David Carradine: filmography, biography and personal life (photo)

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

This man has the honor to lead millions of other people with his passion. It was thanks to the passion for the East with its ancient wisdom, special philosophy and medicine that David Carradine "infected" all of America with his hobby, and then the world. Unfortunately, the great actor and martial artist passed away, but left behind a huge legacy that excites the minds of both the young and the older generations. We remember him as a talented actor, the greatest master of kung fu and a very interesting, one might even say exotic person.

A Star Is Born

The man who later became the idol of millions was born on December 8, 1936 in Hollywood itself. His father was the famous actor John Carradine, who has about three hundred films, including silent films. The boy received the name John Arthur, which he later changed to David. It is interesting that his family had very exotic roots, including Ukrainian ones. He himself liked to talk about it in numerous interviews.

Father left the family early, following the acting troupes. He traveled around Europe anddied in Milan, having managed to say that this is the right place. But his talent was passed not only to the eldest offspring, who was David Carradine, but also to three younger sons and even two granddaughters.

Road to cinema

Birth in the very capital of world cinema obliges David to become an actor. However, at first he resisted fate: he studied musical theory and composition, wrote melodies for theatrical revues. But still, the stage attracted him, forcing him to join a troupe called the Shakespeare Theater Company. Then there was the army, after which David Carradine moved to New York. In the City of the Big Apple, he played in Broadway productions, starred in commercials. The young man returned to his native Hollywood as an experienced actor. And he began acting in then popular westerns.

Triumph of John Carradine Jr

Films with David Carradine came out very often: from his father, he inherited a great industriousness. This is not to say that everything went smoothly. However, eight years of work, which had intermittent success, did not disappoint the actor. At the time, aspiring director Martin Scorsese was starting work on his first film, Boxcar Bertha. This tape, which appeared in 1972, was a triumph not only for the director, but also for the cast. In the same year, another film masterpiece was released, which turned David into a world-class star and a favorite of millions. The cult series "Kung Fu" was filmed in 1972-1975, and David Carradine played the main role in it. For the sake of participating in the filming, he began to study orientalmartial arts, and then devoted the rest of his life to them. This role also earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 1974. Under the influence of a new hobby, the actor studied the philosophy and traditions of the mysterious continent, and then set out all the accumulated knowledge in the book "The Spirit of Shaolin".

The creative heritage of the actor

Hundreds measure the number of roles played by David Carradine. The filmography of the actor could take more than one printed sheet, only second-rate roles are on the same line with Oscar-winning works. Being more and more interested in Eastern philosophy, David does not pay attention to the quality of the scripts and the potential of the film, focusing on its plot. This could have ruined his career, if not for the same huge working capacity. That's why blockbusters like Mean Streets, Train Rushing to Glory, Snake's Egg end up in Carradine's legacy.

Along with acting work, David tries himself as a director, but not very successfully. His best work is the drama "American", released in 1983. Carradine also stars in this Vietnam veterans film.

Kung Fu in Carradine's Life

After such a variety of films, actor David Carradine returns to his favorite topic - kung fu. It is in this role that we remember this brilliant man. He starred in the continuation of the cult series of the seventies "Kung Fu: The Rebirth of a Legend" and in the comedy "Bird on a Wire". But the cycle of second-rate pictures again involved the actor. Almost out of oblivionQuentin Tarantino pulled him out, who saw him as the leader of a gang of assassins in the action movie Kill Bill. It is worth noting that David played brilliantly in the film, literally parodying himself. This work brought him another Golden Globe nomination. And then he returned to his circle again, plunging headlong into work.

Kill Bill

When multiple talents come together to work together, the result must be stunning. And so it happened with the inimitable film "Kill Bill" by the cult director Quentin Tarantino. The genius of cinematography created the script and shot a very spectacular and bewitching picture based on it. The magic of the Asian continent and martial arts, the brilliance of weapons and the intricacy of the plot are complemented by carefully selected music and masterful acting by actors. The beautiful Uma Thurman brilliantly coped with the image of the main character, and the villain who needs to be killed was superbly played by Carradine, who became famous for his love of the martial arts of the East. Here David is like a fish in water: this is his genre, his style, his spirit. That is why even a negative character is so fond of the viewer. If there was another actor in the role of Bill, the film would lose a lot.

Tai chi with David Carradine

In 2004, the brilliant actor presented his new work to the world - two unique sets of exercises based on the ancient martial art. It is Tai chi for the spirit and Tai chi for the body. The first exercises are aimed at concentration, relaxation and recovery, and the second - to tone,vivacity and energy. The length of the disc recordings is sixty minutes.

What is Tai chi? This is an ancient martial art of the Middle Kingdom, which is widely used as an effective he alth-improving gymnastics. It helps people find harmony of body, soul and consciousness. There are no static poses here, as in yoga, the body is constantly in motion - slow, smooth, calming, healing.

The personal life of an action star

David Carradine, whose photo is sure to be in the collection of every martial arts fan, was a handsome and strong man. And a special worldview, fame and money was added to the bright appearance. That is why he was a resounding success with women. The actor has been married five times and has two daughters (from his first two marriages).

The fine physical form of the actor is the result of applying the healing principles of the East. In addition, he was also distinguished by an excellent sexual form. However, each of his spouse noted that in bed he was very strange. Two of them left David for this very reason. Carradine liked to be tied up, could sometimes tie himself up, had a passion for exhibitionism, sex in public places. It was these tendencies that brought him to the grave, although he could still live and live.

Death Bangkok

At a venerable age, and he was 72 years old, David Carradine passed away. The cause of death is another mystery left to fans. A body was found in a hotel room in Bangkok, where another film with the actor was filmed. The body of the action legend was naked and wrapped in ropes. Criminologists believed that death came from the accidental self-suffocation of the actor during a sexual game. A suicide version was also voiced, but people who spoke with the actor the day before refute such speeches, claiming that David looked happy and was joking. Intentional murder was also ruled out: there was no evidence, and there were no strangers in the room.

Hollywood memorial service

Thousands of people could come to the funeral in Hollywood, because the star had a lot of fans. But even on his last journey, the actor was seen off exotically, according to a special scenario. Only the color of the cinema capital was allowed into the cemetery - four hundred people who were personally acquainted with David. The security cordon let only those who had a special invitation with a portrait of the deceased actor and a recording of the event program through.

First there was a concert lasting two hours, during which music of different styles and directions sounded. The sky was gloomy and mournful, completely covered with clouds. But they parted, giving way to the sun, painted red, just at the moment when the body of the deceased was interred. David Carradine's earthly journey ended with Beethoven's Requiem for a Fallen Hero, performed by the orchestra. And we will remember him every time when his next character appears on the TV screen, dressed in a beautiful kimono.