David Carradine found Dead

Sad news has been reported today. Actor David Carradine was found dead in his hotel in Thailand under uncertain circumstances. He was 72.

Carradine was probably best remembered for his roles as Kwai Chang Caine on the 1970s televesion series Kung Fu, the revived Kung Fu: The Legend Continues in the 90s and as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume I and II. He's also been doing some recent YellowBook.com commercials.

I am pretty shocked by this and can't understand why Carradine would hang himself, which is beginning to look more unlikely as reports come in. It seems like he had everything going for him after Kill Bill; he revived his career, was in the limelight again, and seemed to be moving on to better things. More news is still coming in that could shed light on this event, and reports are circulating that his death resulted from a sex game gone wrong. I'm inclined to believe the latter report. Regardless of the reasons behind it, Carradine's death is a sad reminder about the unglamorous side of Hollywood stardom. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

As an aside, I greatly admired David's father John Carradine, one of the great character actors of all-time. I loved his performances in Stagecoach, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

RIP David Carradine.