David Carradine Biography


(What's this?) What is the EasyEdit button? This website gets better when people like you add to it. Just click the EasyEdit button to start. (help)


flixster.actor.standard.01.162674856 - flixster

David Carradine biography:
David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine, December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor, best known for his work in the 1970s television series Kung Fu and more recently in the movie Kill Bill. He appeared in more than 100 feature films and was nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award.

David Carradine quote:If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.
There's an alternative. There's always a third way, and it's not a combination of the other two ways. It's a different way.
[on his late friend and one-time co-star, Brandon Lee] He was always giving 110%, and it produced a light in the eyes, which is what you look for in movies.

Want to edit this actor profile?
Click EasyEdit to update this page!
Career Highlights
Non-acting careers:producer:
  1. Road of No Return (2009) (producer)
  2. Richard III (2008) (executive producer)
  3. "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" (co-producer) (7 episodes, 1995-1996)
  4. Project Eliminator (1991) (associate producer)
  5. Future Force (1989) (associate producer)
  6. Crime of Crimes (1989) (producer)
  7. Crime Zone (1988) (executive producer)
  8. Kung Fu: The Movie (1986) (TV) (co-producer)
  9. Americana (1983) (producer)
director:
  1. Lizzie McGuire" (2001) TV series (unknown episodes)
  2. Americana (1983)
  3. Mata Hari (1978)
  4. You and Me (1975)
  5. "Kung Fu" (3 episodes, 1974)
writer:Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" (1 episode, 1996)

soundtrack:
  1. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) (performer: "The Legend of Pai Mai")
  2. Balto: Wolf Quest (2002) (V) (performer: "The Grand Design")
  3. Roadside Prophets (1992) (writer: "Divining Rod")
  4. "Matlock" (1 episode, 1987)
    - The Country Boy (1987) TV episode (performer: "Hey Good Lookin", "Cold Cold Heart", "Nobody's Darling But Mine")
  5. On the Line (1984) ("HELLO HEARTBREAK"
  6. Bound for Glory
Big break:"Armstrong Circle Theatre" (1 episode, 1963)
Taggart (1964) (film)
Defining characters:Kwai Chang Caine
Eugene Sorenson
Justin LaMotte
Cole Younger
Rawley Wilkes
Capt. Gates
Frankenstein
'Big' Bill Shelly
Caine
"Shane"
Bill - 'Snake Charmer'
Poon Dong
Woody Guthrie.
Best movies:Crank: High Voltage
Epic Movie
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Dangerous Curves
The New Swiss Family Robinson
Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror
Waxwork II: Lost in Time
Bird on a Wire
Nowhere to Run
Kung Fu: The Movie
Lone Wolf McQuade
Q
The Long Riders
Gray Lady Down
Thunder and Lightning
Death Race 2000
Boxcar Bertha
The Serpent's Egg
Bound for Glory
Best TV:"North and South"
"The Fall Guy"
"Shane"
Kung Fu
"Ironside"
"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour"
"The Virginian
"Wagon Train
"Matlock"
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
"Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
"Profiler"
By Dawn's Early Light
Faces of Culture
Charmed
Stage credits: The Royal Hunt of the Sun

Endorsements:he was a spokesperson for Lipton
Yellowbook
Other notable appearances/credits:Shaolin Diary: Back to the Beginning
Brothers in Arms: The Making of a Modern Western
"The Contender"
The Making of 'Kill Bill: Volume 2'
From Grasshopper to Caine: The Making of 'Kung Fu'
"Lizzie McGuire
Tai Chi Workout for Beginners
Top awards:Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 3 nominations
Other:

David Carradine Relationships
Family:wife Annie,daughters Calista & Kansas & son Tom
Romance(s):Barbara Hershey
Marina Anderson (20 February 1998 - 12 December 2001) (divorced)
Gail Jensen (4 December 1988 - 1997) (divorced)
Linda Gilbert (2 February 1977 - 1983) (divorced)
Donna Lee Becht (29 December 1960 - 1968) (divorced)
Frequent collaborator(s):patrick swayze
quentin tarantino
uma thurman
michael madsen
daryl hannah
chris potter
kim chan
jorge montesi
andy griffith
lesley anne down
kirstie alley
lloyd bridges
morgan fairchild
chuck norris
alex beaton
barry crane
keye luke
philip ahn
raymond burr
Other affiliations:

Fun Facts About David Carradine
Lived with Barbara Hershey from 1972-75 (she changed her last name to Seagull to during this time). They have a son they named Free Carradine at birth, but who has since changed his name to Tom Carradine.
Convicted of drunk driving in October 1989. Served 48 hours in jail and did community service.
Has a lifelong fascination with Eastern philosphies and culture which resulted in him writing the book "Spirit Of The Shaolin" about the philosophy of Kung Fu.
Uncle of actresses Martha Plimpton and Ever Carradine.
Daughter: Calista Carradine (b. 1962).
Daughter: Kansas Carradine (b. 1978).Began studying the Martial Arts after getting cast in "Kung Fu" (1972).
Studied drama at San Francisco State University.
Was suppose to attended the Armaggeddon Pulp Culture Expo Convention in Wellington, New Zealand, in September 2004 as a special Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) guest but had to pull out at the last minute due to filming commitments
To date, he is the only actor who has appeared in films directed by Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Quentin Tarantino.
Because of his look, his stint on the TV series "Kung Fu" (1972) and his fascination with Eastern philosophies, people often assume that he is at least part Asian. He isn't.
A great deal of his characters posses lethal martial arts skills. This is a nod to his most famous character, the deadly yet benevolent Kwai Chang Caine in the TV series "Kung Fu" (1972).
Has been a close friend of Larry Cohen since they served together in the military.
Was married to his present wife at the home of Michael Madsen by Vicki Roberts who officiated and pronounced them husband and wife.
He was born in Hollywood, but he was brought up all over the country, mostly by boarding school teachers and reform school wardens.
Quentin Tarrantino had originally envisioned the character "Bill" in the "Kill Bill" films as a suave "James Bond-type" man and had first approached Warren Beatty for the role. Beatty turned it down and suggested that Quentin get David for the role.





David Carradine's Awards & Honors
Year
Award
Category/Recipient(s)
Result
2005
Saturn AwardBest Supporting Actor
for: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
won
2005
action on film international film festival
Lifetime Achievement Award
1973
Emmy
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Drama Series - Continuing)
for: "Kung Fu" (1972)
nominated
1997

Star on the Walk of Fame
1976
NBR AwardBest Actor
for: Bound for Glory (1976)
won

David Carradine's Upcoming Projects

David Carradine Links
  • www.david-carradine.com