The Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed that actor Robert Carradine died by suicide at age 71. He passed away on February 23, 2026, after battling bipolar disorder for nearly two decades. His family and co-star Hilary Duff have shared heartfelt tributes amid the tragedy.
Oh, the entertainment world just took another heartbreaking hit. Robert Carradine, the beloved actor from 'Revenge of the Nerds' and Disney's 'Lizzie McGuire,' was found dead on Monday, February 23, 2026, at the age of 71. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause as suicide by hanging, resulting in an anoxic brain injury that starved his brain of oxygen. 😢
Carradine had openly struggled with bipolar disorder for almost 20 years, a battle his family highlighted in a poignant statement to Deadline. "It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away," they wrote. "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. 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."
His brother Keith Carradine echoed the sentiment, telling outlets that the illness "got the best of him," but stressed there's "no shame" in it. "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," Keith said. "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."
Hilary Duff, who starred alongside Carradine as her on-screen dad Sam McGuire in 'Lizzie McGuire,' posted a tearful tribute on Instagram. "This one hurts. It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend," she wrote. "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." She ended with a broken heart emoji.
In a industry full of spotlights, sometimes the shadows win. Will Carradine's story finally help break the silence on mental health?
