LOS ANGELES, United States – Robert Carradine, a film and television actor whose performances in Revenge of the Nerds, The Long Riders and the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire made him familiar to multiple generations of viewers, has died. He was 71.
His family confirmed the death on Monday, February 23, 2026.
In a statement, they said he had lived for many years with bipolar disorder and asked for privacy as they mourned.
“It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away,” the family said.
“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.”
His brother Keith Carradine said the family wanted to speak openly about the illness. “There is no shame in it,” he said, describing his brother as “profoundly gifted” and remembered for his humour, wisdom and generosity.
A Career Across Film and Television
Born on March 24, 1954, Carradine was the youngest son of John Carradine and part of one of Hollywood’s best-known acting families.
His brothers included David Carradine and Keith Carradine, as well as Christopher Carradine.
He made his screen debut in 1972 in The Cowboys, appearing alongside John Wayne.
He went on to work with prominent directors, including Martin Scorsese in Mean Streets and Hal Ashby in Coming Home, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
In 1980, Carradine appeared in two films screened at the Cannes Film Festival: The Big Red One, directed by Samuel Fuller, and The Long Riders, directed by Walter Hill.
The latter cast real-life brothers as historical outlaw siblings, with Carradine appearing alongside David and Keith Carradine.
His most widely recognised role came in 1984, when he starred as Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds, a comedy that became a major box-office success and spawned a long-running franchise.
Years later, he reached a younger audience as the on-screen father in Lizzie McGuire.
Music, Racing and Family Life
Beyond acting, Carradine had a longstanding love of music, frequently playing guitar with his brothers and performing at venues including the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, Colorado.
He also played with folk musicians including Peter Yarrow and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and later formed a band, The Waybacks, with Mare Winningham.
Another passion was motor racing. He began racing go-karts as a child and later competed at Grand Prix level, including driving for Team Lotus alongside Paul Newman.
Carradine was also devoted to his family. He is survived by his children, including Ever Carradine, grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews.
Relatives said he was known for his warmth, humour and enthusiasm for everyday moments, from attending Little League games to driving loved ones to the airport.
The family said they hoped that speaking openly about his illness might help encourage broader understanding and reduce stigma around mental health.
If you or someone you know may be struggling or in emotional distress, help is available. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org. In the United Kingdom, Samaritans can be reached at 116 123 or at www.samaritans.org. In Nigeria, support and referrals are available through the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) at www.mentallyaware.org. If you are outside these countries, local helplines and support services can be found through international crisis-support organisations, including SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
