Robert Carradine | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

Part of an American acting dynasty that included father John, brothers David and Keith, as well as daughter Ever, Robert Carradine established himself in a number of memorable projects. After making a promising feature film debut opposite John Wayne in "The Cowboys" (1972), Carradine delivered a well-received supporting turn in the Vietnam War drama "Coming Home" (1978). In a momentous year that saw him co-starring with his brothers in the hard-driving Western "The Long Riders" (1980), he also starred opposite Lee Marvin as a young soldier in "The Big Red One" (1980). It was, however, his leading role as the bespectacled hero Lewis in the hit comedy "Revenge of the Nerds" (1984) that forever cemented Carradine's place in screen history. An actor of diverse tastes and talents, he impressed as an AIDS patient in the drama "As Is" (Showtime, 1986) and gamely played the straight man to Cheech Marin's aging hippy in the comedy "Rude Awakening" (1989). Throughout the 1990s, Carradine produced and starred in a pair of made-for-TV "Revenge of the Nerds" sequels, made several television series guest spots, and starred in a plethora of direct-to-DVD thrillers. Carradine was discovered by a new generation of young fans as Hilary Duff's father on the tween comedy "Lizzie McGuire" (Disney Channel, 2001-04) and later returned to nerds territory as the co-host of the reality competition series "King of the Nerds" (TBS, 2013-15). Whether as a grizzled G.I. or a hapless bookworm, Carradine remained one of the more versatile performers in Hollywood.