American actor Robert Carradine, known for his roles in ‘Lizzy McGuire,’ ‘The Long Riders,’ and ‘Revenge of the Nerds,’ has passed away at 71 following a two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder.
Carradine died by suicide on Monday, February 23. His family disclosed the late thespian had been struggling with bipolar disorder for years.
In a statement to Deadline, his brother, Keith Carradine, expressed his deep sadness over the actor’s passing.
“It is with profound sadness that we share that our beloved brother, Robert Carradine, has passed,” he said. “In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light.”
Keith acknowledged Robert’s long struggle with bipolar disorder, saying, “There is no shame in it. I want to celebrate him for his struggle and his beautiful soul.”
The family requested privacy as they mourned Robert and extended their gratitude to the public for their understanding during this difficult time.
The late thespian was born on March 24, 1954. He was the youngest son of the late legendary actor John Carradine and brother to David, Keith, and Christopher Carradine.
Robert’s journey in film and television began in the 1970’s with his debut film ‘The Cowboys’ and went on to secure his path as an actor with roles in ‘Mean Streets’ (1973), directed by Martin Scorsese, and ‘Coming Home’ (1978), alongside Jane Fonda and Jon Voight.
He was later recognised as a top actor for his role as Lewis Skolnick in the comedy hit ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ (1984).
Outside of the entertainment world and showbiz, Robert was a huge fan of race car driving, a passion that began with go-karting at a young age and remained a constant throughout his life.
He is survived by three children, the first with Susan Snyder in 1974, in a brief relationship that saw the birth of actress Ever Carradine, whom he raised as a single father.
He later married Edie Mani in 1990, and the couple was together for over 20 years before filing for divorce in 2016. He had two children, a daughter, Marica, and a son, Ian.
Several Hollywood stars, including Hilary Duff, Jake Thomas, and Jamie Lee Curtis, paid tribute to their late colleague, expressing their sorrow over his passing.
