Robert Carradine, a member of the famed acting family best known for his roles in “Revenge of the Nerds” and “Lizzie McGuire,” has died by suicide at 71. Carradine died after years of living with bipolar disorder, his family said in a statement to the media, adding that they hoped to raise awareness about the condition.
In a statement to the entertainment outlet Deadline on Monday, Carradine’s family said they were deeply saddened by the loss of their beloved father, grandfather, uncle and brother. They described him as a source of light to those around him, noted his nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder and expressed hope that his story would help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. The family also asked for privacy as they mourn.
His older brother, actor Keith Carradine (“Nashville,” “Dexter”), told Deadline the family wanted the public to know about his brother’s mental illness.
“We want people to know there is no shame in this,” he said. “I want to celebrate his struggle and celebrate his beautiful soul. He was exceptionally talented, and we will miss him every day. My little brother was so funny, so smart, and full of empathy and tolerance.”
Hilary Duff, who played Lizzie McGuire, his daughter on the series, also paid tribute on social media. “It hurts. It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend,” she wrote. “There was so much warmth in the McGuire family, and I always felt like my on-screen parents were taking care of me and looking out for me. I will be forever grateful for that. I deeply sad to learn that Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him and for everyone who loved him.”
Carradine was born in 1954 to artist Sonia Sorel and actor John Carradine. He had two half-brothers from his father’s first marriage, David and Bruce, and two brothers, Keith and Christopher; all but Christopher worked in acting in various capacities throughout their lives.
His first film role was alongside John Wayne in the 1972 film “The Cowboys.” He later appeared in the Oscar-winning “Coming Home” and Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets.” In 1980, he starred in the Western “The Long Riders” alongside his brothers David and Keith.
His biggest success came in 1984 when he starred in the comedy “Revenge of the Nerds,” and he went on to appear in its three sequels. In later years, he found renewed popularity as Sam, Lizzie McGuire’s father, appearing opposite Duff in the hit children’s series that aired from 2001 to 2004.
In 2009, his brother David died at 72 of asphyxiation in a hotel room in Thailand. Carradine later said his mental illness intensified following his brother’s death, and he was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Carradine had three children: actor Ever Carradine (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) from his marriage to Susan Snyder, and Marika and Ian from his marriage to Edith Mani. During the couple’s 2017 divorce proceedings, Mani alleged that Carradine tried to kill them both in a 2015 car crash in Colorado; Carradine acknowledged he had been in a “psychotic state” at the time.