Lizzie McGuire star Robert Carradine is dead at age 71 after a decades-long battle with Bipolar Disorder.
Carradine’s family confirmed the news of his death on Monday, February 23.
“It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away,” they told Deadline in a statement. “In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon on light to everyone around him. We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby’s valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder. We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness. At this time we ask for the privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion.”
An official cause of death has not been confirmed.
Robert’s brother Keith Carradine told the outlet that the family wanted to shed light on what they called the actor’s “valiant struggle” with Bipolar Disorder.
“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” he explained to Deadline. “It is an illness that got the best of him, and I want to celebrate him for his struggle with it, and celebrate his beautiful soul. He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day. We will take solace in how funny he could be, how wise and utterly accepting and tolerant he was. That’s who my baby brother was.”
Robert got his start in the acting word by appearing in projects such as Mean Streets, Coming Home, The Long Riders and brother David Carradine’s series Kung Fu before landing his breakout role as Lewis Skolnick in the 1984’s hit comedy Revenge of the Nerds.
The actor was introduced to a new generation fans after being cast on Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire in 2001, starring as Hilary Duff’s dad, Sam. He reprised his role in the 2003 Lizzie McGuire Movie and was set to appear in the Disney+ revival series before it was ultimately scrapped in 2020. Lalaine, Adam Lamberg, Hallie Todd and Jake Thomas also starred.
Earlier this year, Thomas, 36, opened up to Us Weekly exclusively about the bond he shared with his on screen parents.
“Bobby Carradine and Hallie Todd, who played my parents. They have always been and will continue to be like an aunt and uncle to me,” he shared, noting that the trio would still see each other from “time to time.”
“They’re basically like family at this point, from going through an experience like that that was so influential in my life and in everybody else’s lives too,” he continued. “It makes us, in a way, a family that can never be separated.”
Robert’s other TV credits included ER, The Practice, Nash Bridges, Dark Skies, NYPD Blue and many more.
He still had multiple projects in post-production at the time of his death, including The Cowboy Killer, The 3 Killer Pigs, Pay to Die, and The Driver, which have all yet to be released.
Robert is survived by his three children, whom he shares with ex-wife Edie Mani, his grandchildren, brothers, nieces, nephews and “anyone who had the honor of having him in their life,” per Deadline.
