Actor David Carradine, famous for his role in the 1970s TV series “Kung Fu” and his extensive acting career, was discovered dead in Bangkok, Thailand.
Reports indicate that he was found hanging in his hotel room and the incident is believed to be a suicide.
The U.S. Embassy spokesperson, Michael Turner, confirmed the death of the 72-year-old actor.
He stated that the embassy was informed by Thai authorities about Carradine’s passing, which occurred either late Wednesday or early Thursday.
However, out of respect for his family, no further details were provided.
According to unidentified police sources cited by Thai newspaper The Nation, Carradine was found hanged in his luxury hotel room on Thursday.
The actor had been staying at the hotel since Tuesday while filming a movie in Bangkok.
The newspaper reported that Carradine’s absence from a meal with the film crew on Wednesday raised concerns, prompting them to try contacting him.
His body was then discovered by a hotel maid at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
The name of the movie he was working on has not been disclosed.
Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that Carradine had used a cord from the room’s curtains to hang himself.
They also stated that he had been deceased for at least 12 hours, and there were no signs of assault.
Although an officer from Bangkok’s Lumpini precinct station did not confirm the identity of the deceased to The Associated Press, it was reported that the luxury Swissotel Nai Lert Park hotel had notified authorities of a male guest’s suicide.
Carradine hailed from a distinguished acting family, including his father, character actor John Carradine, and brother Keith.
Throughout his career, he appeared in over 100 feature films, collaborating with renowned directors like Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman, and Hal Ashby.
However, his most renowned role was that of Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin priest traversing the American frontier in the 1800s, in the TV series “Kung Fu,” which aired from 1972 to 1975.
He reprised this character in a mid-1980s TV movie and portrayed Caine’s grandson in the 1990s syndicated series “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.”
Carradine experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years through his portrayal of the titular character in Quentin Tarantino’s two
