David Carradine was born on the 8th December 1936, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California USA, and was an actor, director, writer and composer. He appeared in over 100 films, and was nominated four times for Golden Globe Awards. He was best known for his role in the series “Kung Fu” aired in 1970s as well as the 1990s, and in “Kill Bill” (2004) by Quentin Tarantino. Carradine was active in the entertainment industry from 1965 to 2009, when he passed away.
How rich was the actor? It has been estimated by authoritative sources that the overall size of David Carradine’s net worth is as much as $500,000, as of the data converted to the present day. Acting was the main source of David’s wealth, although he added sums directing, writing and composing.
David Carradine Net Worth $500,000
To begin with, Carradine was the son of the actor John Carradine and his wife Abigail. After a troubled adolescence spent in various boarding schools and reformatories, he enrolled into San Francisco State University to study music theory and composition. While participating in a Shakespeare theatre group, David became interested in actin, but after the graduation he spent two years in military service. This was followed with several guest appearances in television series “East Side/West Side” (1963), “The Virginian” (1964), “Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre” (1965) and others. His net worth was established.
However, Carradine’s most famous role was that of Kwai Chang Caine in the television series “Kung Fu” (1972 – 1975), then in the series “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues” (1993 – 1997) when Carradine again played the role of Kwai Chang Caine, eponymous grandson, who meets his son Peter after a long separation. Then, David hosted the program “Wild West Tech” (2004 – 2005) aired on the History Channel. These probably contributed the most to his net worth.
In addition to his work on television, David Carradine increased his net worth starring on the big screen; he landed the lead role in the western film “Taggart” (1964) directed by R. G. Springsteen. In 1972, he appeared in the main role in Martin Scorsese’s film “Boxcar Bertha”, and portrayed the main character of Frankenstein in the film “Death Race 2000” (1975). It should be said that Carradine played the title role in many films released, including “Cannonball” (1976), “Bound for Glory” (1976), “The Serpent’s Egg” (1977), “Deathsport” (1978), “Fast Charlie… the Moonbeam Rider” (1979), “The Long Riders” (1980) and many others Then, the actor starred alongside Chuck Norris in the action film “Lone Wolf McQuade” (1983). Moreover, the actor was known for starring in martial arts films including “Karate Cop” (1991), “Martial Law” (1991), “Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003), “Kill Bill: Volume 2” (2004) and a long list of others.
David Carradine directed three feature films too; “You and Me”, “Mata Hari”, “Americana” and several episodes of the television series “Kung Fu” and “Lizzie McGuire”.
Aside from acting and directing, he was also an occasional writer.
Finally, in the personal life of the actor, he was married five times, to Donna Lee Becht (1960 – 1968), with whom he had a daughter; with Linda Gilbert (1977 – 1983), and another daughter; then to Gail Jensen (1988 – 1997), Marina Anderson (1998 – 2001) and Annie Bierman (2004 – 2009). From a relationship with Barbara Hershey (1972 – 1975), David had a son. David Carradine died on the 4th June 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand, apparently of auto-erotic asphyxiation.
David Carradine also stood for environmental protection, and supported the environmental organization Sea Shepherd in their campaign against seal hunting.
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