Robert Carradine, best known for his roles in The Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire, has died at the age of 71. His brother, actor Keith Carradine, revealed that Robert took his own life following a nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder.
In a statement to Deadline, Carradine’s family said, “It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away. 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 during his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder. We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness.
At this time we ask for privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion.”
Keith Carradine said his brother’s bipolar disorder “got the best of him,” while emphasizing that there is “no shame” in mental illness. “We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” he said. “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 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.”
Carradine made his film debut in 1972’s The Cowboys opposite John Wayne. He later appeared alongside Jane Fonda and Jon Voight in the Oscar-winning drama Coming Home, and starred in Martin Scorsese’s 1973 film Mean Streets. He also appeared with his brothers, David and Keith Carradine, in Walter Hill’s The Long Riders.
He achieved wider recognition in 1984’s Revenge of the Nerds and later introduced himself to a new generation of audiences as Sam McGuire, the father on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire and its 2003 feature film adaptation.
Robert Carradine was part of the famed Carradine acting family. His half-brother, actor David Carradine, died in 2009 at age 72.
Rest in Peace, Robert.
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