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David CarradineAdd to My CelebsAge 72 (passed away Jun. 3rd, 2009) Birthday Dec. 8th, 1936 Born in Hollywood, California, USA Height 6' 1" |
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at IMDB
David Carradine was the eldest son of legendary character actor John Carradine and he presided over an acting family that included brothers Keith Carradine, and Robert Carradine 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 (I). 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 included 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 were 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 also continued his devotion to music, and he recorded some 60 tracks from various musical genres and sung in several movies. He made his home in Los Angeles with his fifth wife Annie, her four children and their two dogs.
He was found dead in Bangkok, Thailand on 3rd June 2009 aged 72.
TRIVIA:
- Had a lifelong fascination with Eastern philosophies and culture which resulted in him writing the book "Spirit Of The Shaolin" about the philosophy of Kung Fu.
- His obituary stated he was survived by four children.
- Lived with 'Barbara Hershey' (qv) from 1972-75 (she changed her last name to Seagull during this time). They have a son they named Free Carradine at birth, but who has since changed his name to 'Tom Carradine' (qv).
- Began his contract career for MGM in 1969.
- Was also a friend of 'Jane Seymour (I)' (qv).
- Best remembered on TV for his starring role as Kwai Chang Caine on the _"Kung Fu" (1972)_ (qv) TV series.
- Was suppose to attended the Armaggeddon Pulp Culture Expo Convention in Wellington, New Zealand, in September 2004 as a special _Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)_ (qv) guest but had to pull out at the last minute due to filming commitments.
- Was working on a movie, just days before his death.
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