David Carradine found dead in hotel room

Kung Fu star David Carradine has been found dead in a Bangkok hotel room.

A spokesperson for the US Embassy confirmed to The AP that the 72-year-old actor had passed away in the Thai capital either late on Wednesday or early this morning. His cause of death has not been reported.

Speaking to the BBC, his personal manager said: "[It's] shocking. He was full of life, always wanting to work... a great person."

He added to the New York Post that Carradine had "been in good spirits" when he spoke to him last week.

Carradine, who recently starred in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill saga, had been in Thailand to film upcoming movie Stretch.

RIP David :(

SBBB - Next Clue - Life is a horse race, the biggest of the year.

RIP

He played villians on screen so good

KILL Bill star David Carradine was found dead in a Bangkok hotel wardrobe yesterday - sparking fears that he accidentally killed himself in a sex act.

A horrified maid discovered the 72-year-old actor's half-naked body hanging from a curtain rope inside the closet.

One cop said the cord was attached to the neck and genitals of the star - also famed for his role in the hit 1970s TV series Kung Fu.

Thai police would neither confirm nor deny suggestions that Carradine, who played Bill in two Kill Bill films, was attempting a practice designed to boost sexual pleasure.

A spokesman said: "We've nothing to add at this stage, apart from the fact that we do not believe anyone else was involved."

Some reports claimed the star died of natural causes or suicide.

But his manager Chuck Binder said he believed it was an "accidental death" and called the news "shocking".

He said: "He was always full of life, always wanting to work - a great person."

Five-times wed Carradine was staying in Suite Room 352 of the Park Nai Lert Hotel in Bangkok, which has a phallic shrine in its grounds. He had been shooting a movie titled Stretch in the city.

The actor, whose other films include The Misfit Brigade and The Long Riders, failed to turn up for dinner with the film crew on Wednesday night and they assumed he was resting. But at 10am yesterday the chambermaid discovered his body.

Mourners last night began paying respects at his star on the Hollywood walk of fame.

The star, dad to three children and four step-children, is survived by widow Annie Bierman, whom he wed in 2004.

The son of legendary star John Carradine, he was part of a leading Hollywood acting family.

He appeared in more than 100 films and gained cult status earlier this decade for his title role in Quentin Tarantino's two Kill Bill flicks.

But he was best known for his role in Kung Fu - which aired on television from 1972 to 1975.

He played Kwai Chang Caine, the orphaned son of an American man and Chinese woman, who was raised by monks in a Chinese monastery and trained to be a Shaolin master.

The series followed his travels through 19th-century America in search of his half-brother - armed with his martial arts skills.

Dad John and Carradine's brothers Robert and Keith also appeared in the mystical series.

Fourth wife Marina Anderson,married to the star from 1998 to 2001, last night said she was "totally shocked" by his death.

She said: "David was always so happy when he was filming, so I don't understand why he would commit suicide.

"This is such sad news. I'm devastated by his passing and I know there will be a lot of speculation about the circumstances.

"We stayed on good terms since our divorce and I can't believe he is gone - I'm in a state of shock."

Carradine did chillingly talk about suicide in a 2004 interview.

He said: "I remember one time sitting in the window of the third or fourth floor of the Plaza Hotel for about an hour, thinking about tipping off. I thought, 'Who cares, man? Why don't I just split?'"

The actor also said he once considered shooting himself.

He said: "There was a period in my life when I had a single action Colt .45, loaded, in my desk drawer. And every night I'd take it out and think about blowing my head off - and then decide not to and go on with my life."

In another interview, he said: "I'm not afraid of anything. Why would you be afraid of death? It would be an inconvenience. I have a lot of undone things and it's bound to get in the way. But no, it doesn't scare me at all."

Carradine admitted using drugs - but said he had given them up.

INXS rocker Michael Hutchence was found hanged in his hotel in 1997, and it has been widely suggested his death was a result of a bungled sex act. However, the coroner's report stated suicide.

Conservative MP for Eastleigh Stephen Milligan was found dead with electrical flex tied in a noose around his neck in 1994.

The Sun

RIP Kung Fu Legend

Moviemaker Martin Scorsese and actor Michael Madsen have paid tribute to David Carradine, who died on Thursday.

The Kill Bill star's naked body was discovered hanging in a Bangkok, Thailand hotel suite. Local reports suggested he committed suicide but a statement from Carradine's representative indicates the actor died when a sex act went wrong.

Rumours Carradine died attempting auto-erotic asphyxiation - where victims achieve heightened sexual pleasure by restricting their air supply - are backed up by a quote a Bangkok police officer gave to British newspaper The Sun.

Stars from the big screen have offered their fond memories of the actor, who had a career spanning back to the 1960s.

Madsen, Carradine's co-star in Quentin Tarantino's martial arts films Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2., is still in shock after hearing of the demise of his friend - a man he regarded as his "brother".

The pair had a close relationship after starring together in the fighting franchise movies and regularly kept in touch between projects.

Madsen reveals he was planning to contact the actor just last week (beg25May09) - and will forever regret not picking up the phone.

He says, "David was one of the first actors I ever worked with when I started my career and the closest person to a brother that I ever had in my life. It is shocking to me that he is no longer with us.

"I had been thinking about calling him for the last several days and advise anybody who has been thinking about reaching out to a loved one to do so. I have so many great memories of David that I wouldn't even know where to begin. He has a very special place in my heart."

Director Scorsese, who worked with the late actor on 1972 movie Boxcar Bertha, recalls Carradine being a "wonderful spirit" who dedicated his life to making movies.

He says, "I was deeply saddened by the news of David Carradine's passing. We met when we made Boxcar Bertha together, almost 40 years ago. I have very fond memories of our time together on that picture and on Mean Streets, where he agreed to do a brief cameo. David was a great collaborator, a uniquely talented actor and a wonderful spirit. He loved movies, acting in movies, making movies and he was always extremely generous."

And the producers of what was to be Carradine's next project are also mourning the loss of the "irreplaceable" star.

Adrian Salpeter and Elizabeth Levine, executive producers of indie film Portland, released a joint statement saying, "An actor of David Carradine's stature behind our film meant the world to us. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

"The team is committed to this film and are considering other actors to replace the irreplaceable David Carradine. The producers and all involved are moving forward with the production in his memory. Mr. Carradine was truly a living legend of stage and screen, having worked with Martin Scorsese, Hal Ashby, Ingmar Bergman and Quentin Tarantino, among many others, in a career that spanned nearly five decades."

The film's writer/director Matthew Mishory adds, "Every filmmaker aspires to work with an iconic actor like David Carradine. He was one of a kind."

DAVID Carradine was MURDERED, his agent claimed last night.


The Kill Bill star, 72, was found hanging naked in his Bangkok hotel wardrobe with a rope strung around his neck and genitals.

Thai cops believe he died when a solo sex game went wrong.

But Carradine’s manager Chuck Binder claimed the star’s hands had been bound behind his back — and a footprint on the bed did not match his shoes.

Binder said he had spoken to a producer in Thailand who told him: “For sure there was foul play.”

The actor’s lawyer Vicki Roberts added: “I believe there may have been foul play. Anybody could stage a suicide after a murder.”

But Bangkok Police Commander Somprasong Yenthuam insisted: “Nobody else was involved. We checked the CCTV and nobody came in or out his room.


“The room was in perfect order. Nothing else seems to have been touched.

It also emerged the actor was drinking in the hotel bar the night before he was found.


Five-times-wed Carradine starred in more than 100 movies and gained cult status for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

But he was best known as Kwai Chang Caine in TV series Kung Fu in the 1970s.

Fellow Kill Bill star Uma Thurman, 39, was said to be devastated.

She wore black to a charity gala in London in memory of him hours after hearing the news.

The Sun

means nothing to me i dont know who he is :(
RIP anyway

He had a famous father, also an actor and a couple of brothers, who also act. His show Kung Fu was very popular at the time. Probably way before your time, only us oldies remember him :lol:

Such a tragic loss. I do wonder if it was more a two person sex game gone wrong, than a solo one though but then you never do know.

RIP

It's really sad and some are saying he ended his own life some are saying another person was involved. It's amazing to think of what happened as being a 'game'?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

He had a famous father, also an actor and a couple of brothers, who also act. His show Kung Fu was very popular at the time. Probably way before your time, only us oldies remember him :lol:

---

no im 39 hun! cant understand how i dont know who he is :confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sindydoll

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

He had a famous father, also an actor and a couple of brothers, who also act. His show Kung Fu was very popular at the time. Probably way before your time, only us oldies remember him :lol:

---

no im 39 hun! cant understand how i dont know who he is :confused:

---

The first I knew of him was seeing the film Kill Bill

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ladypink

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sindydoll

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

He had a famous father, also an actor and a couple of brothers, who also act. His show Kung Fu was very popular at the time. Probably way before your time, only us oldies remember him :lol:

---

no im 39 hun! cant understand how i dont know who he is :confused:

---

The first I knew of him was seeing the film Kill Bill

---

heard of the film but never watched it

Ok well only thing I can suggest is probably logging onto the page: Internet Movie Database and look him up on there and see a list of the films he had starred in

http://www.imdb.com/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sindydoll

means nothing to me i dont know who he is :(
RIP anyway

---

Sindy you must remember Grasshopper. The shoulin tutor and David character has their head shaved and the tutor always called him Grasshopper.

What a tragic way to die. if it was an accident and someone was with him when he died why did they not stay around until the police came.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chloe O'brien

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sindydoll

means nothing to me i dont know who he is :(
RIP anyway

---

Sindy you must remember Grasshopper. The shoulin tutor and David character has their head shaved and the tutor always called him Grasshopper.

What a tragic way to die. if it was an accident and someone was with him when he died why did they not stay around until the police came.

---

no i havnt!! oh well never mind thanks anyway! ive even had him on google images and i still dont know who he is

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sindydoll

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chloe O'brien

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sindydoll

means nothing to me i dont know who he is :(
RIP anyway

---

Sindy you must remember Grasshopper. The shoulin tutor and David character has their head shaved and the tutor always called him Grasshopper.

What a tragic way to die. if it was an accident and someone was with him when he died why did they not stay around until the police came.

---

no i havnt!! oh well never mind thanks anyway! ive even had him on google images and i still dont know who he is

---

Don't know what else to suggest......

The family of David Carradine sought help from the FBI and an independent pathologist to investigate the actor's death, and threatened legal action against anyone who reprinted photos a Thai tabloid purported to be of Carradine's body at the scene.

Thai police initially said they suspected suicide after Carradine's body was found naked and hanging in a hotel room closet last week in Bangkok. Police have since said the actor may have died from accidental suffocation or heart failure as a result of autoerotic asphyxiation because a rope had also been tied around his genitals.

Mark Geragos, an attorney for Carradine's half-brother, Keith, told the Associated Press the family will ask forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to investigate whether another person could have been involved in the death.

Col. Somprasong Yenthuam of the Thai police told the AP that surveillance camera footage and interviews with hotel staffers suggest that Carradine was alone at the time he died.

The results of an autopsy performed Friday by Bangkok authorities were not expected for at least three weeks. Geragos explained the enlistment of Baden, who frequently consults on high-profile cases, by saying, "It's an amazing thing what a good pathologist can accomplish."

The FBI confirmed for the AP that the Carradine family has been in touch regarding the investigation. Generally, the FBI only gets involved in overseas death investigations if a crime is suspected, and it was unclear whether Thai police would involve the U.S. agency.

The grainy photo that appeared in a Bangkok tabloid during the weekend upset Carradine's family, which said in a statement that "any persons, publications or media outlets will be fully prosecuted for invasion of privacy and causing severe emotional distress if the photos are published."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tammyy2j

The family of David Carradine sought help from the FBI and an independent pathologist to investigate the actor's death, and threatened legal action against anyone who reprinted photos a Thai tabloid purported to be of Carradine's body at the scene.

Thai police initially said they suspected suicide after Carradine's body was found naked and hanging in a hotel room closet last week in Bangkok. Police have since said the actor may have died from accidental suffocation or heart failure as a result of autoerotic asphyxiation because a rope had also been tied around his genitals.

Mark Geragos, an attorney for Carradine's half-brother, Keith, told the Associated Press the family will ask forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to investigate whether another person could have been involved in the death.

Col. Somprasong Yenthuam of the Thai police told the AP that surveillance camera footage and interviews with hotel staffers suggest that Carradine was alone at the time he died.

The results of an autopsy performed Friday by Bangkok authorities were not expected for at least three weeks. Geragos explained the enlistment of Baden, who frequently consults on high-profile cases, by saying, "It's an amazing thing what a good pathologist can accomplish."

The FBI confirmed for the AP that the Carradine family has been in touch regarding the investigation. Generally, the FBI only gets involved in overseas death investigations if a crime is suspected, and it was unclear whether Thai police would involve the U.S. agency.

The grainy photo that appeared in a Bangkok tabloid during the weekend upset Carradine's family, which said in a statement that "any persons, publications or media outlets will be fully prosecuted for invasion of privacy and causing severe emotional distress if the photos are published."

---

Seen the picture and I still can't get get my head around how this could of been a game of some kind?!

I think there is more to it than the FBI are letting on and I wouldn't rule out murder. If he wanted to kill himself as it has been reported that he has thought about it before. Why not put a bullet in his brain it would be quicker, but if he did hang himself why in a wardrobe with a rope around his ding-a-ling as well as his neck. There is something far wrong here.

From what I have read he was 'into' that kind of thing so it was not unusual for rope to be in the bedroom. If he did mean to harm himself where is the note?
If it was murder - do they have a suspect? All too wierd! Why is it when famous people die they never die peacefully anymore there is always some kind of foul play :(

One of David Carradine's close martial artist pals has linked the actor's bizarre death to that of Kung Fu icon Bruce Lee.

What was first considered a suicide and then reportedly ruled an accident has now sparked debate following claims the Kill Bill star's hands were tied before he was hanged in the closet of a hotel suite in Bangkok, Thailand.

And Frank Krueger, who stared alongside the 72 year old in Break, feels sure a secret Kung Fu sect, keen to silence Carradine, murdered his friend.

Krueger, who is a martial arts practitioner, insists the same sect was probably responsible for the death of Lee.

He tells HollyScoop.com, "There have always been stories of martial arts societies that kill those that threaten their secrecy. One of the widely held theories about Bruce Lee's death was that he was killed by one of these groups for teaching martial arts secrets."

Krueger insists he never had a conversation with Carradine about the killer sects, but admits reports his pal was out to expose leaders were true: "He wanted to stand up to crime families that threatened him back in the 70s.

"He carried himself with a large martial arts presence and from his story it was clear that he was pretty fearless when dealing with groups of that nature.

"I can't say whether or not David was killed for uncovering a secret society or not, but, as a martial artist, I think it would be a legendary end to an extraordinary life. Like Bruce Lee, mystery often surrounds the death of the great ones... It is not inconceivable to me that there could be an ancient society that currently existed that might cause harm to others."

The only pic I've seen, has "him" with dark hair - he was grey wasn't he?!

All very suspicious though, although his ex has now come forward to say about his sexual preferences.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jojo

The only pic I've seen, has "him" with dark hair - he was grey wasn't he?!

All very suspicious though, although his ex has now come forward to say about his sexual preferences.

---

I think she trying to make a name for herself at a very sad time :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ladypink

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jojo

The only pic I've seen, has "him" with dark hair - he was grey wasn't he?!

All very suspicious though, although his ex has now come forward to say about his sexual preferences.

---

I think she trying to make a name for herself at a very sad time :(

---

Very sadly, its times like this that can bring out the worst in some people and the £ signs (or in her case $'s) start flashing before their eyes

The pic I've seen could well have had his face blacked out, but its all very sad and strange at the same time.

Has anyone read the latest now that he was found wearing a wig and fishnet stockings? This gets even stranger!

Celebrity friends and family were among the hundreds of mourners who attended the funeral of David Carradine over the weekend.

The late actor's Kill Bill co-stars Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen and Daryl Hannah, along with Jane Seymour and Tom Selleck, led tributes to the 72-year-old, who died in Bangkok ten days ago.

Around 400 people turned out to pay their respects to Carradine at a private burial in Los Angeles on Saturday. The event was invitation-only and closed to the media.

According to reports, the order of service showed a picture of the Kung Fu star smiling on the front page, with the back page containing a sketch of him accompanied by the lyrics to the Allman Brothers Band's 'Midnight Rider'.

Other songs played during the memorial included the Beatles's 'Let It Be' and Beethoven's 'Requiem For A Fallen Hero'.

Carradine was found hanging semi-naked in a Bangkok hotel room on June 4, leading to suspicions that his death might have been caused by an auto-erotic asphyxiation game gone wrong.

Last week, a forensic expert hired by Carradine's family ruled out the possibility that he had taken his own life. The investigation continues.

Lets see how this turns out!

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/...hyxiation.html


David Carradine died of asphyxiation but did not commit suicide, it has been confirmed.

Medical examiner Dr Michael Baden told Reuters that the way in which Carradine's body was bound before his death confirmed that he had not intentionally killed himself.

Will they ever know who is responsible for his death?

No they will never know always will be speculation
Especially when there pics of him tied up circulating over the net

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/...hyxiation.html


David Carradine died of asphyxiation but did not commit suicide, it has been confirmed.

Medical examiner Dr Michael Baden told Reuters that the way in which Carradine's body was bound before his death confirmed that he had not intentionally killed himself.

Will they ever know who is responsible for his death?

---

So somebody killed him :hmm: Who would want him dead? Are the police investigating?

I would like to think they do investigate if the examiner's reports are true!

If it was murder it would be highlighted in the paper they were looking for someone in connection with what has happened. I think it was a sex game gone terribly wrong

I don't think that David was famous enough to be in the papers still, but I like to think that if they ever find out who might be responsible for his death, we will all know.

I don't believe they are looking for anyone else. The suggestion is that it was an accidental death rather than a deliberate suicide.

He is from a huge family so I think thats what made the news his family and legacy is infamous!

David Carradine's widow has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles on Thursday against the French company which handled the actor's last film.

The suit against MS2 S.A. alleges that the firm promised Carradine a personal assistant and tour guide to help him navigate Bankok, where the production was shooting in June 2009.

However, the guide went to dinner and left Carradine at the hotel, where he was later found dead by hanging.

MS2 S.A. has not responded to the suit.