The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has officially ruled the death of actor Robert Carradine a suicide by hanging. Carradine, known for his iconic roles in films like Revenge of the Nerds, passed away on February 23, 2026, at the age of 71 in Los Angeles, California. The official cause of death was listed as sequelae of anoxic brain injury and hanging.

A member of the renowned Carradine acting family, Robert Carradine built a prolific career spanning decades. He was best recognized for his portrayal of the endearing nerd Lewis Skolnick in the 1984 cult classic Revenge of the Nerds and its sequels. Younger audiences also knew him as Sam McGuire, the father of Hilary Duff's character, in the popular Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire and The Lizzie McGuire Movie.

His brother, actor Keith Carradine, announced Robert's passing earlier this week. The family released a statement confirming that Robert had battled bipolar disorder for two decades. This tragic news comes years after his half-brother, David Carradine, was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room in 2009; that death was later ruled accidental.