Robert Carradine, the actor known for his role in the Disney series “Lizzie McGuire,” has died, his family confirmed Tuesday. He was 71.
His manager and brother Keith Carradine said in a statement to NBC News that the actor had “succumbed to bipolar disorder after fighting it for almost 20 years.”
Carradine was most famous for portraying Lewis Skolnick in the “Revenge of the Nerds” film franchise in the 1980s and 1990s. He later became well known to younger audiences as he played Sam McGuire, the father of Lizzie McGuire from the Disney Channel hit “Lizzie McGuire.”
The Los Angeles native would have turned 72 years old in March.
Online, Carradine’s former co-star, Hilary Duff, paid tribute to him with an emotional Instagram post.
“My heart aches for him, his family and everyone who loved him,” Duff’s post read.
Robert Carradine’s daughter, Ever Carradine, confirmed the death on her Instagram account and paid tribute to her father. “My sweet, funny dad, who’s only 20 years older than I am, who never missed an opportunity to drive me to the airport or tell me how much he loved my homemade salad dressing, is gone,” she wrote.
Ever is also an actress and has appeared in a number of television shows such as “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Major Crimes.”
The late actor hailed from the Carradine family, one of Hollywood’s acting dynasties.
His half-brother, the late David Carradine, was known for his martial arts expertise and roles in the 1970s TV show “Kung Fu” as well the “Kill Bill” series.
Carradine had over 150 acting credits to his name and more recently had been active in the film and TV circles, making appearances at multiple film festivals and conventions.
