Kung Fu star Carradine found dead

Kung Fu star Carradine found dead
Kill Bill stars David Carradine and Uma Thurman
David Carradine believed he delivered "some of my best work" in Kill Bill

Kill Bill and Kung Fu star David Carradine has been found dead in a Bangkok hotel room on Thursday.

Thai police told the BBC the 72-year-old was found by a hotel maid sitting in a wardrobe with a cord around his neck and other parts of his body.

The US star was in Thailand filming his latest film, Stretch, according to his personal manager Chuck Binder.

Mr Binder said the news was "shocking", adding: "He was full of life, always wanting to work... a great person."

A US embassy official confirmed the actor's death, but added that the cause of death had not yet been established.

Mark Kermode pays tribute to David Carradine

However, Thai newspaper The Nation reported that police believe the actor took his own life, and preliminary investigations found that he hanged himself.

Carradine was part of an acting dynasty which included his father, John Carradine, and brothers Bruce, Keith and Robert.

The star was best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s TV series Kung Fu, which spawned sequels in the '80s and '90s.

The character became one of the most iconic roles in US TV and earned Carradine both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.


Kung Fu

Obituary: David Carradine

While his film career saw him working with directors including Martin Scorsese and Ingmar Bergman, the cult actor was considered something of a B-movie legend.

In 2003, after years in the straight-to-video market, Carradine found a new audience thanks to his role in the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill.

He was most recently seen on the big screen as a Chinese mobster in Crank: High Voltage, opposite British actor Jason Statham.

Carradine was an accomplished composer, musician, musical performer and songwriter. According to his official website, he was also a sculptor and a painter.

He is survived by his wife, Annie Bierman, and three children including actresses Calista and Kansas.

Source: BBC

Edit: To add source

This post has been edited by Siris10: Jun 4 2009, 04:51 PM

My first thought on reading the details of how he was found, was that he died scarfing.

That was what occurred to me aswell. The comment about cord tied around his neck and 'other parts of his body' was a wee bit suspect. Either way it's a terrible shame, he was a good actor.

Yup me too. and it did sound like a bit much even for that

That was my first thought and it would have been a pity if thats how he died as obviously that would have been remembered by anyone discussing his death. Shame he has died as was was one of those actors who was ok at what he did (i never thought he was great ). I guess that he had some problems which obviously he could not deal with in some shape or form, like i said its a shame.

Always enjoyed his work, especially the Kung Fu series.
This suicide (?) is very suspect and I hope they get to the bottom of this because it truly is a shame.

scarfing First time I have heard of that.

Scarfing in the wardrobe?

Memories of Michael Hutchence perhaps?

But why hang your cock and balls as well?!

Have to say that I'm a little worried about everyone whose first thought was scarfing. Yes, ymg, m15hun and Siris10, I'm looking at you.......

Strong echoes of Michael Hutchence. Can't help but think this was an 'autoerotic accident'- I can't think that if he wanted to kill himself he'd get naked and crawl inside a wardrobe and hang himself in that way...

P.S. Strange echoes- I found out that Keith Carradine had been found dead in a hotel room in Bangkok whilst sitting (mercifully alive) in a hotel room in Bangkok.

sadly he will be missed he was a brilliant actor

The guy was in his 70's.... If I'm still scarfing at that age, I'd be really impressed with myself, and telling everybody who'd listen about my horn-dog potency.

There's no shame in rolling a seven in this way when you're 70 odd years old.

I like his movies and grow up watching kung fu. I guess he just couldn't handle life anymore.

This post has been edited by tonyroadp: Jun 5 2009, 10:57 AM

C'mon arrgh, why else would the bloke have a cord tied around his meat and two veg?

oh... it's so sad to hear that he passed away...

may his soul rest in peace

I don't know Grasshopper but you obviously do

There's bravery and weirdness - that act qualifies for the second one.

I am such a huge fan of his. First, my favorite comedian George Carlin goes than David Carradine. Alas, not good at all.

I probably one of the few folks that have a complete rip of his entire Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. I meant to seed and release it years ago but I was always so darn busy.