'Kung Fu,' 'Bill' Star David Carradine Dies, Was Found Hanged In His Bangkok Hotel

I remember as a youngster, the Kung Fu T.V. series quite well. Although David Carradine played the leading role, my friends and I knew that Bruce Lee was originally slated for that same role. What struck us was how well David Carradine did in this role we knew 'belonged' to Bruce Lee. Of course many of us tried to watch every episode and we told each other to try to snatch the marble young "Grasshopper".
When I heard of David Carradine's death a few strange thoughts came to mind, "How the hell could David Carradine die?", "Was it possible for him to die?", and "How old was he anyway?''.
Then when I heard that he was found hanging in his hotel room I was in total shock. What way to end what seemed to be a wonderful life.

'Kung Fu,' 'Bill' Star David Carradine Dies

Reports Emerge That Actor Was Found Hanged In His Bangkok Hotel

Kung fu movie legend David Carradine, who recently revamped his career in Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' movies, has died at the age of 72.

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Carradine was found dead in his hotel room in Bangkok, where he was set to shoot a new movie titled 'Stretch.' The Nation newspaper, citing Thai police sources, is reporting that Carradine was found hanged in his hotel closet and that it may have been a suicide. There's been no other confirmation of that report so far, and Carradine's agent told KABC that he believed the actor died of natural causes.

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Thai police also told the BBC that Carradine was found by a hotel maid "with a rope around his neck and body."

The Nation report claims that a preliminary police investigation found that Carradine hanged himself with a curtain cord, and that he was dead for at least 12 hours when he was found. The report also states that there were no signs of assault or foul play.

A rep for Carradine, however, tells TMZ that his camp "can confirm 100% that he never would have committed suicide. It was an accidental death. Everybody is in shock."

Carradine's manager, Chuck Binder, is calling the news "shocking." He said that Carradine "was full of life, always wanting to work," and that he was "a great person."

Carradine's career is a vast one, with over 200 movies and TV shows to his credit, including the hit '70s show 'Kung Fu' and years later, more than 80 episodes of 'Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.' His breakout film role came in 1976, when he played Woody Guthrie in the biopic 'Bound for Glory.'

Younger fans will likely know him as title character 'Bill' in Tarantino's 2003-04 'Kill Bill' movies, where he played the leader of a group of assassins and was eventually killed by one of his own disciples.

In a 2004 interview with the Associated Press, he praised Tarantino for taking a chance by casting him in the films.

"There isn't anything that Anthony Hopkins or Clint Eastwood or Sean Connery or any of those old guys are doing that I couldn't do," he said. "All that was ever required was somebody with Quentin's courage to take and put me in the spotlight."

David Carradine's Showbiz Moments

Carradine also dabbled in production and directing, and had roles in many television commercials. He also had a passion for Oriental herbs, exercise and philosophy, and starred in numerous instructional videos on tai chi and other martial arts. His memoir, released in 1993, was called 'Spirit of Shaolin.'

The Carradine name has had a long history in Hollywood. David's father John Carradine and his brother Keith have also had show business success.

Keith Carradine's daughter, actress Martha Plimpton, released a statement on behalf of her family, saying, "My Uncle David was a brilliantly talented, fiercely intelligent and generous man. He was the nexus of our family in so many ways, and drew us together over the years and kept us connected. I adored him as a child, and as an adult I admired and respected him."

She continued, "We will all miss him terribly, and are so grateful for everyone's condolences. The passing of someone so loved is extremely difficult under any circumstances."

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