With Heavy Hearts, We Share the Loss—And His Identity Will Break You

Robert Carradine, the cherished actor best known for his roles in Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire, has passed away at the age of 71.

In a statement provided to Deadline, his family revealed that Carradine had endured a nearly two-decade-long battle with bipolar disorder—a profound struggle that they say ultimately resulted in his passing.

“We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness,” the Carradine family expressed.

Hailing from one of Hollywood’s most prominent acting lineages, Carradine was the son of the iconic actor John Carradine. He was also the brother of fellow performers David and Keith Carradine, as well as Christopher Carradine, who previously served as a vice president at Walt Disney Imagineering.

Although Carradine enjoyed a consistent, decades-long career, younger viewers hold a special place in their hearts for his portrayal of the affectionate father to Hilary Duff’s titular character on the Disney Channel’s smash hit, Lizzie McGuire. Upon learning the heartbreaking news, Duff posted a touching tribute to Instagram.

“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,” Duff shared. “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.”

Carradine’s artistic reach extended well past his Disney days. He achieved cult-classic status playing Lewis in the enduring Revenge of the Nerds film franchise, and he also featured in the Academy Award-winning drama Coming Home.

His cinematic journey commenced in 1972 when he made his feature film debut acting alongside John Wayne in The Cowboys. This marked the inception of a remarkable career that has left an indelible mark on multiple generations of television and film enthusiasts.