Actor Robert Carradine is being remembered by his many co-stars after the actor best known for playing Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds and dad Sam McGuire in the Lizzie McGuire Movie and series died on Monday (Feb. 23) after a long battle with bipolar disorder.
A member of the Carradine acting clan, Robert was honored in a statement issued by the family to Deadline, in which they wrote, “It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away. In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon on light to everyone around him. We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby’s valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder. We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness. At this time we ask for the privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion.”
According to reports, Carradine died by suicide.
Among those paying tribute to Carradine was Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff, who posted photos of the pair on the set of the early aughts Disney Channel series in which he played her father. “This one hurts. It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend,” she wrote. “There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. I’ll be forever grateful for that. I’m deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him. 💔”
Actress Martha Plimpton (Task) also paid tribute to her beloved uncle, writing on Instagram, “My Uncle Bobby was the best one of all 8 brothers; blood, adopted, and step. Out of all of them, he was the absolute best. He was the one who cuddled me when I came to visit my father in LA for the first time at 8 or 9 years old. He cuddled and kidded me for being the only Carradine from New York. ‘Come ova hee-ah! Maw-thuh! Get ova hee-uh!’ He did a terrible New York accent. I was an alien and Bobby joshed me about it, and I adored him for it.”
Not for nothing, Plimpton also said he was “the best actor” in the storied family — which also included father John Carradine (The Grapes Of Wrath), half brother David Carradine (Kung Fu) and brother Keith Carradine (Pretty Baby) — writing, “By a THOUSAND MILES. Don’t believe me? Just watch him. In The Cowboys, his first movie with John Wayne. Or in The Big Red One. Or in Coming Home. He’s honestly, in fact, the best actor of all of them. And I think I know why. Because he was KIND. He had inherent KINDNESS in him. He was dear, and loving, and nonjudgmental. And he loved honestly. He made mistakes like anyone else, like any human. But he never lost his decency, or his heart.”
Speaking to Deadline, Keith Carradine said the family wanted to be frank about his brother’s mental health struggles. “We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” he said. “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. He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day. We will take solace in how funny he could be, how wise and utterly accepting and tolerant he was. That’s who my baby brother was.”
Born on March 24, 1954, Carradine was the youngest son of John Carradine and actress Sonia Sorel. Encouraged by his brother David to get into the family business, Robert auditioned for the 1972 John Wayne film The Cowboys, which became his first movie role. He went on to score a small part in Martin Scorsese’s iconic 1973 gritty drama Mean Streets and then a series of B-movies and cowboy films before landing the role that would become one of his most iconic: computer science geek Lewis Skolnick in 1984’s beloved Revenge of the Nerds, and its three sequels, as well as playing himself in Robert Altman’s 1992 Hollywood send-up The Player.
He continued working into the 2000s, appearing in the Lizzie McGuire Movie in 2003, as well as Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained in 2012. His TV resume was equally lengthy, with appearances on Bonanza, Kung Fu, Police Story, The Fall Guy, The Twilight Zone, several Revenge of the Nerds TV movies, ER, Robot Chicken, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and many more.
Deadline also reported that despite having no formal training and never learning to read music, Carradine had a passion for playing guitar, frequently performing with brothers Keith and David at the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride Colorado, as well as performing with friend and childhood hero Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary) and folk icon Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. In the late 1980s, he formed a band with actress Mare Winningham, The Waybacks.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation, reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988 or visiting the website for free, confidential support that is available 24/7, 365 days a year.