Behind the red carpets and cameras, reality can look very different. For actors, some silent battles are fought quietly. Actor Robert Carradine spent years living with bipolar disorder before his death at 71. The actor, known for “Lizzie McGuire” and “Revenge of the Nerds,” struggled with his mental health for nearly two decades.
His family confirmed that he died by suicide on Monday, shedding light on the private fight he battled for years.
Carradine Family Calls for Compassion After His Bipolar Disorder Battle
“In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of 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,” Robert’s family told Deadline in a statement.
“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.”
Those close to Carradine said his condition worsened over time, especially after a devastating loss in his family.
Carradine Reportedly Missed Work on Final Film Project
In the days following Carradine’s death, one of his recent collaborators shared that there had been quiet warning signs on his latest project.
Connie Lamothe, director of “The Driver,” also known as “Driving into Darkness,” told TMZ she was shocked and heartbroken by his passing. She said she sensed something was wrong when Carradine stopped responding ahead of a scheduled table read.
After pandemic delays, the film had finally regained momentum. But in January, Lamothe said Carradine went silent.
Producers were unable to reach him and did not know what had happened. Those involved in the project grew concerned. A cast member who was aware of his mental health struggles urged patience, and the team chose to give him space, hoping he would return.
The Impact of David Carradine’s Death
ABC reported that in 2009, Carradine’s half-brother, actor David Carradine, died from asphyxiation in a hotel room in Thailand.
Those close to Robert later said the loss shook him deeply. He spoke about how the grief changed him. He believed the trauma surrounding David’s death set off a decline in his mental health and eventually led to his bipolar disorder diagnosis.
Friends described that chapter of his life as a shift. The weight of the loss stayed with him.
The Daily Mail reported that years later, in 2015, Carradine and his then-wife, Edith Mani, were involved in a serious car crash in Colorado.
The Colorado State Patrol reported that Carradine crossed into the oncoming lane on Colorado Highway 145 and struck a tractor-trailer.
Both he and Mani were injured, though their injuries were not life-threatening. The truck driver was not hurt. Carradine later paid a $169.50 citation related to the accident.
In divorce filings submitted two years later, Mani made troubling claims about the crash.
As per People, she stated that Carradine “confessed to me and our two children that he deliberately drove into the truck to kill us both.”
Mani alleged he steered into the semi-truck while battling depression in the years following David’s death. In court documents, she requested possession of Carradine’s 17 firearms out of concern that he might harm himself.
Carradine and Mani married in 1990 and separated in 2015. They shared two children, Marika and Ian. He was also the father of actress Ever Carradine, whom he shared with Susan Snyder.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to reach the toll-free Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (dial 888-628-9454 for assistance in Spanish). You can also speak with a trained crisis counselor anytime by texting HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
