Robert Carradine

He was a member of Carradine family dynasty, which began with his father, John Carradine.

• Name — Robert Carradine • Birth Name — Robert Reed Carradine • Born — 24 March 1954 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Died — 23 February 2026 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Death Cause — Suicide by hanging • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1971–2026 • Father — John Carradine • Family — Carradine • Children — 3, including Ever Carradine

Robert Reed Carradine was born on March 24, 1954, in the city of Los Angeles, to actress and artist Sonia Sorel (née Henius) and actor John Carradine. He is one of many actors in Carradine family. His full brothers are Christopher and Keith Carradine. He also had his two paternal half-brothers, Bruce Carradine and David Carradine, and a maternal half-brother named Michael Bowen. Carradine was also an uncle of actress Martha Plimpton. His maternal great-grandfather Max Henius, was a biochemist, and his maternal great-grandmother was the sister of historian Johan Ludvig Heiberg. Carradine's parents divorced when he was two. A bitter custody dispute ended with his father gaining custody of him and his two older brothers, Christopher and Keith. During the proceedings, the three sons spent three months in a home for abused children as wards of the court. His older brother, Keith, later recalled the experience: "It was like being in jail. There were bars on the windows, and we were only allowed to see our parents through glass doors. It was very sad. We would stand there on either side of the glass door crying". He was raised primarily by his stepmother, his father's third wife, Doris Grimshaw, and believed she was his mother until he met Sonia Sorel at a Christmas party when he was 14. While still in high school, he lived with his half-brother David in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles. Under David's care, he pursued two of his major interests: race-car driving and music. He and David performed together in a musical quartet that played small clubs in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Carradine's first television appearance came in 1971, such as in Western series Bonanza. Later, he appeared in his brother David's series Kung Fu as Sunny Jim, the mute companion of Serenity Johnson, played by their father, John Carradine, in the 1972 episode "Dark Angel". In 1979, he appeared alongside Melissa Sue Anderson in The Survival of Dana. In 1984, he portrayed Robert Cohn in the television miniseries adaption of Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. He also appeared in the 1987 HBO miniseries Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8. Carradine guest-starred in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Gone" (2005), playing a character loosely based on Bobby Fischer, and appeared in the television series Jane Doe, directed by James A. Contner, in 2007. From 2001 to 2004, Carradine portrayed as father Sam McGuire in Disney Channel sitcom series Lizzie McGuire, starring with Hallie Todd, Hilary Duff, and Jake Thomas. This series is widely popular among young viewers, and its realistic portrayal of adolescent issues also appealed to parents. Later, he appeared in ER episode "Sleepless in Chicago" alongside his Revenge of the Nerds co-star Anthony Edwards. In January 2013, Carradine reunited with Revenge of the Nerds co-star Curtis Armstrong to host King of the Nerds on TBS, a reality competition series. In 2015, he appeared on a fourth-season episode of Celebrity Wife Swap with Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens.

Carradine had three children. His eldest daughter, Ever Carradine, was born in 1974, with Susan Snyder. Ever is also an actress, known for her roles in The Handmaid's Tale and Runaways. In 1990, Carradine married Edith "Edie" Mani, and they had two children together, Marika and Ian. The couple filed to divorce in 2015, after a 25 year marriage, and three years later finalizing themselves.

Carradine was diagnosed with bipolar disorder for two decades. A statement from Carradine's family, as paraphrased by USA Today, said his death was "the culmination of a longtime battle with mental illness". In 2015, Carradine and his then-wife, Edith, were both injured in a car crash in Colorado. In the aftermath of accident, Robert was issued a citation and was ordered to pay a fine. Edith alleged in divorce court documents that Carradine had confessed to intentionally driving into the truck in a murder-suicide attempt, and that his bipolar disorder worsened after he became depressed following the death of his oldest paternal half-brother David Carradine. Before his death, Carradine had reportedly missed a table read for an upcoming project. His older brother, Keith, stated that it was an "illness that got the best of him". On January 17, 2026, Carradine was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest after checking into UCLA's Resnick Psychiatric Hospital, a day before. He was admitted to ICU, where his condition continued to decline until his death on February 23 of the same year, at the age of 71. His cause and manner of death was ruled as suicide by hanging, confirmed by People Magazine and as well as Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. He was cremated and his whole ashes were scattered into the sea. In August 2026, his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the hospital for failing to remove his belt when Carradine admitted himself.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference • 1971 — Bonanza — Phinney McLean — Episode: "A Home for Jamie" • 1972 — Footsteps — Gas Station Attendant — Television film • 1972 — Kung Fu — Sonny Jim — Episode: "Dark Angel" • 1973 — Go Ask Alice — Bill — Television film • 1974 — The Cowboys — Slim — Series regular (12 episodes) • 1975 — The Hatfields and McCoys — Bob Hatfield — Television film • Run, Joe, Run — Flip — Episode: "The Runaway" • 1976 — Police Story — Clifford — 2 episodes • 1979 — Survival of Dana — Donny Davis — Television film • 1981 — Jack London's Tales of the Klondike — Percy Cuthfert III — Miniseries; episode: "In a Far Country" • 1984 — The Fall Guy — Gardner — Episode: "October the 31st" • The Sun Also Rises — Robert Cohn — Miniseries • 1985 — Alfred Hitchcock Presents — Jerry — Episode: "Night Fever" • 1986 — The Twilight Zone — Daniel Arnold (segment "Still Life") — Episode: "Still Life / The Little People of Killany Woods / The Misfortune Cookie" • 1984 — Faerie Tale Theatre — Aladdin — Episode: "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp" • 1986 — As Is — Rich — Television film • Monte Carlo — Bobby Morgan — 2 episodes • 1987 — The Magical World of Disney — John Fairfield — Episode: "The Liberators" • Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 — Rennie Davis — Television documentary • 1988 — Totally Minnie — Maxwell Dwebb — Television film • I Saw What You Did — Adrian Lancer • 1989 — The Hitchhiker — Frank — Episode: "Garter Belt" • 1990 — The Incident — Domsczek — Television film • Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture — Police Sergeant Jerry Brown • Clarence — Clarence Odbody • 1991 — K-9 — Jack Bergin • Doublecrossed — Dave Booker • 1992 — Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation — Lewis "Lew" Skolnick • Illusions — Greg – Husband • 1993 — The Tommyknockers — Bryant Brown — Miniseries (2 episodes) • Body Bags — Bill (segment "The Gas Station) — Television film • The Disappearance of Christina — Michael Croft • 1994 — Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love — Lewis Skolnick — Television film; also co-producer • A Part of the Family — Ted — Television film • 1995 — Sirens — Detective Marty Manger — Episode: "Angel Falling" • ER — John Koch — Episode: "Sleepless in Chicago" • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman — Joey Bermuda / The Handyman — Episode: "Home Is Where the Hurt Is" • 1995–96 — Kung Fu: The Legend Continues — Taige / Paulson — 2 episodes • 1996 — Humanoids from the Deep — Wade Parker — Television film • Dark Skies — Lonnie Zamora — Episode: "Hostile Convergence" • 1997 — The Pretender — Sheriff Dwight Kunkle — Episode: "Mirage" • NYPD Blue — Gerard Salter — Episode: "What a Dump!" • The Practice — Dr. Red Manheim — Episode: "Dog Bite" • 1997–98 — Fast Track — unknown role — 2 episodes • 1997–2000 — Nash Bridges — Dr. Bruce Hartman / Dr. Hartman, D.D.S. — 2 episodes • 1998 — Young Hearts Unlimited — Eddie — Television film • Martian Law — Unknown role • 1999 — Vengeance Unlimited — Darin Carter — Episode: "Friends" • 2000 — Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire — Malachi Van Helsing — Television film • E! True Hollywood Story — Himself — Episode: "David Carradine" • 2001–04 — Lizzie McGuire — Sam McGuire — Main role; 65 episodes; director: "Lizzie's Eleven" • 2003 — Monte Walsh — Sunfish Perkins — Television film • 2005 — Law & Order: Criminal Intent — David Blake / Roger Withers — Episode: "Gone" • Attack of the Sabertooth — Grant — Television film • 2006 — Dreamweaver — The Interpreter • 2007 — Jane Doe: Ties That Bind — Everett / Gary / David • 2008 — Robot Chicken — Lewis Skolnick / Man / Chef — Voice; episode: "Boo Cocky" • 2011 — Workers' Comp — Kevin — Television film • 2012 — Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt — Arthur Gallery • 2013–15 — King of the Nerds — Himself / host — Series regular (24 episodes); executive producer (8 episodes) • 2013 — Celebrity Ghost Stories — Himself — Episode: "Marlee Matlin / Kim Carnes / Robert Carradine" • 2014 — Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda — Dr. Rico Symes — Television film • 2015 — Celebrity Wife Swap — Himself — Episode: "Robert Carradine / Terrell Owens" • 2016 — Medinah — Russo — Episode: "Problem with the World" • 2017 — Mommy, I Didn't Do It — Judge Roth — Television film • Doubt — Walter Costello — Episode: "Finally" • Doomsday — Alexander Baird — Television film • 2018 — James Blondes — Jungle Whisper — Episode: "Blondes in the Jungle" • 2019 — Tales of the Wild West — Robert Carradine / Frank James — 2 episodes

The authorities additionally record the heading Robert Reed Carradine. His recorded language was English. He was the child of John Carradine and Sonia Sorel. One child is recorded: Ever Carradine. Other recorded relations include Martha Plimpton.

Robert Carradine is recorded as actor, racing automobile driver, film producer, composer and television director.

Carradine made his film debut in 1972 in The Cowboys, starring John Wayne. He also appeared in a short‑lived television series of the same name based on the film. He later played a killer in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, shooting the character portrayed by his brother David. During this period, he worked with David on several independent projects, including the biker film You and Me (1975) and an unreleased musical titled A Country Mile. He also did camera work for David's Vietnam War-inspired film Americana, which was not released until 1983. In 1976, Carradine had the chance to demonstrate what he described as his "first ambition", car racing, when he played Jim Cantrell in Paul Bartel's Cannonball. His character wins the cross-country road race, beating the favorite, Coy "Cannonball" Buckman, played by David. In 1977, Robert appeared in the killer-whale thriller Orca. Carradine joined other Hollywood offspring in 1977 film Joyride, starring alongside Desi Arnaz Jr., Melanie Griffith, and Anne Lockhart in a story about young Californians traveling to Washington and Alaska to seek their fortunes. In 1978, he landed a role in Hal Ashby's Oscar-winning Vietnam War drama Coming Home, starring Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. His performance led to speculation declaring him the strongest actor in the Carradine family. Carradine played a key role in assembling one of the most unusual casting ensembles in film history when he and his two brothers David and Keith portrayed the Younger brothers in The Long Riders (1980), alongside three other sets of acting brothers: Stacy and James Keach, Dennis and Randy Quaid, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest. Also in 1980, he co-starred with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin in Samuel Fuller's The Big Red One, a World War II drama based on Fuller's own experiences. Carradine's character, modeled on Fuller, narrates the film. In 1983, he starred opposite Cherie Currie of the Runaways in the science fiction film Wavelength, playing a washed‑up rock musician who helps extraterrestrials escape from a military base. He performed several of his own compositions for the film, including one named after his daughter Ever. That same year, he appeared as the love interest in the Motels' music video for the song "Suddenly Last Summer." In 1984, he starred as Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds, becoming one of his most successful roles. To prepare for the role, he spent time at the University of Arizona during rush week; no fraternity selected him, reinforcing his sense that he was right for the part. He reprised the role in three sequels, serving as executive producer on the latter two. In 2000, Carradine co-starred with Caroline Rhea in Disney Channel Original Movie Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire. In 2001, while appearing in Lizzie McGuire, he portrayed Max's father Donald Keeble in Max Keeble's Big Move. In 2003, he reprised his role as Sam McGuire in Disney's teen comedy film The Lizzie McGuire Movie.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference • 1972 — The Cowboys — Slim Honeycutt – Cowboy • 1973 — Mean Streets — Boy with Gun • 1974 — You and Me — Gas Station attendant — Credited as Bob Carradine • 1975 — Aloha Bobby and Rose — Moxey • 1976 — Revenge of the Cheerleaders — Student in Cafeteria — Uncredited • Jackson County Jail — Bobby Ray • The Pom Pom Girls — Johnnie • Cannonball! — Jim Crandell • Massacre at Central High — Spoony • 1977 — Joyride — John • Orca — Ken • 1978 — Coming Home — Bill Munson • Blackout — Christie • 1980 — The Long Riders — Bob Younger • The Big Red One — Private Zab – 1st Squad • 1981 — Heartaches — Stanley Howard • 1982 — Tag: The Assassination Game — Alex Marsh • 1983 — Wavelength — Bobby Sinclair • 1984 — Revenge of the Nerds — Lewis • Just the Way You Are — Sam Carpenter • 1987 — Number One with a Bullet — Detective Barzak • Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise — Lewis • 1988 — Buy & Cell — Herbie Altman • 1989 — All's Fair — Mark • Rude Awakening — Sammy Margolin • 1992 — Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation — Lewis • The Player — Robert Carradine • 1993 — The Tommyknockers — Bryant Brown • 1994 — Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love — Lewis • 1995 — Bird of Prey — Eric Parker • The Killers Within — Ben Wallace • 1996 — Escape from L.A. — Skinhead • 1997 — Firestorm — Tarmac • 1998 — Scorpio One — Carter • The Effects of Magic — Roody • Breakout — Zack Hadley — Direct-to-video • 1999 — Palmer's Pick-Up — Bruce Palmer • Gunfighter — The Kid • Lycanthrope — Bill Parker — Also producer • The Kid with X-ray Eyes — Chuck Taylor — Direct-to-video • Stray Bullet — John Burnside • The Vegas Connection — Matt Chance • 2000 — Dangerous Curves — John Burnside • 2001 — Ghosts of Mars — Rodale • Max Keeble's Big Move — Don Keeble • 2002 — Three Days of Rain — Bus Driver — Uncredited • 2003 — The Lizzie McGuire Movie — Sam McGuire • Timecop: The Berlin Decision — Big Jim — Direct-to-video • 2005 — Supercross — Clay Sparks • 2006 — Hoboken Hollow — Thad Simmons • Monster Night — George Ackerman — Direct-to-video • 2007 — 7-10 Split — Mr. Bailey • Tooth and Nail — Darwin • Sex and Breakfast — Angry Driver • 2008 — The 13th Alley — Hal • Deep Winter — Coach Dando • 2010 — The Terror Experiment — Dr. Wexler • 2011 — Final Sale — Bownman • Fancypants — Allen • Cross — Dr. Zyal — Direct-to-video • My Dog's Christmas Miracle — Professor Jerry Meinhardt — Direct-to-video • 2012 — Slumber Party Slaughter — Dave • Bikini Spring Break — Gill — Direct-to-video • Django Unchained — Tracker • The Collector — Johnny — Short film • 2017 — A Fish Tale — Anthony • Justice — Stratton Collins • 2019 — The Marshal — Frank James • Nearly Departed — Marv • American Christmas — Danny • 2020 — Human Zoo — Producer • 2021 — High Holiday — Hunter Pearson • 2024 — The Night They Came Home — Bart • Was Once a Hero — Doc Jennings • 2025 — Let's Call the Whole Thing Off — Bill • 2026 — Skate to Hell — Virgil • Pay to Die — Officer • Night of the Rising Dead — Bill — Posthumous release • The Cowboy Killer — Detective Flannery • TBA — Sorority Shark Attack — Professor Marvin — Post-production; posthumous release