Actor Robert Carradine, best known as Lizzie McGuire's dad, has passed away at age 71. His family confirmed he died by suicide following a nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder. Tributes from co-stars and relatives highlight his warmth and talent.
Oh, Hollywood hearts are breaking today—Robert Carradine, the nerdy icon from Revenge of the Nerds and the ultimate TV dad on Lizzie McGuire, has left us at 71. His family dropped the devastating news on February 23, 2026, sharing that he took his own life after battling bipolar disorder for almost 20 years. "It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away," the family stated. "In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of 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." They hope his story shines a light on mental health stigma—no shame in the game, folks. 💔
Big brother Keith Carradine spilled more tea to Deadline, saying, "We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it. 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."
From a legendary dynasty—son of John Carradine, alongside Keith and the late David—Robert's career spanned over 60 years and 150+ films. He kicked off in the '70s with The Cowboys and Mean Streets, hit big as Lewis Skolnick in the 1984 Revenge of the Nerds, and charmed millennials as Sam McGuire, the corny, loving dad to Hilary Duff's Lizzie from 2001-2004.
Hilary didn't hold back on Instagram, posting throwback pics: "This one hurts. It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend. There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. I’ll be forever grateful for that. I’m deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him."
Daughter Ever Carradine, born in 1974 to Robert and Susan Snyder, shared her own raw memories: "Whenever anyone asks me how I turned out so normal, I always tell them it’s because of my dad. I knew my dad loved me, I knew it deep in my bones, and I always knew he had my back." Robert's other kids, Marika Reed and Ian Alexander, from his 1990 marriage to Edith Mani, survive him too. That union ended in a messy 2018 divorce after a 2015 Colorado crash—Edith claimed in docs he deliberately drove into a truck amid depression post-David's 2009 death, and she sought his 17 guns for safety. They settled, and he kept the collection.
Robert's light burned bright, but bipolar got the upper hand. If you're struggling, hit up 988. Who's ready to binge Lizzie McGuire and toast to Bobby?
