder produced his daughter Ever Carradine, who also works as an actress. He had two more children with his later wife, Edith Mani, before the couple divorced after 25 years of marriage.
Hilary Duff and Jake Thomas Say a Touching Goodbye
The reactions from his 'Lizzie McGuire' family were particularly emotional. “This one hurts,” actress Hilary Duff wrote on Instagram. It was “It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend. 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,” said Duff, expressing her sympathy to the family.
Series son Jake Thomas called Carradine “one of the coolest guys you could ever meet” and emphasized, “More than anything, he was family.” He said he will cherish the many shared moments — beautiful, challenging, and full of laughter.
