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.
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Known For
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
(2003)
Bill
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
(2004)
Bill
Crank: High Voltage
(2009)
Poon Dong
Death Race
(2008)
Frankenstein (voice)
Big Stan
(2007)
The Master
Mean Streets
(1973)
Drunk
Bird on a Wire
(1990)
Eugene Sorensen
True Legend
(2010)
Anthony
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
(2011)
Bill (Snake Charmer)
Death Race 2000
(1975)
Frankenstein
Epic Movie
(2007)
Museum Curator
Balto II: Wolf Quest
(2002)
Nava the Wolf Shaman (voice)
The Long Riders
(1980)
Cole Younger
Lone Wolf McQuade
(1983)
Rawley Wilkes
The Long Goodbye
(1973)
Dave aka Socrates (uncredited)
An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island
(1998)
Chief Wulisso (voice)
Full Filmography
Acting
Bus Riley's Back in Town
(1965)
Stretch
Taggart
(1965)
Cal Dodge
Too Many Thieves
(1966)
Felix
The Hunted
(1967)
Gene Gauge
Johnny Belinda
(1967)
Locky
The Violent Ones
(1967)
Lucas Barnes
Heaven with a Gun
(1969)
Coke Beck
Young Billy Young
(1969)
Jesse Boone
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys
(1969)
Waco
The McMasters
(1970)
White Feather
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring
(1971)
Flack
Macho Callahan
(1971)
David Mountford
Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragon
(1972)
Kwai Chang Caine
Boxcar Bertha
(1972)
Big Bill Shelly
Mean Streets
(1973)
Drunk
The Long Goodbye
(1973)
Dave aka Socrates (uncredited)
Death Race 2000
(1975)
Frankenstein
You and Me
(1975)
Zeto
Long Way Home
(1975)
Craw Dantley
Cannonball
(1976)
Coy "Cannonball" Buckman
Bound for Glory
(1976)
Woody Guthrie
The Serpent's Egg
(1977)
Abel Rosenberg
Thunder and Lightning
(1977)
Harley Thomas
Gray Lady Down
(1978)
Captain Gates
Circle of Iron
(1978)
The Blind Man / Monkeyman / Death / Changsha
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
(1978)
Self
Deathsport
(1978)
Kaz Oshay
Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider
(1979)
Charlie Swattle
Mr. Horn
(1979)
Tom Horn
Cloud Dancer
(1980)
Brad Randolph
The Long Riders
(1980)
Cole Younger
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane
(1980)
Ben Irons
Gauguin the Savage
(1980)
Paul Gauguin
Americana
(1981)
The American Soldier
The Best of Sex and Violence
(1982)
Self - Cameo Appearance
Safari 3000
(1982)
Eddie Miles
Q
(1982)
Shepard
Trick or Treats
(1982)
Richard Adams
Lone Wolf McQuade
(1983)
Rawley Wilkes
On the Line
(1984)
Bryant
Jealousy
(1984)
Bobby Dee
The Warrior and the Sorceress
(1984)
Kain
The Bad Seed
(1985)
Leroy Jessup
Kung Fu The Movie
(1986)
Kwai Chang Caine
Armed Response
(1986)
Jim Roth
P.O.W. The Escape
(1986)
Col. James Cooper
Oceans of Fire
(1986)
J.C. Busch
Six Against the Rock
(1987)
Bernard 'Bernie' Paul Coy
Heartbeat
(1987)
Man Playing Dice
The Misfit Brigade
(1987)
Col. Von Weisshagen
Fatal Secret
(1988)
Michael LeWinter
Run for Your Life
(1988)
Maggiore Charles Forsythe
Animal Protector
(1988)
Col. Whitlock
Tropical Snow
(1988)
Oskar
Open Fire
(1988)
Joe Rourke
I Saw What You Did
(1988)
Stephen
Warlords
(1989)
Dow
Crime of Crimes
(1989)
Frank McEntire
Try This One for Size
(1989)
Bradley
Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II
(1989)
Dark One
The Cover Girl and the Cop
(1989)
Slade
Think Big
(1989)
Sweeney
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
(1989)
Mardulak
Future Force
(1989)
John Tucker
The Trace of Lynx
(1989)
Nowhere to Run
(1989)
Harmon
Night Children
(1989)
Max Crawford
Crime Zone
(1989)
Jason
The Mad Bunch
(1989)
Professor Foxwood
Sonny Boy
(1989)
Pearl
That's Action
(1990)
John Tucker (archive footage) (uncredited)
Martial Law
(1990)
Dalton Rhodes
Bird on a Wire
(1990)
Eugene Sorensen
Future Zone
(1990)
John Tucker
Project Eliminator
(1991)
Ron Morrell
Brotherhood of the Gun
(1991)
Artemis McBride
Karate Cop
(1991)
Dad
Midnight Fear
(1991)
Hanley
Dune Warriors
(1991)
Michael
Field of Fire
(1991)
Gen. Corman
Deadly Surveillance
(1991)
Lieutenant
Capital Punishment
(1991)
Michale Maltin
Animal Instincts
(1992)
William Lamberti
Night Rhythms
(1992)
Vincent
Stroker - Ein Mann wie ein Stromstoss
(1992)
Ron Morrell
Double Trouble
(1992)
Mr. C
Kung Fu - A Legend Reborn
(1992)
Kwai Chang Caine
Waxwork II: Lost in Time
(1992)
The Beggar
Roadside Prophets
(1992)
Othello Jones
Evil Toons
(1992)
Gideon Fisk
Distant Justice
(1992)
Joe Foley
Code... Death: Frontera Sur
(1993)
Colonel
Kill Zone
(1993)
Col. Horace Wiggins
Dead Center
(1994)
Chavez
Desperately Looking For Success
(1994)
James Lorrimer
The Eagle and the Horse
(1994)
John Freemont
Lost Treasure of Dos Santos
(1997)
Martin Shaw
Macon County Jail
(1997)
Coley
The Rage
(1997)
Lucas McDermott
Last Stand at Saber River
(1997)
Duane Kidston
Light Speed
(1998)
Miles
Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror
(1998)
Luke Enright
The New Swiss Family Robinson
(1998)
Sheldon Blake
An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island
(1998)
Chief Wulisso (voice)
Lovers and Liars
(1998)
Mr. Montague
Nosferatu: The First Vampire
(1998)
Host
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
(1998)
Self
The Monster Hunter
(1999)
Louis Dehoven
The Shepherd
(1999)
Ventriloquist
The Puzzle in the Air
(1999)
The General
Code Name: Jaguar
(1999)
Max Kaufman
Knocking on Death's Door
(1999)
Doc Hadley
Kiss of a Stranger
(1999)
Sean O'Leary
Dangerous Curves
(2000)
Lemmy
Full Blast
(2000)
Maceo
Nightfall
(2000)
Gnomen
Kung Fu Action Masters
(2000)
Narrator
Guaranteed on Delivery
(2001)
Norman Williams
Down 'n Dirty
(2001)
Gil Garner
Out of the Wilderness
(2001)
Clint Dugan
Warden of Red Rock
(2001)
Mike Sullivan
By Dawn's Early Light
(2001)
Nick Decker
The Donor
(2001)
Mike
The Outsider
(2002)
Doctor Lucas Henry
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies
(2002)
Self
Balto II: Wolf Quest
(2002)
Nava the Wolf Shaman (voice)
Modern Warriors
(2002)
Self
Lost Bullet
(2003)
Michael Morrison
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
(2003)
Bill
American Reel
(2003)
James Lee Springer
The Making of 'Kill Bill Vol. 2'
(2004)
Self
Last Goodbye
(2004)
Fred McGillicuddie
UnConventional
(2004)
Self
Dead & Breakfast
(2004)
Mr. Wise
Away from Home
(2004)
Self
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
(2004)
Bill
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
(2004)
Grand Master
Hair High
(2004)
Mr. Snerz (voice)
Miracle at Sage Creek
(2005)
Ike
Ringers: Lord of the Fans
(2005)
Self
Brothers in Arms
(2005)
Driscoll
Final Move
(2006)
Captain Baker
The Last Sect
(2006)
Van Helsing
The Ultimate Fighter
(2007)
Mikhail
Spiral Fitness Beginnings
(2007)
Self
Treasure Raiders
(2007)
Pierre
How to Rob a Bank
(2007)
Nick
Big Stan
(2007)
The Master
Homo Erectus
(2007)
Mookoo / Uncle Unky
Being Michael Madsen
(2007)
Self
Epic Movie
(2007)
Museum Curator
Fall Down Dead
(2007)
Wade Douglas
Fuego
(2007)
Lobo
Permanent Vacation
(2007)
Old Man
Richard III
(2007)
Buckingham
Kung Fu Killer 2
(2008)
Crane
Naked Movie
(2008)
Self
The Golden Boys
(2008)
Capt. Zebulon Hedge
Hell Ride
(2008)
The Deuce
Death Race
(2008)
Frankenstein (voice)
Kung Fu Killer
(2008)
Crane
Camille
(2008)
Cowboy Bob
Road of No Return
(2008)
Mr. Hover
Last Hour
(2008)
Detective Mike Stone
Kandisha
(2008)
The American
Starz Inside - Unforgettably Evil
(2009)
Self
Bad Cop
(2009)
Det. Humes
My Suicide
(2009)
Vargas
Dark Fields
(2009)
Clive Jonis
Crank: High Voltage
(2009)
Poon Dong
All Hell Broke Loose
(2009)
Marshal Ian McHenry
Autumn
(2009)
Philip
Break
(2009)
The Bishop
Absolute Evil
(2009)
Raf McCane
Detention
(2010)
Principal Hoskins
Dinocroc vs. Supergator
(2010)
Jason Drake
True Legend
(2010)
Anthony
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
(2011)
Bill (Snake Charmer)
Corman's World
(2011)
Self - Actor
Stretch
(2011)
Monteiro
Night of the Templar
(2012)
Shopkeeper
Eldorado
(2012)
The Spirit Guide
Madoff: Made Off with America
(2013)
Neal
Jodorowsky's Dune
(2013)
Self (Archival Footage)
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Be Water
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
Sound
Editing
Directing
Production
Americana
(1981)
Producer
Kung Fu The Movie
(1986)
Co-Producer
Future Force
(1989)
Associate Producer
Crime Zone
(1989)
Executive Producer
Crime of Crimes
(1989)
Producer
Project Eliminator
(1991)
Associate Producer
Fall Down Dead
(2007)
Associate Producer
Richard III
(2007)
Executive Producer
Road of No Return
(2008)
Associate Producer