I was watching Gunsmoke today and David Carradine was co-starring in the show “Lavery”, Season 16, Episode 22, February 22, 1971. It made me remember how much my dad and I enjoyed watching him as Kwai Chang Caine, on the show Kung Fu. I thought I would write about his career and odd death.
David Carradine was a multi-talented American actor, martial artist, musician, and occasional producer known for his intense presence and versatile work across film and television. Born on December 8, 1936, in Hollywood, California, he was part of a notable acting family, including his father John Carradine and his half-brothers, Keith, Robert, and Bruce. Raised with an early introduction to show business, Carradine’s childhood was turbulent, marked by a stint in foster care after his parents divorced, and he would later attend Oakland High School.
His early experiences shaped his later rebellious and iconoclastic personality. Carradine’s brief time in the U.S. Army brought some discipline, although he was eventually discharged due to misconduct. Transitioning back to civilian life, he turned to acting, initially securing parts on TV shows, including appearances on popular series like Wagon Train and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Movies
- 1964 Taggart Cal Dodge
- 1965 Bus Riley’s Back in Town
- 1966 Too Many Thieves
- 1967 The Violent Ones
- 1969 Heaven with a Gun
- 1969 Young Billy Young
- 1969 The Good Guys and the Bad Guys
- 1970 The McMasters
- 1970 Macho Callahan
- 1972 Boxcar Bertha
- 1973 The Long Goodbye
- 1973 Mean Streets
- 1973 A Country Mile
- 1975 You and Me
- 1975 Death Race 2000
- 1976 Cannonball
- 1976 Bound for Glory
- 1977 Thunder and Lightning
- 1977 The Serpent’s Egg
- 1978 Gray Lady Down
- 1978 Deathsport
- 1978 Circle of Iron
- 1979 Je te tiens, tu me tiens par la barbichette
- 1979 Fast Charlie… the Moonbeam Rider
- 1980 The Long Riders
- 1980 Cloud Dancer
- 1980 Safari 3000
- 1981 Americana
- 1982 Q
- 1982 Trick Or Treats
- 1983 Lone Wolf McQuade
- 1984 The Warrior and the Sorceress
- 1984 Downstream
- 1986 P.O.W. The Escape
- 1986 Armed Response
- 1987 The Misfit Brigade
- 1988 Run for Your Life
- 1988 Tropical Snow
- 1988 Warlords
- 1989 Sonny Boy
- 1989 Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II
- 1989 Crime Zone
- 1989 Nowhere to Run
- 1989 Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
- 1989 Try This One for Size
- 1989 Open Fire
- 1989 Think Big
- 1989 Future Force
- 1989 The Mad Bunch
- 1989 Night Children
- 1989 Crime of Crimes
- 1989 Animal Protector
- 1989 Las huellas del lince
- 1990 Dune Warriors
- 1990 Bird on a Wire
- 1990 Future Zone
- 1990 Martial Law
- 1990 Fatal Secret
- 1991 Midnight Fear
- 1991 Project Eliminator
- 1991 Capital Punishment
- 1991 Karate Cop
- 1991 Field of Fire
- 1992 Evil Toons
- 1992 Double Trouble
- 1992 Roadside Prophets
- 1992 Waxwork II: Lost in Time
- 1992 Night Rhythms
- 1992 Distant Justice
- 1992 Animal Instincts
- 1993 Kill Zone
- 1993 Dead Center
- 1993 Bitter End
- 1993 Code… Death: Frontera Sur
- 1997 The Rage
- 1997 The Good Life
- 1997 Macon County Jail
- 1998 Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror
- 1998 The New Swiss Family Robinson
- 1998 Shepherd
- 1998 The Effects of Magic
- 1998 An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island
- 1998 Kiss of a Stranger
- 1998 Sublet Max Kaufman
- 1998 Lovers and Liars
- 1998 Light Speed
- 1999 Knocking on Death’s Door
- 1999 Natural Selection
- 1999 Full Blast
- 1999 Zoo
- 1999 The Puzzle in the Air
- 2000 Dangerous Curves
- 2000 Down ‘n Dirty
- 2000 Nightfall
- 2001 G.O.D.
- 2001 The Donor
- 2002 Balto II: Wolf Quest
- 2002 Wheatfield with Crows
- 2003 Kill Bill: Volume 1
- 2003 American Reel
- 2004 Dead & Breakfast
- 2004 Kill Bill: Volume 2
- 2004 Hair High
- 2004 Last Goodbye
- 2004 Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon
- 2005 Brothers in Arms
- 2005 Miracle at Sage Creek
- 2006 Final Move
- 2006 The Last Sect
- 2007 Epic Movie
- 2007 Bala perdida
- 2007 Treasure Raiders
- 2007 Richard III
- 2007 How to Rob a Bank
- 2007 Fall Down Dead
- 2007 Permanent Vacation
- 2007 Fuego ‘Lobo’
- 2007 Big Stan
- 2007 Homo Erectus
- 2007 Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter
- 2008 Hell Ride
- 2008 Camille Bob
- 2008 Last Hour
- 2008 Break
- 2008 Death Race
- 2008 The Golden Boys
- 2008 Kandisha
- 2008 Archie’s Final Project (My Suicide)
- 2009 Absolute Evil
- 2009 Road of No Return
- 2009 Crank: High Voltage
- 2009 Autumn Phillip
- 2009 Dark Fields
- 2009 Bad Cop
- 2009 All Hell Broke Loose
- 2010 Detention
- 2010 True Legend
- 2010 Six Days in Paradise
- 2010 Money to Burn
- 2011 Stretch Monteiro
- 2011 Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
- 2012 Eldorado
- 2013 The Banksters, Madoff with America
- 2013 Night of the Templar
- 2017 The American Connection
His first major film role came with The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969), where he portrayed Atahuallpa, the Inca ruler. The film gained him some critical attention, followed by his starring role in Shane, a 1966 television series adaptation of the famous Western story, which further raised his profile as a solid character actor. Carradine’s big break arrived in 1972 with the role of Kwai Chang Caine in the television series Kung Fu, where he played a half-Chinese, half-American monk and martial artist journeying through the American West.
The role brought him to prominence and showcased his adeptness in martial arts, which became a lifelong passion. Carradine would forever be associated with Kung Fu, and it opened the door to a broader film career, including a starring role in Martin Scorsese’s early film Boxcar Bertha (1972). In the 1980s, Carradine appeared in films such as Americana (1983) but struggled to maintain his initial stardom, as leading roles became scarcer.
Television
- 1963 Armstrong Circle Theatre
- 1963 East Side/West Side
- 1963 Wagon Train
- 1964 Arrest and Trial
- 1964 The Virginian
- 1964 Alfred Hitchcock Hour
- 1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
- 1965 Alfred Hitchcock Hour
- 1966 Shane
- 1967 Saga of Western Man
- 1967 Coronet Blue
- 1967 Cimarron Strip
- 1968 Ironside
- 1968 Saga of Western Man
- 1970 The Name of the Game
- 1971 Ironside
- 1971 Gunsmoke
- 1971 Night Gallery
- 1971 Ironside
- 1972–1975 Kung Fu
- 1975 The Family Holvak
- 1979 Mr. Horn
- 1981 Darkroom
- 1983 The Fall Guy
- 1983 Faces of Culture
- 1984 Airwolf
- 1984 Partners in Crime
- 1984 The Fall Guy
- 1984 Fox Mystery Theater
- 1985 The Fall Guy
- 1985 North and South Book 1
- 1986 North and South Book 2
- 1986 Amazing Stories
- 1987 Night Heat
- 1987-1989 Matlock
- 1990 The Young Riders
- 1990 The Ray Bradbury Theater
- 1992 Human Target
- 1993–1997 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (88 episodes)
- 1997 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
- 1997 Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys
- 1999 Profiler
- 1999 Charmed Tempus
- 1999 Acapulco H.E.A.T.
- 2000 Family Law
- 2000 Just Shoot Me!
- 2001 Queen of Swords
- 2001 Lizzie McGuire
- 2001 Jackie Chan Adventures
- 2001 The Nightmare Room
- 2001 Largo Winch
- 2001 Titus
- 2002 King of the Hill
- 2002 Largo Winch
- 2003-2004 Alias
- 2004–2005 Wild West
- 2005 Eve Kung Fu Master
- 2005-2006 Danny Phantom
- 2006 Medium
- 2006 Celebrity Paranormal Project
- 2006 Son of the Dragon
- 2007 In Case of Emergency
- 2008 Tiempo final
- 2009 Mental Gideon Graham
- 2009 Celebrity Ghost Stories
However, he saw renewed attention in North and South (1985–1994), a popular miniseries about the American Civil War. With fewer leading opportunities, he gravitated toward straight-to-video action films, capitalizing on his martial arts image, but his career appeared to be in decline. Carradine returned to his iconic Kung Fu role in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1993–1997),
a reboot that brought Caine’s character into a contemporary setting, pairing him with his onscreen son. However, the real renaissance came with Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films (2003–2004), where he played the titular character Bill, a deadly mentor with philosophical depth. The role reintroduced Carradine to a global audience, earning him critical acclaim and sparking renewed interest in his earlier work.
In his later years, Carradine continued acting, often taking on smaller roles in independent films. His final years were marred by health issues and a series of straight-to-video projects that often went under the radar. His personal life was also turbulent, with multiple marriages, publicized arrests, and controversies, including altercations related to substance abuse and eccentric behaviors. Carradine was also an avid martial artist, studying several styles including Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Swordplay.
He produced instructional martial arts videos and was often seen as a cultural bridge between Eastern martial arts and Western media. His work in martial arts was occasionally criticized, as he had no formal Kung Fu training but used his roles to delve into martial arts philosophy, which he found personally meaningful. Music was another passion; he was a musician and songwriter, often performing on guitar.
He released several albums and contributed music to some of his films, demonstrating his multi-faceted artistic inclinations. Carradine’s legacy is complex. He was a counter-culture icon in the 1970s and became an emblem of martial arts in Western pop culture. Though his career had significant ebbs and flows, he remained a beloved figure for his fans.
Discography
- You And Me (single) 1973
- Jim Helms, David Carradine, Keye Luke, Philip Ahn, Radames Pera (1973). Kung Fu – Music & Dialogue From The Warner Bros. T.V. Series (album). United States: Warner Bros. Records
- Grasshopper (album). United Kingdom: Jet Records. 1975
- Around (single). United Kingdom: Jet Records. 1975
- Cosmic Joke (single). United Kingdom: Jet Records. 1976
- Woody Guthrie, Leonard Rosenman, David Carradine (1976) Bound For Glory – Original Motion Picture Score (album). Canada: United Artists Records
- Jesus Christ (single). Germany: United Artists Record. 1976
- David Carradine, Gail Jensen, Michael Shanklin (1983). Señor Problemas (Troublemaker) (single). Argentina: MICSA
- David Carradine, Michael Shanklin, Tamila Jensen, Gail Jensen (1985). Walk the Floor (single). United States: Coop Records
- David Carradine’s Mata Hari Suite. Music for The Film (CD). United States: ZumaGold. c. 1990
- David Carradine As Is (CD). United States: Panartist. 2001
His posthumous releases kept his legacy alive, continuing to influence both film and martial arts enthusiasts worldwide. Tragically, David Carradine died on June 3, 2009 under unusual circumstances in a Bangkok hotel, sparking extensive media speculation. He was discovered hanging in the closet with cords tied around his neck, wrists, and genitals, leading to initial speculation that he had committed suicide. However, further investigation suggested accidental asphyxiation related to autoerotic practices.
Wives
- Donna Lee Becht (m. 1960; div. 1968)
- Barbara Hershey (partner 1968–1975)
- Linda Gilbert (m. 1977; div. 1983)
- Gail Jensen (m. 1986; div. 1997)
- Marina Anderson (m. 1998; div. 2001)
- Annie Bierman (m. 2004)
Carradine’s family and lawyer disputed these conclusions, prompting a second autopsy in the U.S. that aligned with the theory of accidental death. This tragic and unusual incident attracted extensive media coverage, with many questions left unresolved. His death, which occurred while he was in Thailand filming the movie Stretch, shocked fans and cast a tragic final note on his life and career. He was survived by his wife, Annie Bierman, whom he had married in 2004.
He also left behind his children, including his daughter, Kansas Carradine, from his relationship with Linda Gilbert, and his son, Tom Carradine, from a previous relationship. Additionally, Carradine was survived by his half-brothers, actors Keith and Robert Carradine, and his extended family, including nieces and nephews who are also part of the Carradine acting legacy.
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Carradine
- Wikipedia “David Carradine filmography” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Carradine_filmography
- 45 Cat https://www.45cat.com/
- The Guardian “David Carradine’s death ‘not suicide’, says American pathologist” https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jul/03/david-carradine-death-second-autopsy
- ABC News “Autopsy: David Carradine Died by Asphyxiation” https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=7989893&page=1
- The Holluwood Reporter “David Carradine’s death might be accidental” https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/david-carradines-death-accidental-85010/
