Actor Robert Carradine, a member of the Carradine clan and known for his role in the TV series 'Lizzie McGuire', died at the age of 71 by suicide, according to Deadline. 'It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away,' the family said. 'In a world that can seem so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light for all who knew him. He was deeply talented, and we will miss him every day.' Born on March 24, 1954, Robert Carradine was the son of John Carradine (1906-1988), the great character actor who appeared in John Ford films such as 'Stagecoach' (1939) and 'The Grapes of Wrath' (1940) before specializing in horror films. Carradine rose to fame for his role as Lewis Skolnik, the idealistic leader of a fraternity of social misfits, in the 1984 film 'Revenge of the Nerds', a studio comedy that spawned several sequels. Two decades later, he found a new generation of fans by playing Sam McGuire in the popular Disney TV series 'Lizzie McGuire' (2001-2004) and in the film 'The Lizzie McGuire Movie' (2003). 'We are devastated by the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby's brave battle against his nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder,' the family's statement read. 'We hope his journey can serve to shed light and encourage people to confront the stigma that accompanies mental illnesses,' they added. Keith Carradine, Robert's brother, told Deadline that the family wanted to share his brother's struggle with bipolar disorder, stating: 'We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it.' 'It's a disease that was stronger than him, and I want to celebrate his fight against it, and celebrate his beautiful soul,' he said.
