David Carradine 1936-2009

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:12 am

David Carradine was found dead today in Thailand of an apparent suicide.

Actor David Carradine found dead in Bangkok (AP)

BANGKOK (AP) — David Carradine, star of the 1970s TV series Kung Fu whose career roared back to life when he played the assassin-turned-victim in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, was found dead Thursday in Thailand.

Police said he appeared to have hanged himself. He was 72.

The officer responsible for investigating the death, Lt. Teerapop Luanseng, said the 72-year-old actor had been staying in a suite at the luxury Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel.

"I can confirm that we found his body, naked, hanging in the closet," Teerapop said. He said police suspected suicide.

Police said Carradine's body was taken to a hospital for an autopsy which would be carried out Friday.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, Michael Turner, said the embassy was informed by Thai authorities that Carradine died either late Wednesday or early Thursday. "We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and his loved ones," he said.

Carradine came from an acting family. His father, John, made a career playing creepy, eccentric characters in film and on stage. His brothers Keith, Robert and Bruce also became actors. Actress Martha Plimpton is Keith Carradine's daughter.

"My Uncle David was a brilliantly talented, fiercely intelligent and generous man. He was the nexus of our family in so many ways, and drew us together over the years and kept us connected," Plimpton said Thursday.

Carradine was "in good spirits" when he left the U.S. for Thailand on May 29 to work on the movie "Stretch," said Tiffany Smith of Binder & Associates, his managers.

"David was excited to do it and excited to be a part of it," she said by phone from Beverly Hills, noting that Carradine was the sole featured American in the movie, whose other top cast members were French and Chinese. "When he was on a set he was in heaven."

Filming on the thriller by French director Charles de Meaux began Tuesday, she said, adding that the crew was devastated by Carradine's death and did not wish to speak publicly about it for the time being.

"It is shocking to me that he is no longer with us," said Michael Madsen, who played an assassin in "Kill Bill."

"I have so many great memories of David that I wouldn't even know where to begin," he said. "He has a very special place in my heart."

The Web site of the Thai newspaper The Nation said Carradine could not be contacted after he failed to appear for a meal with the rest of the film crew on Wednesday, and that his body was found by a hotel maid Thursday morning. It said a preliminary police investigation found that he had hanged himself with a cord used with the suite's curtains and that there was no sign that he had been assaulted.

Police said Carradine's body was taken to a hospital for an autopsy that would be done Friday.

Carradine appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby. One of his early film roles was as folk singer Woody Guthrie in Ashby's 1976 biopic, "Bound for Glory."

But he was best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin priest traveling the 1800s American frontier West in the TV series "Kung Fu," which aired in 1972-75.

"I wasn't like a TV star in those days, I was like a rock 'n' roll star," Carradine said in an interview with Associated Press Radio in 1996. "It was a phenomenon kind of thing. ... It was very special."

Actor Rainn Wilson, star of TV's "The Office," tweeted about Carradine's death on Twitter: "R.I.P. David Carradine. You were a true hero to so many of us children of the 70s. We'll miss you, Kwai Chang Caine."

Carradine reprised the role in a mid-1980s TV movie and played Caine's grandson in the 1990s syndicated series "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues."

He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill." Bill, the worldly father figure of a pack of crack assassins, was a shadowy presence in 2003's "Kill Bill - Vol. 1." In that film, one of Bill's former assassins (Uma Thurman) begins a vengeful rampage against her old associates, including Bill.

In "Kill Bill - Vol. 2," released in 2004, Thurman's character catches up to Bill. The role brought Carradine a Golden Globe nomination as best supporting actor.

Bill was a complete contrast to Caine, the soft-spoken refugee from a Shaolin monastery, serenely spreading wisdom and battling bad guys in the Old West. He left after three seasons, saying the show had started to repeat itself.

"David's always been kind of a seeker of knowledge and of wisdom in his own inimitable way," his brother, actor Keith Carradine, said in a 1995 interview.

After "Kung Fu," Carradine starred in the 1975 cult flick "Death Race 2000." He starred with Liv Ullmann in Bergman's "The Serpent's Egg" in 1977 and with his brothers in the 1980 Western "The Long Riders."

But after the early 1980s, he spent two decades doing mostly low-budget films. Tarantino's films changed that.

"All I've ever needed since I more or less retired from studio films a couple of decades ago ... is just to be in one," Carradine told The Associated Press in 2004.

"There isn't anything that Anthony Hopkins or Clint Eastwood or Sean Connery or any of those old guys are doing that I couldn't do," he said. "All that was ever required was somebody with Quentin's courage to take and put me in the spotlight."

One thing remained a constant after "Kung Fu": Carradine's interest in Asian herbs, exercise and philosophy. He wrote a personal memoir called "Spirit of Shaolin" and continued to make instructional videos on tai chi and other martial arts.

In the 2004 interview, Carradine talked candidly about his past boozing and narcotics use, but said he had put all that behind him and stuck to coffee and cigarettes.

"I didn't like the way I looked, for one thing. You're kind of out of control emotionally when you drink that much. I was quicker to anger."

"You're probably witnessing the last time I will ever answer those questions," Carradine said. "Because this is a regeneration. It is a renaissance. It is the start of a new career for me.

"It's time to do nothing but look forward."

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:44 am

According to another report, his representative and family members have told the press that they believe Carradine's death was an accident, not suicide.

IJ · Post by IJ » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:00 am

I cannot stress this enough, people... if you're going to dabble in erotic autoasphyxiation... well, don't--but if you do, you must, must, must have a spotter.

Unless anyone else can fathom what accident would leave one hung, naked, and in a closet? This kind of reminds me in a very tangential way of the Evan Tanner death. Sad and eminently avoidable.

Jason Rees · Post by **Jason Rees** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:09 am

I can totally see how you accidentally hang yourself with wire in your closet, naked...

Victor Smith · Post by **Victor Smith** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:34 am

I offer this as the better way to remember David.

The Tao of Kung Fu
1 – Fear is the only darkness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5kBqrHphjo
2 – All creatures are one with nature
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQNBSQmXCE
3 – Chi always lasts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IyS56_BeVA
4 – Pease is prized above victory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DhnAnGd8PY
5 – What happens is already written http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4sgXl7n3n4
6 – The wise always remain humble http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gASY7Lj5GPQ
7 – All creatures have virtue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EseVvgdxhVc
8 – Leave no place for death to enter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJjEwhlsDws
9 – Seek not to contend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SVzzhN-hQI
10 – Trust, but expect the unexpected
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JBQPCHHK0Q
11 – Accept the way of others http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFJkhV5l5JU
12 – Is a man’s universe only himself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THqSurkgb8c
13 – Not many things…One http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadMQ4cnK8A
14 – Cowardice is wisdom of weakness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pdsZ3wnElo
15 – The soul only records growth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XifrlL7a0U
16 – Undiscerning minds absorb poison
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1RBODBhoPE
17 – I worship life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGRQJgFio20
18 – Disregard how others see you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLilMtzOUbA
19 – Let tears and joy come unplanned http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtPRl-5D8Go
20 – Be nothing and become everything
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf5aYzbB4JM
21 – We only know good because of evil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L156XHjoDL0
22 – Look beyond the letter of the law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOcOwVvY3y8
23 – Change and find the Truth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5X8Xv2XjSY
24 – Look beyond the surface http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6evj0KTxY08
25 – Can any man afford such arrogance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgghWr3oICI
26 – Nature is always impartial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNrRmsXMUOE
27 – Who can defeat himself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yZ0M1pWD44
28 – I strive for no thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrWUxfaizms
29 – I call it great http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WQGuzRiVis
30 – Peace lies in the mat wno walks the path
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-lA6PeGL0k

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:29 pm

One thing remained a constant after "Kung Fu": Carradine's interest in Asian herbs, exercise and philosophy. He wrote a personal memoir called "Spirit of Shaolin" and continued to make instructional videos on tai chi and other martial arts.

In the 2004 interview, Carradine talked candidly about his past boozing and narcotics use, but said he had put all that behind him and stuck to coffee and cigarettes.

Let's see now... Graduate from booze/narcotics to coffee and cigarettes, and preach good health through better traditional Chinese ways. OK, got it!

Ian wrote:
I cannot stress this enough, people... if you're going to dabble in erotic autoasphyxiation... well, don't--but if you do, you must, must, must have a spotter.

(With apologies to those who don't find this whole thing a bit funny.)

Bottom line - Carradine was a dancer and actor first and foremost. He showed flashes of brilliance on the acting front. But being a popular Hollywood type does not make one a virtuous life example.

Anyone remember Rock Hudson movies where woman does the romance tango with man? And how gay was he? Yep... he was a good ACTOR.

Nevertheless, we martial artists owe a lot in terms of exposure and popularity of martial arts to personalities such as this fellow.

Anyone remember that Bruce Lee first lobbied for the role of Kwai Chang Caine? A real martial artist lost out to a dancer/actor. But then maybe that was for the better. We go to a Bruce Lee movie because of his acting talent, right?

RIP, David Carradine.

- Bill

hoshin · Post by **hoshin** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:20 pm

But after the early 1980s, he spent two decades doing mostly low-budget films.
_______________________________________________________________________

dont forget he was in chuck Norris's movie "Lone wolf Maquaid"
at the time this was chucks best film, and probably still is.
but david played the villan in the film.

_______________________________________________________________________
you must, must, must have a spotter.

IJ...
the problem is... that Thai night girls are not that strong.
but thank you for being so blatant and pointing out the obvious ...that we all were trying to over look.

mhosea · Post by **mhosea** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:39 am

Bill Glasheen wrote: Anyone remember that Bruce Lee first lobbied for the role of Kwai Chang Caine? A real martial artist lost out to a dancer/actor. But then maybe that was for the better. We go to a Bruce Lee movie because of his acting talent, right?

Indeed, to be a good dancer and a good actor is enough to play such a role. Martial arts skill is not enough without acting skill. I could never quite see David as a Chinese man in that role, though. Now that I think about it, the cognitive dissonance it caused might have been an asset to the show.

kyushoguy · Post by **kyushoguy** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:19 am

Bruce Lee was a dancer and child actor way before he got into martial arts.

And he died in his girlfriends flat, not his wifes, with mary jane in his system.

Not a good role model or a real martial artist

Jason Rees · Post by **Jason Rees** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:38 am

AAAhmed46 · Post by **AAAhmed46** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:16 am

Im a big critic of bruce lee worship...but he was really really good. GOod enough to earn the respect of men like Chuck norris and joe lewis and many others.

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:23 am

Bruce lee was good enough to found his own system as well - one that is alive and somewhat relevant today. JKD meshes well with the Filipino arts, which is why you find many people cross training in this general space.

Bruce was a terrible, terrible actor. But it doesn't take long watching him to know that the man was a decent and a unique martial artist.

- Bill

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:37 am

mhosea wrote:
I could never quite see David as a Chinese man in that role, though. Now that I think about it, the cognitive dissonance it caused might have been an asset to the show.

He was not supposed to be a Chinese man. He was half American (Caine) and half Chinese.

See Kung Fu (1972) Part 1, from 6:00 to 7:00.

- Bill

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:37 am

You guys need to see How Bruce Lee changed the world on cable.

And I think he was a better actor than he's getting credit for. Ever see any of those other Kung Fu flicks of the era?

The man broke down huge stereotypes of asians, before him you always saw whites playing asians in western films. They were either idiotic or totally evil. Never any kind of hero.

That is why he's getting museums in Hong Kong, Mainland China and in the U.S. as we speak. Asia is just starting to embrace him.

35 years later his image still sells bigtime.

And yes he made martial arts more real than they had been previously in film.

mhosea · Post by **mhosea** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:39 am

Bill Glasheen wrote:He was not supposed to be a Chinese man. He was half American (Caine) and half Chinese.

Forgot about that. Unfortunately, he doesn't look half-Chinese, either. I'm telling you I couldn't see him as being ethnically Chinese at all. They might as well have made him 100% caucasian and had him adopted by a Chinese family.