Robert Carradine, known for his roles in Lizzie McGuire and the Revenge of the Nerds series, has passed away at the age of 71 following a long and courageous battle with bipolar disorder, his family confirmed.
In a statement to Deadline on Monday, Feb. 23, his family said, “It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother, Robert Carradine. In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to those around him. We mourn the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge his nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder. We hope his journey can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. At this time, we ask for privacy as we grieve. We are grateful for your understanding and compassion.”
Carradine made his film debut in 1972, appearing opposite John Wayne in The Cowboys. Encouraged by his brother David Carradine to audition, he launched a career as part of the famed Carradine acting family. His father, John Carradine, was one of Hollywood’s most prolific character actors, appearing in classics such as The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and Stagecoach.
Over the years, Robert appeared in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets (1973) and Hal Ashby’s Oscar-winning Coming Home (1978), starring alongside Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. He gained widespread recognition playing Lewis Skolnick in the Revenge of the Nerds series and appeared in Escape from L.A. (1996) with Kurt Russell.
Carradine is also remembered for portraying Sam McGuire, Lizzie’s father, on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire and The Lizzie McGuire Movie from 2001 to 2004. After his passing, Hilary Duff paid tribute to him on Instagram, sharing photos from the set and writing, “This one hurts… I’ll be forever grateful for the warmth and care from my on-screen parents. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him.”
Jake Thomas, who played Lizzie’s younger brother Matt, also shared a heartfelt post, describing Carradine as “funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric” and praising him as a talented actor, musician, and director who was “more than anything… family.”
Carradine’s brother, Keith Carradine, known for Pretty Baby and Dexter, encouraged public awareness of bipolar disorder, saying, “There is no shame in it. It’s an illness that got the best of him, but we celebrate his struggle and his beautiful soul. He was profoundly gifted, funny, wise, and utterly accepting. That’s who my baby brother was.”
His niece, actress Martha Plimpton, called him “everyone’s favorite uncle.” Carradine is survived by his children—Ever Carradine with ex Susan Snyder, and Marika Reed Carradine and Ian Alexander Carradine with his ex-wife Edie Mani—as well as grandchildren, brothers, nieces, and nephews.
