Robert Carradine, the cherished actor best known for portraying the nerdy hero Lewis Skolnick in “Revenge of the Nerds” and the quirky father Sam McGuire in Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire,” has passed away at 71.
His brother, actor Keith Carradine, told Deadline that Carradine died by suicide on Monday, February 23, 2026, after nearly 20 years of living with bipolar disorder. Keith, who also managed Robert’s career, described him as the anchor of their family.
“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” Keith Carradine told Deadline. The family released a statement remembering Robert as “a beacon of light to everyone around him” and expressing hope that sharing his story would help reduce stigma around mental health.
Born on March 24, 1954, in Hollywood, California, Carradine grew up in a legendary acting family. His father was “The Grapes of Wrath” star John Carradine, and his brothers included Oscar-winning “Nashville” actor Keith Carradine and the late “Kill Bill” actor David Carradine.
Carradine began his acting career in 1971 with a guest appearance on “Bonanza,” eventually earning a breakout role as Slim Honeycutt in the 1972 John Wayne film “The Cowboys” and its TV adaptation. Throughout the 1970s, he expanded his career with roles in Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets” and the Oscar-winning Vietnam drama “Coming Home,” leading some to speculate he might be the strongest performer in the Carradine family.
In 1980, Carradine played Bob Younger in “The Long Riders” alongside brothers Keith and David in a unique casting choice featuring real-life siblings playing outlaw brothers. That same year, he portrayed Private Zab in Samuel Fuller’s “The Big Red One,” appearing with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin. But his most iconic moment arrived in 1984 when he took on the role of Lewis Skolnick in “Revenge of the Nerds,” a performance that solidified his pop culture legacy and led to three sequels.
Between the “Nerds” sequels, Carradine continued working steadily, making guest appearances on popular shows like “ER,” “Lois & Clark,” “NYPD Blue,” and “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.” His film credits included “Escape from L.A.” in 1996, and Quentin Tarantino later cast him in “Django Unchained” in 2012.
In 2001, Carradine won over a new audience when he joined Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire” as Sam McGuire, the lovable, nerdy father of Hilary Duff’s character. He called the part a “godsend,” appearing in more than 60 episodes and the 2003 film. He was expected to reprise the role in a Disney+ reboot, but the project was scrapped in December 2020 after only two episodes were completed due to creative disagreements.
Duff honored her former co-star, saying she always felt “cared for” by her on-screen parents and expressing sadness that Carradine had been struggling. Jake Thomas, who played her TV brother Matt McGuire, remembered Carradine as “one of the coolest guys you could ever meet”—funny, down-to-earth, sometimes grumpy, but always endearingly quirky.
Martha Plimpton, Carradine’s niece and Keith Carradine’s daughter, shared a heartfelt tribute calling him her Uncle Bobby and “the best one” among all eight Carradine brothers—biological, adopted, and step. She praised his talent and his warmth, writing that “He was dear, and loving, and nonjudgmental.”
Outside of acting, Carradine pursued adventurous interests. During the late 1980s and 1990s, he competed as a Grand Prix-level race car driver on Team Lotus with Paul Newman. Though he lacked formal musical training, he played guitar with his brothers at the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, Colorado, where both he and Keith owned homes. He once said racing was his greatest passion because winning meant absolute proof of his skill.
In 2015, Carradine was involved in a Colorado car crash that injured him and his then-wife Edith Mani. The couple later divorced after more than 25 years together.
His daughter, “The Handmaid’s Tale” actress Ever Carradine, wrote a tribute describing how he raised her alone in Laurel Canyon during the 1970s and 80s. She said that whenever people ask how she turned out so grounded, she always credits her father.
Throughout his 50-year career, Carradine earned over 150 film and television credits, leaving a lasting imprint on American pop culture. He is survived by his children Ever Carradine, Marika Reed Carradine, and Ian Alexander Carradine, along with several grandchildren.