Thomas continued, “I have many fond memories being with him and his family throughout my life. Good moments, challenging moments, and lots of laughs between. I looked up to him growing up. And later in life, I came to realize he thought I was pretty neat, too. So I guess I was doing something right in his eyes. My heart is with Marika and Ian. Rest easy, Bobby. Love you — ‘Jaker.’ ”
Robert was a member of the prolific Carradine family of actors. His father, John Carradine, was one of Hollywood’s most prolific character actors, with a list of credits that included 1940’s The Grapes of Wrath, Stagecoach and countless horror movies.
David Carradine—Robert’s half-brother — is best known for starring as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s TV series Kung Fu, and famously played the title character in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films. Keith Carradine notably appeared in Pretty Baby and Dexter, and is father of Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope, The Goonies, Running on Empty).
Speaking with Deadline, Keith said that the extended Carradine family wishes for the public to learn more about bipolar disorder following his brother’s death.
“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” Keith told the outlet. “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.”
