Remembering Robert Carradine: A Life of Quiet Brilliance and Boundless Warmth
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Robert Carradine, who passed away at the age of 71. The beloved actor, best known for his roles in The Long Riders, Revenge of the Nerds, and the cherished Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire, died by suicide following a nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder. His passing has sent ripples of grief through Hollywood and beyond.
Born on March 24th, 1954, Robert was the youngest son of legendary actor John Carradine, and the youngest brother of David, Keith, and Christopher Carradine — a family whose contribution to American cinema is nothing short of extraordinary. It was, in fact, his brother David who first nudged Robert toward the camera, encouraging him to audition for his big-screen debut in 1972’s The Cowboys alongside the incomparable John Wayne. “You have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” David told him — words that would prove prophetic.
What followed was a career of remarkable range and quiet dignity. Robert appeared in Hal Ashby’s Oscar-winning Coming Home alongside Jane Fonda and Jon Voight, delivering a performance so nuanced it sparked genuine conversation about whether he might be the finest actor of his celebrated family. He then appeared in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets, cementing his place among a generation of seriously gifted performers.
Yet it was perhaps his warmth and gentle humor as Sam McGuire — devoted father to Hilary Duff’s beloved Lizzie — that endeared him most deeply to audiences worldwide. The role became a touchstone for an entire generation, and his presence on screen felt, above all else, like coming home.
His brother Keith Carradine spoke with both sorrow and fierce love in the wake of his passing. “There is no shame in it,” Keith said of Robert’s illness. “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.”
The family’s statement, released to Deadline, called Robert “a beacon of light” and urged the world to address the stigma surrounding mental illness — a final, generous act of advocacy from a family in grief.
Robert Carradine is survived by his children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces, nephews, and all who had the profound privilege of knowing him.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
