Family confirms cause of death
Robert Carradine dies aged 71, his family confirmed in a statement.
The US actor, best known for roles in Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire, took his own life after living with bipolar disorder for nearly two decades, according to his family.
They said they chose to share details surrounding his death in order to raise awareness about “the stigma that attaches to mental illness”.
“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” his brother Keith told Deadline.
Tributes from co-stars
Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff led tributes to her former on-screen father, writing on Instagram: “This one hurts. It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend.”
She added: “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.”
Career spanning five decades
Born on 24 March 1954, Carradine was the youngest son of John Carradine and brother of actors David and Keith Carradine.
Encouraged by his brother David, he auditioned for 1972’s The Cowboys, a John Wayne film that became his first screen role.
He went on to appear in Martin Scorsese’s 1973 film Mean Streets, Oscar-winning Coming Home (1978), alongside Jane Fonda, The Long Riders (1980), with Mark Hamill, The Big Red One (1980) and Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained in 2012.
He was best known for playing Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds, one of the most popular film franchises of the 1980s, and for portraying the father of Lizzie McGuire in the Disney Channel series during the 2000s.
Family statement
In a statement announcing his death, his family said they were sharing the news “with profound sadness”, describing him as a “beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother”.
“In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him,” they said.
“We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby’s valiant struggle against 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.”
They added: “At this time we ask for the privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion.”
In a separate statement to Deadline, Keith Carradine 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.”
Also read: Eric Dane has died at 53 after battle with ALS
Source: BBC
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