Actor Robert Carradine, best known roles in the films Revenge of the Nerds and The Long Riders, as well as the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire, died by suicide Monday (February 23) at the age of 71, Deadline reports.

"It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away," the Carradine family said 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.”

Carradine's brother, Keith, referred to him as the bedrock of the acting family and reiterated that he fought valiantly with Bipolar Disorder throughout his life.

“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” Keith said via 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 was the youngest of actor John Carradine's five children, with brothers Keith and the late David Carradine also working as actors, while Chris Carradine worked as the Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering. Robert made his film debut in the 1972 film The Cowboys alongside the late legendary actor John Wayne before later starring alongside David and Keith in The Long Riders.

Robert later starred as Lewis in the 1984 comedy film Revenge of the Nerds and as Sam McGuire, the father of Hilary Duff's titular character in all 65 episodes of Lizzie McGuire, as well as The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) and two episodes of the Lizzie McGuire reboot in 2020 during an acting career that spanned six decades.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

Denise Plante