Robert Carradine

Film

Carradine made his film debut in 1972 in The Cowboys, starring John Wayne.^[10] He also appeared in a short‑lived television series of the same name based on the film. He later played a killer in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, shooting the character portrayed by his brother David.

During this period, he worked with David on several independent projects, including the biker film You and Me (1975) and an unreleased musical titled A Country Mile. He also handled camera work for David's Vietnam War-inspired cult film Americana, which was not released until 1983.^[9]

In 1976, Carradine had the chance to demonstrate what he described as his "first ambition", car racing,^[8] when he played Jim Cantrell in Paul Bartel's Cannonball. His character wins the cross-country road race, beating the favorite, Coy "Cannonball" Buckman, played by David. In 1977, Robert appeared in the killer-whale thriller Orca.^[11]

Carradine joined other Hollywood offspring in the 1977 film Joyride, starring alongside Desi Arnaz, Jr., Melanie Griffith, and Anne Lockhart in a story about young Californians traveling to Washington and Alaska to seek their fortunes.^[12] In 1978, he landed a role in Hal Ashby's Oscar-winning Vietnam War drama Coming Home, starring Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. His performance prompted speculation that he might be the strongest actor in the Carradine family.^[8]

Carradine played a key role in assembling one of the most unusual casting ensembles in film history when he and his brothers David and Keith portrayed the Younger brothers in The Long Riders (1980), alongside three other sets of acting brothers: Stacy and James Keach, Dennis and Randy Quaid, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest.^[13]

Also in 1980, he co-starred with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin in Samuel Fuller's The Big Red One, a World War II drama based on Fuller's own experiences. Carradine's character, modeled on Fuller, narrates the film.^[14]

In 1983, he starred opposite Cherie Currie of the Runaways in the science fiction film Wavelength, playing a washed‑up rock musician who helps extraterrestrials escape from a military base.^[15] He performed several of his own compositions for the film, including one named after his daughter Ever. That same year, he appeared as the love interest in the Motels' music video for the hit song "Suddenly Last Summer."^{[citation needed]}

Carradine achieved his greatest commercial success in 1984 when he starred as Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds. To prepare for the role, he spent time at the University of Arizona during rush week; no fraternity selected him, reinforcing his sense that he was right for the part.^[16][17] He reprised the role in three sequels, serving as executive producer on the latter two.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001, he played Donald Keeble in Max Keeble's Big Move. In 2000, he co-starred with Caroline Rhea in Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire and he reprised his role as Sam McGuire in The Lizzie McGuire Movie in 2003.^[18]

Television

Carradine's first television appearance came in 1971 on the Western series Bonanza. He later appeared on his brother David's series Kung Fu as Sunny Jim, the mute companion of Serenity Johnson, played by their father, John Carradine, in the 1972 episode "Dark Angel". In 1979, he appeared alongside Melissa Sue Anderson in The Survival of Dana.^[9] In 1984, he portrayed Robert Cohn in the television miniseries adaption of Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises.^[19] He also appeared in the 1987 HBO miniseries Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8.^[20] Carradine guest-starred in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Gone" (2005), playing a character loosely based on Bobby Fischer, and appeared in the television series Jane Doe, directed by James A. Contner, in 2007.^{[citation needed]}

From 2001 to 2004, Carradine played father Sam McGuire on Lizzie McGuire, starring Hilary Duff. The series was widely popular among young viewers, and its realistic portrayal of adolescent issues also appealed to parents.^[21][22] He later appeared in the ER episode "Sleepless in Chicago" alongside his Revenge of the Nerds co-star Anthony Edwards.^[23]

In January 2013, Carradine reunited with Revenge of the Nerds co-star Curtis Armstrong to host King of the Nerds on TBS, a reality competition series.^[24] In 2015, he appeared on a fourth-season episode of Celebrity Wife Swap with Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens.^[25]

Film

Television