David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an actor and musician best known for his many martial artist and Yellowface roles. He was the son of John Carradine and half-brother of Keith Carradine and Robert Carradine.
In 1960, he served in the US Army for two years, though at one point, he was court-martialed for shoplifting. Afterwards he became an actor. Interestingly, during production of perhaps his most famous role, Kung Fu (1972), he did not actually know martial arts and made do with his dancing, sword fighting, boxing, and street fighting skills. Afterwards, he studied martial arts for real, and while he never considered himself a master, he became skilled enough at Tai Chi to launch several instructionals of the art. In 2005, he visited the Shaolin Monastery and the abbot, Shi Yǒngxìn, thanked him for helping to promote the Shaolin and kung fu culture, which he replied, "I am happy to serve."
He sang and played several instruments like the piano, guitar, and flute. He often contributed to the soundtracks of movies or shows he was part of. He and his brother Robert were in a band called Cosmic Rescue Team aka Soul Dogs.
He was married and divorced several times, had a high profile romance with the actress Barbara Hershey, and had three children and four stepchildren. He also had an extensive criminal record. At several points in his life, he had been arrested for various offenses.
He passed away at age 72. His cause of death was ruled that he accidentally suffocated himself while attempting Auto-Erotic Asphyxiation. His final roles were released posthumously. His tombstone calls him "The Barefoot Legend" and has the first line of his song "Paint", "I'm lookin' for a place where the dogs don't bite, and children don't cry and everything goes just right, and brothers don't fight..."
Notable Roles
Film
- 1972 Boxcar Bertha: 'Big' Bill Shelly
- 1973 The Long Goodbye: Dave / Socrates – Marlowe's Cellmate
- 1973 Mean Streets: Drunk
- 1975 Death Race 2000: Frankenstein
- 1976 Bound for Glory: Woody Guthrie
- 1976 Cannonball: Coy "Cannonball" Buckman
- 1978 Gray Lady Down: Captain Don Gates
- 1978 Circle of Iron: The Blind Man, The Monkeyman, Death, and Chang-Sha
- 1980 The Long Riders: Cole Younger
- 1982 Q: The Winged Serpent: Detective Sheppard
- 1983 Lone Wolf McQuade: Rawley Wilkes
- 1984 The Warrior and the Sorceress: Kain
- 1985 The Bad Seed: Leroy Jessup
- 1986 Kung Fu The Movie: Kwai Chang Caine
- 1989 Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat: Count Mardulak
- 1989 Wizards of the Lost Kingdom 2: The Dark One
- 1990 Bird on a Wire: Eugene Sorenson
- 1992 Waxwork II: Lost in Time: The Beggar
- 1998 Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror: Luke Enright
- 1998 An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island: Chief Wulisso
- 2000 Nightfall: Gnomen
- 2002 Balto II: Wolf Quest: Nava
- 2003-2004 Kill Bill: Bill
- 2007 National Lampoon's Stoned Age/Homo Erectus: Mookoo
- 2007 Big Stan: The Master
- 2007 Epic Movie: Museum Curator
- 2007 How to Rob a Bank: Nick
- 2008 Death Race: Voice of Niles York, the original Frankenstein
- 2009 Crank: High Voltage: Poon Dong
- 2010 True Legend (2010): Anthony (final film role, released posthumously)
- 2013 Night of the Templar: The Shopkeeper
Live-Action Television
- 1963 Wagon Train: John Mason
- 1964 The Virginian: The Utah Kid
- 1964-1965 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour: Episode "Ten Minutes From Now": Art Thief / Episode "Thou Still Unravished Bride": Edward Clarke
- 1967 Cimarron Strip: Gene Gauge
- 1968-1971 Ironside: Frank Carson / Luke Roberts / Pogo Reems
- 1971 Gunsmoke: Clint
- 1971 Night Gallery: Episode "The Phantom Farmhouse": Gideon
- 1972-1975 Kung Fu: Kwai Chang Caine
- 1984 Airwolf: Dr. Robert Winchester
- 1984-1985 The Fall Guy: Caretaker and As Himself
- 1986 Amazing Stories: Episode "Thanksgiving": Calvin
- 1987-1989 Matlock: Jimmy Legrand / Steve Mazarowski
- 1992 Human Target: Harry Solow
- 1993-1997 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues: Kwai Chang Caine / Matthew Caine
- 1997 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: Houston Currier
- 1999 Profiler: Christopher Joe Allman
- 1999 Charmed: Tempus
- 2000 Just Shoot Me!: As Himself
- 2001 Queen of Swords: El Serpiente
- 2001 Lizzie McGuire: As Himself
- 2001 The Nightmare Room: Episode "Tangled Web": Mr. Farber
- 2001 Titus: Bob Hawkins
- 2003-2004 Alias: Conrad
- 2004-2005 Wild West Tech: Host
- 2006 Medium: Jessica's Brother
Video Games
- 2006 Saints Row: William Sharp
Western Animation
- 2001 Jackie Chan Adventures: Lo Pei
- 2002 King of the Hill: Junichiro
- 2005-2006 Danny Phantom: Clockwork
