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