DAVID CARRADINE

David Carradine is the eldest son of legendary character actor John Carradine and now presides over an acting family that includes brothers Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine and Michael Bowen as well as his daughters Calista Carradine, Kansas Carradine and nieces Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.

He was born in Hollywood and educated at San Francisco State College, where he studied music theory and composition. It was while writing music for the Drama Department's annual revues that he discovered his own passion for the stage, joining a Shakespearean repertory company and learning his craft on his feet.

After a two-year stint in the army, he found work in New York as a commercial artist and later found fame on Broadway in "The Deputy" and "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" opposite Christopher Plummer. With that experience he returned to Hollywood, landing the short-lived TV series "Shane" (1966) before being tapped to star opposite Barbara Hershey in Martin Scorsese's first Hollywood film, Boxcar Bertha (1972). The iconic "Kung Fu" (1972) followed, catapulting Carradine to superstardom for the next three years, until he left the series to pursue his film career.

That career now includes more than 100 feature films, a couple of dozen television movies, a whole range of theater on and off Broadway, and another hit series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1992) (TV). Carradine received the Best Actor Award from the National Board of Film Review as well as a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Woody Guthrie in Hal Ashby's Bound for Glory (1976), and won critical acclaim for his work as Cole Younger in The Long Riders (1980). "Kung Fu" also received seven Emmy nominations in its first season, including one for Carradine as Best Actor. In addition he won the People's Prize at the Cannes Film Festival's "Director's Fortnight" for his work on Americana (1983), and a second Golden Globe nomination for his supporting role in "North and South" (1985).

Among his other most notable film credits are Gray Lady Down (1978), Mean Streets (1973), Bird on a Wire (1990), The Long Goodbye (1973), The Serpent's Egg (1977) and Circle of Iron (1978).

He recently returned to the screen in what could be his greatest performance to date, playing the title role in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) (Miramax), for which he received his fourth Golden Globe nomination.

Carradine has also continued his devotion to music, and has recorded some 60 tracks from various musical genres and sung in several movies. He makes his home in Los Angeles with his wife Annie, her four children and their two dogs.

UPDATE: David Carradine passed away in Bangkok, June 4th, 2009


From The Blogsphere

Celebrity Ghost Stories

via getback.com ( 53 Days ago )
There's some funky connection between David Carradine and closets. Sadly, the "Kung Fu" star died in one earlier this year. And in his final interview, filmed just months before his death, Carradine revealed that the spirit of his fourth wife, Dana, haunted him - from the bedroom closet in their house. Her message from beyond was conveyed through cold spots and a tie that had inexplicably [...]

The dangers of thuggin’

via blogofhilarity.com ( 110 Days ago )
I don’t start fights, I merely travel the world preaching about the merits of the ancient martial arts until trouble finds me, since someone has to do it due to David Carradine’s untimely masturbatory passing. And here’s why you don’t go around looking for fights. Here’s a life lesson for you: Men, women, it doesn’t matter…if there’s [...]

HEED DAVID CARRADINE’S WARNING!

via uproxx.com ( 110 Days ago )
David Duchovny is on a one way trip to stranglebation-ville. This guy is such a raging sex addict it is amazing he can still get pants on. But despite having gone to rehab for his problem, he continues to make “Californiacation”, a show about a dude who bones down. With everyone. I really liked “Californication”’s first season. There were lots of breasts, [...]

Random Fug

via celebuzz.com ( 135 Days ago )
This photo is from an event held in support of David Carradine Memorial Fund. I didn't know this was something that actually needed to be spelled out for people, but here goes: even when the deceased in question died under...

David Carradine Died of Asphyxiation, Not Suicide

via screencrave.com ( 142 Days ago )
Suicide has been ruled out. According to THR, it has been reported by the medical examiner who oversaw a private autopsy on the late Kung Fu star David Carradine that the actor died of asphyxiation, and definitely not suicide. On June 4, Carradine was found hanging in the closet of his Bangkok hotel suite, which lead police to believe that the star hung himself. Concerned with [...]

David Carradine Died of Asphyxiation, Says Forensics Expert

via villagevoice.com ( 142 Days ago )
The results of the second David Carradine autopsy is out. His examiner, forensics expert Dr. Michael Baden, says he was asphyxiated. We figured. What else has Dr. Baden got? "Now why that happened is still what we're working on," he offers. He says Carradine wasn't a suicide, the hands tied behind his head presumably being the giveaway. He thinks the autoerotic asphyxia scenario [...]

Kill Bill actor David Carradine 'died from asphyxiation'

via telegraph.co.uk ( 143 Days ago )
The private pathologist who conducted a second autopsy on David Carradine's body has said that Thai authorities have determined the actor died of asphyxia and so far he agrees.

Investigation continues into Carradine's death

via ok.co.uk ( 143 Days ago )
A medical examiner who carried out an autopsy on DAVID CARRADINE's body insists the actor did not commit suicide.

Second Autopsy -- Carradine Death Accidental

via tmz.com ( 143 Days ago )
Filed under: David Carradine A private autopsy performed on David Carradine's body suggests the actor's death was accidental.Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden said the cause of death was from asphyxiation -- and that binding on his body helped rule out suicide. Baden said ...Permalink

'KUNG FU' DEATH AN ACCIDENT: AUTOPSY

via nypost.com ( 144 Days ago )
Former New York Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Baden, who oversaw a private autopsy on actor David Carradine, said yesterday the "Kung Fu" star died from asphyxiation -- and that his preliminary report determined it wasn't a suicide...