photo:
http://www.sliceofscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/davidcarradine.jpg
Biography
Carradine is best known for his roles as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s television series Kung Fu (as well as the sequels in the 1980s and 1990s), 'Big' Bill Shelly in Martin Scorsese's Boxcar Bertha (1972), folksinger Woody Guthrie in Bound for Glory (1976), Abel Rosenberg in Ingmar Bergman's The Serpent's Egg (1977), and as Bill in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. I (2003) and Vol. II (2004).
Other notable roles include the lead in Shane (the television series based upon the film) and a gunslinger in Taggart, a 1964 western film based on a novel by Louis L'Amour. More recently, he portrayed Tempus on the television series Charmed and Conrad in the television series Alias. He currently appears as the host of Wild West Tech on the History Channel, taking over the duties from his brother Keith. Carradine is also known for producing and starring in several exercise videos teaching Tai chi and Qi Gong exercises.
Background and family
Carradine is the son of noted American actor John Carradine. Born of Irish, English, Scottish, Welsh, German, Spanish, Ukrainian, Cherokee and Italian descent, he is the half-brother of Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine, Bruce Carradine and Michael Bowen. He is also the uncle of Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.
He studied drama at San Francisco State University before working as an actor on stage as well as in television and cinema.
Select filmography
Richard III (2006) - Buckingham
Kill Bill: Vol. I (2003) and Vol. II (2004) - Bill
Alias (2001) - Conrad
Lizzie McGuire (2001) - himself
Charmed (1999) - Tempus
Kung Fu:The Legend Continues (1993-1997) - Kwai Chang Caine
Kung Fu:The Movie (1986) - Kwai Chang Caine
North and South (1985) - Justin LaMotte
Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) - Rawley Wilkes
The Long Riders (1980) - Cole Younger
Mr. Horn (television) (1979} - Tom Horn
Gray Lady Down (1978) - Capt. Gates
Circle of Iron (1978) - The Blind Man/Monkeyman/Death/Changsha
The Serpant's Egg (1977) - Abel Rosenberg
Bound for Glory (1976) - Woody Guthrie
Cannonball (1976)- Coy 'Cannonball' Buckman
Death Race 2000 (1975) - Frankenstein
Kung Fu (1972-1975) - Kwai Chang Caine
Boxcar Bertha (1972) - 'Big' Bill Shelly
The Violent Ones (1967) - Lucas Barnes
Johnny Belinda (1967) - Locky
Shane (television) (1966) - Shane
Taggart (1964) - Cal Dodge
Awards
Winner:
2005: Action On Film International Film Festival LIfetime Achievement Award [1]
2004: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor - Kill Bill.
1976: National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, Best Actor, - Bound for Glory.
Nominated:
2005: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture, Kill Bill.
1986: Golden Globe Awards: Mini-series, Best Supporting Actor, North and South.
1977: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama, Bound for Glory.
1974: Golden Globe Awards: Television, Best Actor, Drama , Kung Fu.
Trivia
Carradine appears in an episode of Disney's Lizzie McGuire. In this episode, an upcoming Jet Li film is auditioning boys the age of Lizzie's brother Matt for the role of the sidekick.
Carradine plays an old friend of Lizzie's father, Sam McGuire, who teaches Matt a few Kung fu moves for his audition tape. When asked how he knows Carradine's character, Mr. McGuire replies cryptically, "He's like a brother to me." This is an in-joke as the actor who portrays Sam, Robert Carradine, is David Carradine's actual brother. Additionally, a large portion of the episode is spent in parody of Kung Fu (Carradine's most famous project next to Kill Bill).
References
Carradine, David. Endless Highway. Boston: Journey Editions, 1995.
Pilato, Herbie J. The Kung Fu Book of Caine: The Complete Guide to TV's First Mystical Eastern Western. Boston: Charles A. Tuttle, 1993.
