Robert Carradine

American actor (1954–2026)

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Robert Reed Carradine ( KARR-ə-deen; March 24, 1954 – February 23, 2026) was an American actor. A member of the Carradine family, he made his first appearances on television Western series such as Bonanza and his brother David's TV series, Kung Fu. Carradine is also well remembered for his roles as fraternity nerd Lewis Skolnick in the Revenge of the Nerds films and Sam McGuire in the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire.

Early life

Robert Reed Carradine was born on March 24, 1954, in Los Angeles, to actress and artist Sonia Sorel (née Henius) and actor John Carradine. He was one of many actors in the Carradine family. He was the brother of Christopher and Keith Carradine, a paternal half-brother of Bruce and David Carradine, and a maternal half-brother of Michael Bowen. His maternal great-grandfather was the biochemist Max Henius, and his maternal great-grandmother was the sister of historian Johan Ludvig Heiberg.

Carradine's parents divorced when he was two. A bitter custody dispute ended with his father gaining custody of him and his brothers, Christopher and Keith. During the proceedings, the children spent three months in a home for abused children as wards of the court. His brother Keith later recalled the experience: "It was like being in jail. There were bars on the windows, and we were only allowed to see our parents through glass doors. It was very sad. We would stand there on either side of the glass door crying".

He was raised primarily by his stepmother, his father's third wife, Doris Grimshaw, and believed she was his mother until he met Sonia Sorel at a Christmas party when he was 14. While still in high school, he lived with his half-brother David in Laurel Canyon, California. Under David's care, he pursued two of his major interests: race-car driving and music. He and David performed together in a musical quartet that played small clubs in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Career

Film

Carradine made his film debut in 1972 in The Cowboys, starring John Wayne. He also appeared in a short‑lived television series of the same name based on the film. He later played a killer in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, shooting the character portrayed by his brother David.

During this period, he collaborated with David on several independent projects, including the biker film You and Me (1975) and an unreleased musical titled A Country Mile. He also handled camera work for David's Vietnam War-inspired cult film Americana, which was not released until 1983.

In 1976, Carradine had the chance to demonstrate what he described as his "first ambition", car racing, when he played Jim Cantrell in Paul Bartel's Cannonball. His character wins the cross-country road race, beating the favorite, Coy "Cannonball" Buckman, played by David. In 1977, Robert appeared in the killer-whale thriller Orca.

Carradine joined other Hollywood offspring in the 1977 film Joyride, starring alongside Desi Arnaz, Jr., Melanie Griffith, and Anne Lockhart in a story about young Californians traveling to Washington and Alaska to seek their fortunes.

In 1978, he landed a demanding role in Hal Ashby's Oscar-winning Vietnam War drama Coming Home, starring Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. His performance prompted speculation that he might be the strongest actor in the Carradine family.

Carradine played a key role in assembling one of the most unusual casting ensembles in film history when he and his brothers David and Keith portrayed the Younger brothers in The Long Riders (1980), alongside three other sets of acting brothers: Stacy and James Keach, Dennis and Randy Quaid, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest.

Also in 1980, he co-starred with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin in Samuel Fuller's The Big Red One, a World War II drama based on Fuller's own experiences. Carradine's character, modeled on Fuller, narrates the film.

In 1983, he starred opposite Cherie Currie of the Runaways in the science fiction film Wavelength, playing a washed‑up rock musician who helps extraterrestrials escape from a military base. He performed several of his own compositions for the film, including one named after his daughter Ever. That same year, he appeared as the love interest in the Motels' music video for the hit song "Suddenly Last Summer."

Carradine achieved his greatest commercial success in 1984 when he starred as Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds. To prepare for the role, he spent time at the University of Arizona during rush week; no fraternity selected him, reinforcing his sense that he was right for the part. He reprised the role in three sequels, serving as executive producer on the latter two. He later appeared with co‑stars Andrew Cassese and Don Gibb at the 2018 Niagara Falls Comic Con.

In 2001, he played Donald Keeble in Max Keeble's Big Move. In 2000, he co-starred with Caroline Rhea in Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire and he reprised his role as Sam McGuire in The Lizzie McGuire Movie in 2003.

Television

Carradine's first television appearance came in 1971 on the Western series Bonanza. He later appeared on his brother David's series Kung Fu as Sunny Jim, the mute companion of Serenity Johnson, played by their father, John Carradine, in the 1972 episode "Dark Angel." In 1979, he appeared alongside Melissa Sue Anderson in The Survival of Dana. In 1984, he portrayed Robert Cohn in the television miniseries adaption of Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. He also appeared in the 1987 HBO miniseries Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8. Carradine guest-starred in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Gone" (2005), playing a character loosely based on Bobby Fischer, and appeared in the television series Jane Doe, directed by James A. Contner, in 2007.

From 2001 to 2004, Carradine played father Sam McGuire on Lizzie McGuire, starring Hilary Duff. The series was widely popular among young viewers, and its realistic portrayal of adolescent issues also appealed to parents. He later appeared in the ER episode "Sleepless in Chicago" alongside his Revenge of the Nerds co-star Anthony Edwards.

In January 2013, Carradine reunited with Revenge of the Nerds co-star Curtis Armstrong to host King of the Nerds on TBS, a reality competition series. In 2015, he appeared on a fourth-season episode of Celebrity Wife Swap with Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens.

Personal life and death

Carradine had three children: actress Ever Carradine, with Susan Snyder, and Marika and Ian with his ex‑wife Edie Mani. He was also the uncle of actress Martha Plimpton.

Carradine died by suicide in Los Angeles, California on February 23, 2026, at the age of 71, after battling bipolar disorder for two decades. His death was announced by his brother Keith.