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David Carradine

Acting 72 (deceased) years old Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA ★ 2.3
Born: December 8, 1936
Died: June 3, 2009

Biography

David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine Jr.; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor best known for playing martial arts roles. He is perhaps best known as the star of the 1970s television series Kung Fu, playing Kwai Chang Caine, a peace-loving Shaolin monk travelling through the American Old West. He also portrayed the title character of both of the Kill Bill films. He appeared in two Martin Scorsese films: Boxcar Bertha and Mean Streets.

David Carradine was a member of the Carradine family of actors that began with his father, John Carradine. The elder Carradine's acting career, which included major and minor roles on stage, television, and in cinema, spanned more than four decades. A prolific "B" movie actor, David Carradine appeared in more than 100 feature films in a career spanning more than six decades. He received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for his work on Kung Fu, and received three additional Golden Globe nominations for his performances in the Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory (1976), the television miniseries North and South (1985), and Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Volume 2, for which he won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Throughout his life, Carradine was arrested and prosecuted for a variety of offenses, which often involved substance abuse. Films that featured Carradine continued to be released after his death. These posthumous credits were from a variety of genres including action, documentaries, drama, horror, martial arts, science fiction, and westerns. In addition to his acting career, Carradine was a director and musician. Moreover, influenced by his Kung Fu role, he studied martial arts. On April 1, 1997, Carradine received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Description above from the Wikipedia article David Carradine, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 Bill 2003
How to Rob a Bank
How to Rob a Bank Nick 2007
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair Bill (Snake Charmer) 2011
I've Got You, You've Got Me by the Chin Hairs
I've Got You, You've Got Me by the Chin Hairs Le professeur d'arts martiaux à LAPD 1979
Death Race
Death Race Frankenstein (voice) 2008

Filmography

Acting Credits (257)

Mata Hari
Mata Hari Self (archive footage) 2025
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks Self (archive footage) 2019
A Tale of James Brown
A Tale of James Brown Self 2016
Die schlechtesten Filme aller Zeiten
Die schlechtesten Filme aller Zeiten John Tucker (archive Footage) 2013
Madoff: Made Off with America
Madoff: Made Off with America Neal 2013
Night of the Templar
Night of the Templar Shopkeeper 2012
Eldorado
Eldorado The Spirit Guide 2012
Corman's World
Corman's World Self - Actor 2011
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair Bill (Snake Charmer) 2011
Stretch
Stretch Monteiro 2011
Six Days in Paradise
Six Days in Paradise Vernon Billings 2010
Dinocroc vs. Supergator
Dinocroc vs. Supergator Jason Drake 2010
True Legend
True Legend Anthony 2010
Detention
Detention Principal Hoskins 2010
All Hell Broke Loose
All Hell Broke Loose Marshal Ian McHenry 2009
Road of No Return
Road of No Return Mr. Hover 2009
Bad Cop
Bad Cop Det. Humes 2009
Dark Fields
Dark Fields Clive Jonis 2009
Autumn
Autumn Philip 2009
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Celebrity Ghost Stories Self 2009
Starz Inside - Unforgettably Evil
Starz Inside - Unforgettably Evil Self 2009
Tattoos: A Scarred History
Tattoos: A Scarred History Self 2009
Mental
Mental Gideon Graham 2009
Break
Break The Bishop 2009
Crank: High Voltage
Crank: High Voltage Poon Dong 2009
Absolute Evil
Absolute Evil Raf McCane 2009
My Suicide
My Suicide Vargas 2009
Kandisha
Kandisha The American 2008
The Golden Boys
The Golden Boys Capt. Zebulon Hedge 2008
Death Race
Death Race Frankenstein (voice) 2008
Kung Fu Killer
Kung Fu Killer Crane 2008
Kung Fu Killer
Kung Fu Killer Crane 2008
Hell Ride
Hell Ride The Deuce 2008
Last Hour
Last Hour Detective Mike Stone 2008
Camille
Camille Cowboy Bob 2008
Son of the Dragon
Son of the Dragon Bird 2008
Naked Movie
Naked Movie Self 2008
A Vampire Reformed
A Vampire Reformed Self 2008
Big Stan
Big Stan The Master 2007
Fuego
Fuego Lobo 2007
Spiral Fitness Beginnings
Spiral Fitness Beginnings Self 2007
Permanent Vacation
Permanent Vacation Old Man 2007
Being Michael Madsen
Being Michael Madsen Self 2007
Fall Down Dead
Fall Down Dead Wade Douglas 2007
Homo Erectus
Homo Erectus Mookoo / Uncle Unky 2007
Richard III
Richard III Buckingham 2007
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter Mikhail 2007
Treasure Raiders
Treasure Raiders Pierre 2007
Epic Movie
Epic Movie Museum Curator 2007
How to Rob a Bank
How to Rob a Bank Nick 2007
In Case of Emergency
In Case of Emergency Guru Danny 2007
Celebrity Paranormal Project
Celebrity Paranormal Project Self 2006
The Last Sect
The Last Sect Van Helsing 2006
Final Move
Final Move Captain Baker 2006
Miracle at Sage Creek
Miracle at Sage Creek Ike 2005
Danny Phantom: The Ultimate Enemy
Danny Phantom: The Ultimate Enemy Clockwork (voice) 2005
Ringers: Lord of the Fans
Ringers: Lord of the Fans Self 2005
Medium
Medium Jessica's Brother 2005
Brothers in Arms
Brothers in Arms Driscoll 2005
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon Grand Master 2004
UnConventional
UnConventional Self 2004
The Making of 'Kill Bill Vol. 2'
The Making of 'Kill Bill Vol. 2' Self 2004
Last Goodbye
Last Goodbye Fred McGillicuddie 2004
Hair High
Hair High Mr. Snerz (voice) 2004
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 Bill 'Snake Charmer' 2004
Danny Phantom
Danny Phantom Clockwork (voice) 2004
Dead & Breakfast
Dead & Breakfast Mr. Wise 2004
Away from Home
Away from Home Self 2004
American Reel
American Reel James Lee Springer 2003
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 Bill 2003
Lost Bullet
Lost Bullet Michael Morrison 2003
Eve
Eve Kung Fu Master 2003
Wild West Tech
Wild West Tech Self - Host 2003
The Outsider
The Outsider Doctor Lucas Henry 2002
Modern Warriors
Modern Warriors Self 2002
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies Self 2002
Balto: Wolf Quest
Balto: Wolf Quest Nava the Wolf Shaman (voice) 2002
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross Self 2001
Down 'n Dirty
Down 'n Dirty Gil Garner 2001
Alias
Alias Conrad 2001
The Nightmare Room
The Nightmare Room Mr. Farber 2001
Warden of Red Rock
Warden of Red Rock Mike Sullivan 2001
By Dawn's Early Light
By Dawn's Early Light Nick Decker 2001
The Donor
The Donor Mike 2001
Guaranteed on Delivery
Guaranteed on Delivery Norman Williams 2001
Largo Winch
Largo Winch Nério Winch 2001
Largo Winch
Largo Winch 2001
Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire Self 2001
Out of the Wilderness
Out of the Wilderness Clint Dugan 2001
Jackie Chan Adventures
Jackie Chan Adventures Lo Pei (voice) 2000
Nightfall
Nightfall Gnomen 2000
Kung Fu Action Masters
Kung Fu Action Masters Narrator 2000
Full Blast
Full Blast Maceo 2000
Titus
Titus Bob Hawkins 2000
Dangerous Curves
Dangerous Curves Lemmy 2000
Code Name: Jaguar
Code Name: Jaguar Max Kaufman 1999
Kiss of a Stranger
Kiss of a Stranger Sean O'Leary 1999
Family Law
Family Law Andrew Weller 1999
The Bitter End
The Bitter End 1999
The Puzzle in the Air
The Puzzle in the Air The General 1999
Knocking on Death's Door
Knocking on Death's Door Doc Hadley 1999
The Monster Hunter
The Monster Hunter Louis Dehoven 1999
Charmed
Charmed Tempus 1998
The Effects of Magic
The Effects of Magic The Cabinet Maker 1998
The Shepherd
The Shepherd Ventriloquist 1998
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes Self 1998
The New Swiss Family Robinson
The New Swiss Family Robinson Sheldon Blake 1998
Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror
Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror Luke Enright 1998
An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island
An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island Chief Wulisso (voice) 1998
Light Speed
Light Speed Miles 1998
Lovers and Liars
Lovers and Liars Mr. Montague 1998
Mystic Origins of the Martial Arts
Mystic Origins of the Martial Arts 1998
The Rage
The Rage Lucas McDermott 1997
Fast Track
Fast Track 1997
Lost Treasure of Dos Santos
Lost Treasure of Dos Santos Martin Shaw 1997
Just Shoot Me!
Just Shoot Me! David Carradine 1997
Last Stand at Saber River
Last Stand at Saber River Duane Kidston 1997
King of the Hill
King of the Hill Junichiro (voice) 1997
Macon County Jail
Macon County Jail Coley 1997
Woof! Woof!! Uncle Matty's Ultimate Guide to Dog Training
Woof! Woof!! Uncle Matty's Ultimate Guide to Dog Training 1997
Profiler
Profiler Christopher Joe Allman 1996
Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys
Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys Mandrax (voice) 1996
E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story Self 1996
The Eagle and the Horse
The Eagle and the Horse John Freemont 1994
Dead Center
Dead Center Chavez 1994
Desperately Looking For Success
Desperately Looking For Success James Lorrimer 1994
Acapulco H.E.A.T.
Acapulco H.E.A.T. Victor Garrison 1993
Kill Zone
Kill Zone Col. Horace Wiggins 1993
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Kwai Chang Caine 1993
Code... Death: Frontera Sur
Code... Death: Frontera Sur Colonel 1993
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Houston Currier 1993
Distant Justice
Distant Justice Joe Foley 1992
Animal Instincts
Animal Instincts William Lamberti 1992
Night Rhythms
Night Rhythms Vincent 1992
Human Target
Human Target Harry Solow 1992
Waxwork II: Lost in Time
Waxwork II: Lost in Time The Beggar 1992
Roadside Prophets
Roadside Prophets Othello Jones 1992
Double Trouble
Double Trouble Mr. C 1992
Evil Toons
Evil Toons Gideon Fisk 1992
Kung Fu - A Legend Reborn
Kung Fu - A Legend Reborn Kwai Chang Caine 1992
Capital Punishment
Capital Punishment Michale Maltin 1991
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw Kwai-Chang Caine 1991
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat Mardulak 1991
Brotherhood of the Gun
Brotherhood of the Gun Artemis McBride 1991
Karate Cop
Karate Cop Dad 1991
Deadly Surveillance
Deadly Surveillance Lieutenant 1991
Project Eliminator
Project Eliminator Ron Morrell 1991
Midnight Fear
Midnight Fear Hanley 1991
Dune Warriors
Dune Warriors Michael 1991
Field of Fire
Field of Fire Gen. Corman 1991
That's Action
That's Action John Tucker (archive footage) (uncredited) 1990
Martial Law
Martial Law Dalton Rhodes 1990
Future Zone
Future Zone John Tucker 1990
Bird on a Wire
Bird on a Wire Eugene Sorensen 1990
The Trace of Lynx
The Trace of Lynx 1989
Warlords
Warlords Dow 1989
Think Big
Think Big Sweeney 1989
Try This One for Size
Try This One for Size Bradley 1989
Sonny Boy
Sonny Boy Pearl 1989
Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II
Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II Dark One 1989
Nowhere to Run
Nowhere to Run Harmon 1989
Future Force
Future Force John Tucker 1989
The Cover Girl and the Cop
The Cover Girl and the Cop Slade 1989
Night Children
Night Children Max Crawford 1989
Crime of Crimes
Crime of Crimes Frank McEntire 1989
The Mad Bunch
The Mad Bunch Professor Foxwood 1989
Crime Zone
Crime Zone Jason 1988
Tropical Snow
Tropical Snow Oskar 1988
I Saw What You Did
I Saw What You Did Stephen 1988
Open Fire
Open Fire Joe Rourke 1988
Animal Protector
Animal Protector Col. Whitlock 1988
Run for Your Life
Run for Your Life Maggiore Charles Forsythe 1988
Fatal Secret
Fatal Secret Michael LeWinter 1988
The Misfit Brigade
The Misfit Brigade Col. Von Weisshagen 1987
Six Against the Rock
Six Against the Rock Bernard 'Bernie' Paul Coy 1987
Heartbeat
Heartbeat Man Playing Dice 1987
Armed Response
Armed Response Jim Roth 1986
Oceans of Fire
Oceans of Fire J.C. Busch 1986
P.O.W. The Escape
P.O.W. The Escape Col. James Cooper 1986
Matlock
Matlock Jimmy Legrand 1986
Matlock
Matlock Steve Mazarowski 1986
Kung Fu: The Movie
Kung Fu: The Movie Kwai Chang Caine 1986
Wedden, dat..?
Wedden, dat..? Self 1986
North and South
North and South Justin LaMotte 1985
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories Calvin 1985
The Ray Bradbury Theater
The Ray Bradbury Theater Spender 1985
The Bad Seed
The Bad Seed Leroy Jessup 1985
On the Line
On the Line Bryant 1984
A Distant Scream
A Distant Scream Michael 1984
Partners in Crime
Partners in Crime Hermanski 1984
The Warrior and the Sorceress
The Warrior and the Sorceress Kain 1984
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense Michael/Harris 1984
Jealousy
Jealousy Bobby Dee 1984
Airwolf
Airwolf Dr. Robert Winchester 1984
Lone Wolf McQuade
Lone Wolf McQuade Rawley Wilkes 1983
Trick or Treats
Trick or Treats Richard Adams 1982
Q
Q Shepard 1982
Safari 3000
Safari 3000 Eddie Miles 1982
The Best of Sex and Violence
The Best of Sex and Violence Self - Cameo Appearance 1982
Today's F.B.I.
Today's F.B.I. The Leader 1981
Americana
Americana The American Soldier 1981
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane Ben Irons 1980
Cloud Dancer
Cloud Dancer Brad Randolph 1980
The Long Riders
The Long Riders Cole Younger 1980
Gauguin the Savage
Gauguin the Savage Paul Gauguin 1980
Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider
Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider Charlie Swattle 1979
I've Got You, You've Got Me by the Chin Hairs
I've Got You, You've Got Me by the Chin Hairs Le professeur d'arts martiaux à LAPD 1979
Mr. Horn
Mr. Horn Tom Horn 1979
Circle of Iron
Circle of Iron The Blind Man / Monkeyman / Death / Changsha 1978
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel Self 1978
Deathsport
Deathsport Kaz Oshay 1978
Gray Lady Down
Gray Lady Down Captain Gates 1978
The Serpent's Egg
The Serpent's Egg Abel Rosenberg 1977
Thunder and Lightning
Thunder and Lightning Harley Thomas 1977
Bound for Glory
Bound for Glory Woody Guthrie 1976
Cannonball
Cannonball Coy "Cannonball" Buckman 1976
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live Self - Host 1975
Long Way Home
Long Way Home Craw Dantley 1975
The Family Holvak
The Family Holvak Craw 1975
You and Me
You and Me Zeto 1975
Death Race 2000
Death Race 2000 Frankenstein 1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche Self 1975
Midi Première
Midi Première Self 1975
Mean Streets
Mean Streets Drunk 1973
The Long Goodbye
The Long Goodbye Dave aka Socrates (uncredited) 1973
Kung Fu
Kung Fu Kwai Chang Caine 1972
Boxcar Bertha
Boxcar Bertha Big Bill Shelly 1972
Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragon
Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragon Kwai Chang Caine 1972
Macho Callahan
Macho Callahan David Mountford 1971
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring Flack 1971
Night Gallery
Night Gallery Gideon 1970
The McMasters
The McMasters White Feather 1970
Young Billy Young
Young Billy Young Jesse Boone 1969
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys Waco 1969
Heaven with a Gun
Heaven with a Gun Coke Beck 1969
The Name of the Game
The Name of the Game Jason Blake 1968
The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show Self - Guest 1968
Johnny Belinda
Johnny Belinda Locky 1967
The Hunted
The Hunted Gene Gauge 1967
The Violent Ones
The Violent Ones Lucas Barnes 1967
Cimarron Strip
Cimarron Strip Gene Gauge 1967
Ironside
Ironside Pogo Weems 1967
Ironside
Ironside Luke Roberts 1967
Ironside
Ironside Frank Carlson 1967
Too Many Thieves
Too Many Thieves Felix 1966
Shane
Shane Shane 1966
Bus Riley's Back in Town
Bus Riley's Back in Town Stretch 1965
Taggart
Taggart Cal Dodge 1965
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Fitzhugh 1963
Arrest and Trial
Arrest and Trial Wally Carpen 1963
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show Self 1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Edward Clarke 1962
The Virginian
The Virginian The Utah Kid 1962
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show Self 1961
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Clint 1955
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Nominee 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self 1944

Directing Credits (3)

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