Years Before Robert Carradine’s Suicide, His Brother David Died Mysteriously, Are The Deaths Linked?

The Carradine family has long been Hollywood royalty. But behind the fame, the family has had its share of heartbreak and tragedies. The latest bout of tragedy hit the family on February 23, 2026, when Revenge of the Nerds actor Robert Carradine took his own life after over a decade of struggle with bipolar disorder. His family opened up about his illness, calling it “an illness that got the best of him” over the years. 

Only those close to Robert knew that his struggles with mental health traced back to yet another tragedy that left him shattered. It was when his brother, Kill Bill star David Carradine, was discovered inside a closet in Thailand.

Who was David Carradine, and what happened to him?

While David Carradine’s name may not immediately ring a bell in the younger generation, he was perhaps the most famous of the three Carradine brothers, sons of actor John Carradine. Born in 1936, David was the eldest brother, followed by Keith (1949) and Robert (1954). David’s most celebrated role was as ‘Kwai Chang Caine’ in the iconic 1970s TV series named Kung Fu and as ‘Bill’ in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill film series. He had worked in entertainment for 46 years, during which he appeared in 27 television movies and more than 200 films. 

In 2009, David was visiting Thailand to film the movie Stretch when he was found dead in a hotel room in Bangkok. What raised eyebrows was not only his unexpected passing at age 72, but also the condition in which he was discovered. According to ABC News, David’s body was found inside a closet, with a “cord wrapped around his neck and gen*tals.”

While the authorities couldn’t initially determine whether it was suicide or there was some foul play involved, two autopsies later, the cause of David’s death was ruled as accidental asphyxiation, linked to auto-erotic asphyxiation. The Carradine family rejected early suggestions that the actor took his own life and brought in well-known forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to conduct an independent review.

More than 16 years later, there’s no conclusion about what exactly happened inside that Bangkok hotel room. Baden said the evidence did not clearly point to one conclusion and could not rule out autoerotic asphyxiation, suicide, or even homicide. Despite official rulings, uncertainty continues to surround his death.

How did David Carradine’s death affect Robert Carradine?

While it remained largely away from the spotlight, those close to Robert Carradine knew how David’s sudden and highly publicised death took a toll on his mental health. In interviews after his passing, Keith Carradine said that the 2009 tragedy triggered a decline in Robert’s mental health. Eventually, his condition worsened, and he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition marked by extreme mood swings ranging from depression to mania.

Robert continued working in television and film, appearing as a co-host and executive producer on the TBS reality competition series King of the Nerds from 2013 to 2015, and making guest appearances in various shows, including Bonanza, ER, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and The Practice. However, those close to him said he struggled privately for years. While there is no criminal link between the two Carradine brothers’ deaths 16 years apart, the connection is tragically personal. 

What happened to Robert Carradine?

According to his family, Robert Carradine died by suicide after nearly two decades of struggling with bipolar disorder. His surviving elder brother, actor Keith Carradine, spoke up about his battle with this mental illness that eventually “got the best of him”, urging people to speak up and be open about mental health rather than attaching shame to it. Keith told The Deadline:

“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it. 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.”

In his personal life, Robert Carradine married Edie Mani on January 7, 1990. The couple separated after 28 years of marriage. Together, they had two children, Marika Reed Carradine and Ian Alexander Carradine. Robert also had a daughter, Ever Carradine, from a previous relationship with his former girlfriend, horse trainer Susan Snyder.