The cause and manner of death for Robert Carradine, known for his role in “Lizzie McGuire,” have been confirmed by the medical examiner’s office less than a week after his passing at the age of 71. The actor’s death has been classified as suicide.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified “sequelae of anoxic brain injury” as the primary cause of Carradine’s death, indicating that he suffered from a lack of oxygen to the brain. Official records confirm that he died by suicide through hanging.
Carradine passed away on Monday, following what his family described as a “valiant struggle” with bipolar disorder, a battle that spanned nearly two decades.
His older brother, Keith Carradine, an Oscar winner, shared with Deadline that the family hopes to shed light on mental illness by discussing Robert’s condition, aiming to “address the stigma” associated with it.
“It is an illness that ultimately overcame him, but I want to honor his fight and celebrate his beautiful spirit,” Keith expressed. “He was incredibly talented, and his absence will be felt every day. We find comfort in remembering his humor, wisdom, and the accepting and tolerant nature he possessed. That was my little brother.”
Carradine’s daughter, Ever, also an actress, paid tribute to the man who was “all heart.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, who dated Carradine in the 1970s beginning when Ever was 3, fondly remembered their relationship as her “first experience with domesticity and motherhood and partnership.” She said she remained friends with the father and daughter even after they broke up.
Hilary Duff, who starred in the titular role of “Lizzie McGuire,” recalled the warmth she experienced within the McGuire family, attributing much of it to the care she received from her onscreen parents, portrayed by Carradine and Hallie Todd.
“I’m deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering,” Duff wrote on social media. “My heart aches for him, his family and everyone who loved him.”
Todd described her onscreen husband as a “generous and loyal friend,” who was “brave, strong, kind and had a wicked sense of humor.”
She said her and Carradine’s families had grown extremely close over the past 25 years, calling their friendship her “most treasured personal gift from working on ‘Lizzie McGuire.’”
