Table of Contents
Robert Carradine, 71, Dies; Family Says He Had Been Battling Bipolar Disorder for Almost 2 Decades
Robert Carradine, who rose to fame with Lizzie McGuire and Revenge of the Nerds, died at the age of 71, reports his family. They said that he had taken his life after a long struggle with bipolar disorder.
His elder sibling, actor Keith Carradine, confirmed the tragic news in a statement to Deadline.
“We are deeply saddened to inform you of the passing of our dear father, grandfather, uncle, and brother, Robert Carradine,” he stated. “In a world that can be so full of darkness, Bobby was such a bright light to those who knew him.”
Keith further revealed that the family was “devastated” by the death but at the same time they understood the mental health challenges of Carradine. “We would like to recognize Bobby’s heroic fight against Bipolar Disorder, which he was struggling with for almost 20 years,” he noted. “May his experience be a source of light and inspire people to confront the stigma associated with mental illness.”
Robert Carradine is fondly remembered for the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire, as Hilary Duff pays tribute
Robert Carradine became a household name following his role in the 1984 movie Revenge of the Nerds when he played the character of Lewis Skolnick, the leader of “nerds.”
Then, to a great extent, he got a fresh set of fans when he was a dad Sam McGuire on the Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire with Hilary Duff as the lead girl.
Duff shared a deeply emotional tribute, remembering her “on-screen parents” as ones she “always felt so cared for by.” She said in a heartfelt Instagram post, “This one hurts. An old friend. It’s really hard to come to terms with this reality.”
Hilary Duff Recalls How Robert Carradine Added “Warmth” to the Lizzie McGuire Family
Hilary Duff kept going with her tribute to Robert Carradine and one of the things she mentioned was the sense of comfort she had working with him on Lizzie McGuire.
“There was so much warmth in the McGuire family that I always felt so looked after by my parents on screen,” she shared. “I’ll be eternally thankful for that. It’s really hard for me to hear now that Bobby was in a hard place. My heart goes out to him, his family, and all the people who loved him.”
Growing up in an entertainment family, Carradine was the son of actress and artist Sonia Sorel and actor John Carradine. He started his career as an actor very early by playing a role in The Cowboys with John Wayne in 1972.
The deceased is survived by three children, as well as his brother Keith Carradine, who is an actor known for his role as Tom Frank in the 1975 film Nashville.
Robert Carradine’s Daughter Ever Pays Touching Tribute to Her “Sweet, Funny Dad”
Robert Carradine’s daughter, Ever Carradine, took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt tribute on the occasion of her father’s demise, mentioning that he “was all heart.”
“My sweet, funny dad, who’s only 20 years older than I am, who never missed an opportunity to drive me to the airport or tell me how much he loved my homemade salad dressing, is gone,” she lamented. “Whenever anyone asks me how I turned out so normal, I always tell them it’s because of my dad. My dad’s love for me is something that I could feel deep in my bones and I always knew that he had my back.”
Ever kept on saying that her father was “a lover, not a fighter,” and that he would want the rest of us to “open our hearts and feel and share the love” in his memory.
Supporters took to social media to express their sorrow as well, one of them wrote: “It’s a real loss to me that Robert Carradine has gone at 71. A whole generation of kids grew up watching him in the role of Sam McGuire and he brought a warmth to that role that made the entire show feel like home. May he rest in peace.”
