Actor Robert Carradine's Family Sues UCLA Over His Death
The family of actor Robert Carradine has filed a wrongful death and elder abuse lawsuit against UCLA, alleging that critical safety failures at the hospital's psychiatric unit contributed to his death earlier this year.
Carradine, best known for his roles in Revenge of the Nerds and Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire, voluntarily checked himself into UCLA's Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital on Jan. 16 seeking help managing ongoing suicidal ideation tied to his longtime battle with bipolar disorder. According to the lawsuit, filed Aug. 7 and obtained by TheWrap, Carradine "walked into UCLA's locked psychiatric unit 'feeling relieved to be hospitalized'" and hoped that "additional inpatient treatment would" ease his anxiety, believing he'd entered a "locked, structured environment" that felt "containing and helpful."
What the Lawsuit Alleges
The suit claims the hospital failed to follow its own safety protocols in two critical ways: staff allegedly did not remove a belt from Carradine's possession before he entered the locked unit, and he was not checked on every 15 minutes as hospital policy required. "None of this happened because UCLA lacked the knowledge, the policies or the means," the filing states. "It happened because UCLA took shortcuts with two safeguards that were meant to protect Robert's life." According to the lawsuit, "no one watched him or checked on him for long periods of time."
The family also alleges that hospital records misrepresented what actually happened, claiming the documentation conflicted with surveillance footage from the facility. The suit states UCLA "did not investigate reality," instead preserving "a version of events in the records that the surveillance video contradicted."
According to the filing, Carradine suffered an anoxic brain injury and spent the following five weeks in the intensive care unit before he died on Feb. 23. "Robert never regained consciousness," the lawsuit states. "He never recovered."
Seeking Damages
Carradine's children are seeking general damages, special and economic damages, and additional wrongful damages from the University of California regents. Representatives for both the Carradine family and UCLA have not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
Remembering Robert Carradine
Carradine, 71, was part of Hollywood's well-known Carradine acting family, which included his father, actor John Carradine, his brothers David and Keith Carradine, and his daughter, actress Ever Carradine. Beyond his role as Lewis Skolnick in the Revenge of the Nerds franchise, he also appeared in The Long Riders and various Disney projects.
Following his death, Carradine's family issued a statement honoring his memory. "In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him," the family said, describing him as "a beloved father, grandfather, uncle and brother" and speaking openly about his nearly two-decade struggle with bipolar disorder in hopes of reducing stigma around mental illness.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, free, confidential support is available 24/7 through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by call or text.
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