“Lizzie McGuire” & “The Long Riders” Star Robert Carradine Dies At Age 71

Published Feb 24, 2026 By Miranda Raye
Actor Robert Carradine Died At Age 71

Robert Carradine, an actor known for his roles in "The Long Riders," "Lizzie McGuire," and "Revenge of the Nerds," has died at the age of 71. His family confirmed the news on February 23, 2026. (Photo Credit: Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images)

Robert Carradine Dies Following “Valiant Struggle” With Bipolar Disorder

Robert Carradine, the actor beloved by multiple generations of movie and TV fans, has died. He was 71 years old.

Robert’s family released a statement to Deadline on Monday (February 23) confirming the news of his death. They shared that he died by suicide following a decades-long battle with Bipolar Disorder:

“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.”

Robert’s brother, Keith, told Deadline the family wants people to know about his struggles:

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

Robert is survived by his three children (Ever, Marika, and Ian), grandchildren, brothers, nieces, nephews, and “anyone who had the honor of having him in their life.”

Reflecting On Robert Carradine’s Life & Career

Robert Reed Carradine was born on March 24, 1954, in Los Angeles, California. He was born into the famous Carradine family, with his grandfather, Beverly Carradine, being a well-recognized Methodist minister.

Beverly’s son (Robert’s father), John, became a renowned actor with over 350 credits to his name. Perhaps most notably, John played Count Dracula in multiple films, including 1944’s House of Frankenstein.

John had five sons, and four of them, including Robert, also went into acting. Robert made his movie debut in 1972, starring in the Western film The Cowboys alongside John Wayne.

From there, Robert starred alongside his brother, David, in the Martin Scorsese-directed crime drama, Mean Streets (1973). Some of his other film credits from the ’70s include Cannonball, Orca, Joyride, and Coming Home.

In 1980, Robert and his brothers, Keith and David, famously played the Younger brothers in the biographical Western movie The Long Riders. They starred alongside three other sets of brothers in the film: Randy and Dennis Quaid, Stacy and James Keach, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest.

Robert’s star continued to rise in the ’80s, especially after his hit performance in 1984’s Revenge of the Nerds. He played Lewis Skolnick in the comedic film and reprised the role in three sequels.

A new generation was introduced to Robert Carradine when he started playing Lizzie McGuire’s dad, Sam, on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire. He appeared in 65 episodes of the series from 2001-2004 and also starred in 2003’s The Lizzie McGuire Movie.

Robert remained incredibly active in the industry after Lizzie McGuire ended. According to his IMDb page, he had several projects in pre- or post-production at the time of his death.

Lizzie McGuire Cast Members, Including Hilary Duff, Pay Tribute To Robert Carradine

The news of Robert Carradine’s death shocked those who worked with him through the years. Jake Thomas and Hilary Duff, who played his son and daughter on Lizzie McGuire, delivered touching tributes to him on social media.

“My heart hurts today,” said Jake Thomas. “I was fortunate to know Bobby for most of my life. And he was one of the coolest guys you could ever meet. Funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric. He was a talented actor, musician, and director. But more than anything, he was family.”

Hilary Duff shared her heartbreak, writing:

“This one hurts. It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend. 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.“

We send our heartfelt prayers and condolences to all who knew and loved Robert Carradine. May he rest in peace.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideations or struggling with mental health issues, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 9-8-8 via call or text, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

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