Actor David Carradine found dead.
-
(CNN) -- American actor David Carradine has been found dead, hanging by a nylon rope in a hotel room closet in Bangkok, Thailand, according to a Thai police official.
David Carradine became famous in the 1970s after starring in the television series "Kung Fu."
Carradine, who became famous in the 1970s when he starred as traveling Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine in the television series "Kung Fu," was 72.
The rope was believed to be from the hotel room curtains, Bangkok Police Lt. Col. Pirom Chanpirom said Thursday.
He said investigators found no sign of forced entry into Carradine's room.
An autopsy was being conducted at a Bangkok hospital, but no results will be available for another day, he said.
A Carradine family spokeswoman issued a short statement saying the family "is devastated by the news of David's passing."
"Circumstances surrounding his death are still unknown, and there will be no further comment until more information can be confirmed," the statement said.
"The family appreciates the many expressions of condolence, and asks for privacy at this time."
'Larry King Live'
TONIGHT: A 'Larry King Live' EXCLUSIVE with Quentin Tarantino, Rob Schneider, Vivaca Fox and close friends on David Carradine's death.
Tonight, 9 p.m. ET
Police provided Carradine's family with information about their investigation, said Tiffany Smith, Carradine's personal co-manager.
Smith said she was "in complete shock" and that suggestions that Carradine took his own life are unbelievable.
"Knowing David, he would never commit suicide," and his death comes at a time when his "career is on a roll," she said.
Carradine was in Bangkok for filming of the movie "Stretch," being produced by a United Kingdom-based company, she said. He was the only American cast member.
Don't Miss
Modern audiences may best know Carradine as "Bill" in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" films. He earned a 2005 Golden Globe nomination for his role in the second movie in the two-part saga.
His career included more than 100 feature films, two dozen television movies and theater work, according to the Internet Movie Database.
See photos of some of his notable roles »"He was clearly an actor who followed his own path," said Leah Rozen, the movie critic for People magazine.
Career Highlights
Television
"Shane," 1966
"Kung Fu," 1972-1975
"North and South," 1985
"Kung Fu: The Legend Continues," 1992
Film
"Bound for Glory," 1976
"Kill Bill: Vol. 1," 2003
"Kill Bill: Vol. 2," 2004"He was never a guy who talked a whole lot. You knew him as an actor, the characters he played, you knew they had a past, you knew there was probably some unhappiness there, but he wasn't going to talk about it."
Carradine made appearances in television series including "Gunsmoke" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." His first starring role in a series was as the title character in "Shane" in 1966.
He worked with such directors as Martin Scorsese in "Box Car Bertha" in 1972 and Robert Altman in "The Long Goodbye" in 1973. iReport: Share memories of David Carradine
Carradine was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as folk music legend Woody Guthrie in the 1976 movie "Bound For Glory," according to a biography on his official Web site.
His theater career began while he studied drama at San Francisco State College in California.
He later landed roles on Broadway in "The Deputy" and "The Royal Hunt of the Sun."
Carradine's legacy will probably be the "Kill Bill" movies and the "Kung Fu" series, Rozen said.
The "Kill Bill" casting was particularly smart, she added.
"Tarantino was tapping into his just natural coolness, but more to the point, Tarantino was playing off that he still had this whole following from the 'Kung Fu' TV series," Rozen said.
Watch Carradine talk about his 'Kung Fu' role »Carradine, who was married five times and divorced four, is survived by his widow, Annie Bierman, according to People magazine.
Carradine was part of an acting dynasty. He was the son of actor John Carradine, a character actor who had appeared in hundreds of films, plays and television episodes. David Carradine also acted with his brothers Keith and Robert.
"David's career as an artist did not begin on the stage, though some of his early career was on and off Broadway. His earliest work was as a sculptor and painter," Carradine's official Web site says.
The site also includes an "Art Bio" in which the actor opens up about his life.
"I've always had an especially hard time with everything I've tried to do," Carradine wrote.
"I've made it pretty big as an actor in spite of being terminally shy. ... Invariably, I had huge obstacles to overcome in anything I tried. Had to work against my genes to achieve my dreams."
=(
-
Very shocking siah.
-
Feel sorry for him...he wasted his precious life just like that...
-
Don't feel sad for him, at least he died happy.
-
Originally posted by deepak.c:
Don't feel sad for him, at least he died happy.
u envious ah?
-
Carradine didn't commit suicide, expert says
Friday 12th June, 06:00 AM JST
LOS ANGELES —
The forensics expert hired by David Carradine’s family has concluded that the “Kung Fu” actor did not commit suicide, but said that more information was needed from Thai investigators before the cause of death could be determined.
Carradine’s brothers, Keith and Robert Carradine, each read part of a prepared statement to reporters from The Associated Press at a Los Angeles hotel Thursday morning. In their first appearance since their older brother was found hanging in a Bangkok hotel room closet last week, they thanked supporters and asked for privacy.
“This is a devastating loss for our family and we greatly appreciate the compassion pouring in from all over the world,” Keith Carradine said.
They also released a statement by Dr Michael Baden of New York that indicated a second autopsy determined Carradine didn’t kill himself.
“However, to reach a final determination as to the cause and the manner of death, we must wait for further information from Thailand as to the scene findings and the completion of the crime laboratory and toxicology studies that are still being performed,” Baden’s statement said.
Reached by phone after the morning briefing, Baden said he expects to receive more information from Thai authorities in a week or two and stressed that the information at hand was incomplete. Baden didn’t elaborate on how suicide was ruled out.
“The autopsy is only part of the analysis,” he said.
In the meantime, Robert Carradine asked the public and press for patience and time to allow the family to grieve.
“Until we have all of the pending results of the investigation we respectfully ask ... that we be allowed to lay our beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather to rest in peace and with dignity,” Robert Carradine said.
Rampant speculation about the actor’s death has swirled since a chambermaid at the luxury Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel in Bangkok discovered his body hanging in the closet of his room June 4. A Thai newspaper published a graphic photo of the death scene that police have said appears to be a leaked forensics image.
Thai police initially said they suspected Carradine’s death was a suicide, but later conceded it could have been accidental. Their description—that the actor’s body was found nude, with ropes around his neck, wrist and genitals—fueled speculation that he was killed while engaging in a dangerous sex practice called auto-erotic asphyxiation.
Thai authorities said on June 5 that it would take about three weeks for the results of their autopsy to be released.
Medical examiners in the United States and Canada generally classify auto-erotic asphyxiation deaths as accidental.
Keith Carradine last week asked the FBI to take a role, and Thai authorities later said they would allow FBI agents to observe their investigation, but not take an active role. FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said earlier this week that the agency would not make any more comments about its role in the Carradine investigation, but that agents stationed in Thailand have a good relationship with local authorities.
Agents typically only get involved in the deaths of U.S. citizens abroad when foul play is involved, she said.
Others who knew the 72-year-old actor have said they suspect foul play was involved. Keith and Robert Carradine on Thursday urged everyone to wait until the investigation has concluded.
“Once the investigation is fully completed and definitive conclusions have been reached, we will address the findings with the public,” Robert Carradine said.
Both Keith and Robert Carradine shared the screen with their brother, a prolific TV and film actor. David Carradine rose to prominence for his role on the “Kung Fu” series in the 1970s and experienced a resurgence in popularity after his role in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” movies earlier this decade.
The family’s statement did not indicate the location of his body, or offer any information about funeral arrangements. They did not take questions Thursday after reading the statements.