Robert Carradine Death Ruled Suicide After 20 Year Bipolar Battle

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has officially ruled Robert Carradine’s death a suicide, bringing a heartbreaking close to the actor’s nearly two decade struggle with bipolar disorder that his family bravely chose to make public.

The beloved star of Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire passed away on Monday, February 23, at the age of 71. The cause of death was listed as sequelae of anoxic brain injury from hanging, meaning a lack of oxygen to the brain. His brother Keith Carradine confirmed the news, sharing details the family hopes will spark important conversations about mental health.

Family Breaks Silence on Mental Health Struggle

The Carradine family made a powerful decision in the hours after Robert’s death. They chose complete transparency about his battle with bipolar disorder.

“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” Keith Carradine told reporters. “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.”

Robert was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder following the 2009 death of his half brother David Carradine, who died under disputed circumstances in a Bangkok hotel room. Friends and family said David’s death shook Robert deeply and triggered a decline in his mental health that lasted nearly two decades.

The family’s official statement described Robert as “a beacon of light to everyone around him” and acknowledged his “valiant struggle” with the illness. They expressed hope that his story would encourage others to confront the stigma attached to mental health conditions.

Hollywood Mourns a Beloved Actor and Friend

Tributes poured in from across Hollywood following news of Carradine’s passing.

Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis shared an emotional tribute, revealing that Carradine was her “first love” during the late 1970s. The two met on The Dinah Shore Show, where Curtis recalled that Bobby “rearranged where we were all sitting so that he could sit next to me and he kissed me, live on television.”

Curtis described their time together as her “first experience with domesticity and motherhood and partnership” as she helped raise his young daughter Ever in their Laurel Canyon home.

Hilary Duff, who played Carradine’s onscreen daughter on Lizzie McGuire, also shared her grief. “This one hurts,” she wrote on Instagram. “There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on screen parents.”

Jake Thomas, who portrayed Duff’s brother on the show, called Carradine “one of the coolest guys you could ever meet” and remembered him as “funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric.”

A Career That Spanned Five Decades

Robert Carradine built an impressive career that touched multiple generations of viewers. Born March 24, 1954, into Hollywood royalty, he was the youngest son of legendary character actor John Carradine.

His career highlights include:

• Film debut alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys (1972)
• Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets (1973)
• Oscar winning film Coming Home (1978) with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight
• The Big Red One (1980) with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin
• The Long Riders (1980) alongside brothers David and Keith

His greatest commercial success came in 1984 when he starred as Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds. The role became so iconic that he returned for three sequels. To prepare for the part, he spent time at the University of Arizona during rush week, where no fraternity selected him. He later said this rejection confirmed he was perfect for the role.

A new generation discovered him as Sam McGuire, Hilary Duff’s loving father on Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire from 2001 to 2004. He appeared in over 60 episodes and reprised the role in The Lizzie McGuire Movie.

Warning Signs Before His Passing

In the weeks before his death, Carradine had been working on an independent film called The Driver, where he was set to play a mob boss. Director Connie Lamothe told reporters that the actor went “radio silent” in January 2025.

A friend on the film’s cast who knew about his mental health struggles advised Lamothe to give him space. They hoped he would return on his own. Tragically, he never did.

Robert’s daughter, actress Ever Carradine, wrote a heartfelt tribute calling her father “all heart” and crediting him with giving her a grounded childhood despite growing up “in the 70s and 80s with a single dad in Laurel Canyon.”

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Robert Carradine’s death has renewed public focus on bipolar disorder, a mental illness that affects approximately 4.4 percent of American adults at some point in their lives. That translates to roughly 11.3 million people, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

The condition causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration. It was formerly known as manic depression.

Mental health experts say bipolar disorder results from both genetic and environmental factors. Chemical imbalances in the brain, family history, childhood trauma, and chronic stress can all contribute to its development.

The “high functioning” form of the disorder allows some individuals to mask their symptoms while maintaining successful careers. This can delay both diagnosis and treatment.

Robert Carradine’s story ends in tragedy, but his family hopes his openness about mental illness will help others. Bipolar disorder claimed a talented actor, a devoted father, and a man described by everyone who knew him as all heart. His brother Keith said it best when he called Robert “profoundly gifted” and promised the family would “take solace in how funny he could be, how wise and utterly accepting and tolerant he was.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Help is available, and there is no shame in asking for it.

What are your thoughts on how we discuss mental health in our society? Share this article with your friends and family to keep this important conversation going.