David Carradine

David Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor best known for playing martial arts roles. He is perhaps best known as the star of the 1970s television series Kung Fu, playing Kwai Chang Caine (a role he won over Bruce Lee), a peace-loving Shaolin monk travelling through the American Old West (years later he co-started with Brandon Lee in a TV movie sequel). He also portrayed the titular character in Quentin Tarantino‘s martial arts epic, Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003) and Vol. 2 (2004), with Uma Thurman. He also appeared in two Martin Scorsese movies: Boxcar Bertha (1972), with Barbara Hershey; and Mean Streets (1973), with Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro.

He was a member of the Carradine family of actors that began with his father, John Carradine. The elder Carradine’s acting career, which included major and minor roles on stage and television, and in cinema, spanned more than four decades. A prolific “B” movie actor, David Carradine appeared in more than 100 feature films in a career spanning more than six decades, including many films produced by Roger Corman. He received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for his work on Kung Fu, and received three additional Golden Globe nominations for his performances in the Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory (1976), the television miniseries North and South (1985), and Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Volume 2, for which he won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Other notable films includeThe McMasters (1970), with Burl Ives, Brock Peters, Nancy Kwan, and Jack Palance; Ingmar Bergman‘s The Serpent’s Egg (1977), with Liv Ullman; Circle of Iron (1978), with Roddy McDowall, Eli Wallach and Christopher Lee; Walter Hill’s The Long Riders (1980), with brothers Keith & Robert, along with James & Stacey Keach, Dennis & Randy Quaid, and Christoper & Nicholas Guest; Safari 3000 (1982), with Stockade Channing and Christopher Lee; and Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989), with Bruce Campbell, Morgan Brittany, and Deborah Foreman. Films that featured Carradine continued to be released after his death. These posthumous credits were from a variety of genres including action, documentaries, drama, horror, martial arts, science fiction, and westerns. In addition to his acting career, Carradine was a director and musician. Moreover, influenced by his Kung Fu role, he studied martial arts. On April 1, 1997, Carradine received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Each review will be linked to the title below.

(*seen originally in theaters)

(**seen rereleased in theaters) Film

Taggart (1964) – directed by R.G. Springsteen
Bus Riley’s Back in Town (1965) – directed by Harvey Hart
Too Many Thieves (1966) – directed by Abner Biberman
The Violent Ones (1967) – directed by Fernando Lamas
Heaven with a Gun (1969) – directed by Lee H. Katzin
Young Billy Young (1969) – directed by Burt Kennedy
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969) – directed by Burt Kennedy
The McMasters (1970) – directed by Alf Kjellin
Macho Callahan (1970) – directed by Bernard L. Kowalski
Boxcar Bertha (1972) – directed by Martin Scorsese
The Long Goodbye (1973) – directed by Robert Altman – uncredited
Mean Streets (1973) – directed by Martin Scorsese
You and Me (1974) – also director
Death Race 2000 (1975) – directed by Paul Bartel
Cannonball! (1976) – directed by Paul Bartel
Bound for Glory (1976) – directed by Hal Ashby
Thunder and Lightning (1977) – directed by Corey Allen
The Serpent’s Egg (1977) – directed by Ingmar Bergman
Gray Lady Down (1978) – directed by David Greene
Deathsport (1978) – directed by Allan Arkush, Nicholas Niciphor, & Roger Corman (uncredited)
Circle of Iron (1978) – directed by Richard Moore
I’ve Got You, You’ve Got Me by the Chin Hairs (1979) – directed by Jean Yanne
Fast Charlie… the Moonbeam Rider (1979) – directed by Steve Carver
The Long Riders (1980) – directed by Walter Hill
Cloud Dancer (1980) – directed by Barry Brown
Safari 3000 (1980) – directed by Harry Hurwitz
Americana (1981) – also director
Q (1982) – directed by Larry Cohen
Trick or Treats (1982) – directed by Gary Graver
Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) – directed by Steve Carver
The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984) – directed by John C. Broderick
On the Line (1984) – directed by José Luis Borau
Behind Enemy Lines (1986) – directed by Gideon Amir
Armed Response (1986) – directed by Fred Olen Ray
The Misfit Brigade (1987) – directed by Gordon Hessler
Heartbeat (1987) – directed by John Nicolella
Run for Your Life (1988) – directed by Terence Young
Crime Zone (1988) – directed by Luis Llosa
Warlords (1988) – directed by Fred Olen Ray
Tropical Snow (1988) – directed by Ciro Durán
Sonny Boy (1989) – directed by Robert Martin Carroll
Wizard of the Lost Kingdom II (1989) – directed by Charles B. Griffith
Nowhere to Run (1989) – directed by Carl Franklin
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989) – directed by Anthony Hickox
Try This One for Size (1989) – directed by Guy Hamilton
Open Fire (1989) – directed by Roger Mende
Think Big (1989) – directed by Jon Turteltaub
Future Force (1989) – directed by David A. Prior
Animal Protector (1989) – directed by Mats Helge
The Mad Bunch (1989) – directed by Arne Mattson & Mats Helge
Night Children (1989) – directed by Norbert Meisel
Crime of Crimes (1989) – directed by Alfredo Zacarías
The Trace of Lynx (1990)
Bird on a Wire (1990) – directed by John Badham
Future Zone (1990) – directed by David A. Prior
Martial Law (1990) – directed by Steve Cohen
Fatal Secret (1990)
Dune Warriors (1991)
Midnight Fear (1991)
Project Eliminator (1991)
Capital Punishment (1991)
Battle Gear (1991)
Karate Cop (1991) – directed by Alan Roberts
Evil Toons (1992) – directed by Fred Olen Ray
Double Trouble (1992) – directed by Gregory Dark
Roadside Prophets (1992) – directed by Abbe Wool
Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992) – directed by Anthony Hickox
Night Rhythms (1992)
Animal Instincts (1992)
Distant Justice (1992)
Kill Zone (1993)
Dead Center (1993)
Code… Death: Frontera Sur (1993)
Bitter End (1993)
Hollywood Dream (1994)
The Rage (1997)
Macon County Jail (1997)
The Good Life (1997)
Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (1998) – directed by Ethan Wiley
The New Swiss Family Robinson (1998) – directed by Stewart Raffill
Shepherd (1998)
The Effects of Magic (1998)
An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island (1998) – directed by Larry Latham
Kiss of a Stranger (1998)
Lovers and Liars (1998)
Light Speed (1998)
Sublet (1998)
Knocking on Death’s Door (1999)
Natural Selection (1999)
Full Blast (1999) – directed by Rodrigue Jean
The Puzzle in the Air (1999)
Zoo (1999)
Dangerous Curves (2000)
Down ‘n Dirty (2000)
Nightfall (2000) – directed by Gwyneth Gibby
G.O.D. (2001)
The Donor (2001)
Balto II: Wolf Quest (2002) – directed by Phil Weinstein
Wheatfield with Crows (2002)
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)* – directed by Quentin Tarantino
American Reel (2003) – directed by Mark Archer
Dead & Breakfast (2004) – directed by Matthew Leutwyler
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)* – directed by Quentin Tarantino
Hair High (2004) – directed by Bill Plympton
Lost Goodbye (2004)
Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon (2004) – directed by Albert Pyun & Isaac Florentine
Brothers in Arms (2005)
Miracle at Sage Creek (2005)
Final Move (2006)
World War 1: American Legacy (2006)
The Last Sect (2006)
Epic Movie (2007) – directed by Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer (The Two Headed Fuckwit)
Lost Bullet (2007)
Treasure Raiders (2007) – directed by Brent Huff
Richard III (2007) – directed by Scott M. Anderson
The Trident (2007) – short
How to Rob a Bank (and 10 Tips to Actually Get Away with It) (2007) – directed by Andrews Jenkins
Fall Down Dead (2007) – directed by Jon Keeyes
Permanent Vacation (2007) – directed by W. Scott Peake
Fuego (2007) – directed by Damian Chapa
Big Stan (2007) – directed by Rob Schneider
Homo Erectus (2007) – directed by Adam Rifkin
Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter (2007)
Hell Ride (2008) – directed by Larry Bishop
Camille (2008) – directed by Gregory Mackenzie
Last Hour (2008) – directed by Pascal Caubet
Jonas Brothers: Burnin’ Up (2008) – short
Break (2008)
Death Race (2008) – directed by Paul W.S. Anderson – voice cameo
The Golden Boys (2008) – directed by Daniel Adams
Kandisha (2008) – directed by Jerome Cohen-Olivar
Archie’s Final Project (2009) – directed by David Lee Miller
Absolute Evil – Final Exit (2009) – directed by Ulli Lommel
Road of No Return (2009)
Crank: High Voltage (2009) – directed by Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor (as Neveldine/Taylor)
Autumn (2009) – directed by Steven Rumbelow
Dark Fields (2009) – directed by Douglas Schulze
Bad Cop (2009)
All Hell Broke Loose (2009)
Detention (2010) – directed by James D.R. Hickox
True Legend (2010) – directed by Yuen Woo-ping
Six Days in Paradise (2010)
Monet to Burn (2010)
Stretch (2011) – directed by Charles de Meaux
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2011) – directed by Quentin Tarantino
Eldorado (2012) – directed by Richard Driscoll
The Bankers, Madoff with America (2013)
Night of the Templar (2013)

A Christmas Carol (1947) – TV movie
Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950-1963) – 1 episode
East Side/West Side (1963-1964) – 1 episode
Wagon Train (1957-1965) – 1 episode
Arrest and Trial (1963-1964) – 1 episode
The Virginian (1962-1971) – 1 episode
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963-1967) – 1 episode
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964-1965) – 2 episodes
The Trial’s of O’Brien (1965-1966) – 2 episodes
Shane (1966) – 17 episodes, main role
Coronet Blue (1967) – 1 episode
Cimarron Strip (1967-1968) – 1 episode
Johnny Belinda (1967) – directed by Paul Bogart & Gary Nelson – TV movie
The Name of the Game (1968-1971) – 1 episode
Maybe I’ll Call Home in the Spring (1971) – directed by Joseph Sargent – TV movie
Gunsmoke (1955-1975) – 1 episode
Night Gallery (1969-1973) – 1 episode
Ironside (1967-1975) – 3 episodes
Kung Fu (1972-1975) – 63 episodes, main role
Long Way Home (1975) – TV movie
The Family Holvak (1975) – 2 episodes
Mr. Horn (1979) – directed by Jack Starrett – TV movie
Gauguin the Savage (1980) – directed by Fielder Cook – TV movie
Hugh Noon II: The Return of Will Kane (1980) – directed by Jerry Jameson – TV movie
Darkroom (1981-1982) – 1 episode
Jealousy (1984) – TV movie
Airwolf (1984-1986) – 1 episode
Fox Mystery Theatre (1984) – 1 episode
Partners in Crime (1984) – 1 episode
The Bad Seed (1985) – directed by Paul Wendkos – TV movie
The Fall Guy (1983-1985) – 2 episodes
North and South, Book I (1985) – mini-series; 6 episodes
Kung Fu: The Movie (1986) – directed by Richard Lang – TV movie
North and South, Book II (1986) – mini-series; 6 episodes
Amazing Stories (1985–1987) – 1 episode
Six Against the Rock (1987) – directed by Paul Wendkos – TV movie
Night Heat (1985-1989) – 1 episode
I Saw What You Did (1988) – directed by Fred Walton – TV movie
The Cover Girl and the Cop (1989) – TV movie
Matlock (1986-1995) – 3 episodes
The Young Riders (1989-1992) – 1 episode
The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985-1992) – 1 episode
Deadly Surveillance (1991) – TV movie
Brotherhood of the Gun (1991) – TV movie
The Gambler Returns (1991) – directed by Dick Lowry – TV movie
Human Target (1992) – 1 episode
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1992) – TV movie
The Eagle and the Horse (1994) – TV movie
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1993-1997) – 88 episodes, main role
Last Stand at Saber River (1997) – directed by Dick Lowry – TV movie
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993-1998) – 1 episode
Lost Treasure of Dos Santos (1997) – TV movie
Fast Track (1997-1998) – 1 episode
Nosferatu: The First Vampire (1998) – TV movie
Martial Law (1998) – TV movie
Profiler (1996-2000) – 1 episode
Charmed (1998-2006) – 1 episode
Acapulco H.E.A.T. (1998-1999) – 1 episode
Family Law (1999-2002) – 1 episode
Just Shoot Me (1997-2003) – 1 episode
By Dawn’s Early Light (2000) – TV movie
Queen of Swords (2000-2001) – 1 episode
Largo Winch (2001) – TV movie
Warden of Red Rock (2001) – TV movie
Out of the Wilderness (2001) – TV movie
Jackie Chan Adventures (2000-2005) – 1 episode
The Nightmare Room (2001-2002) – 1 episode
Titus (2000-2002) – 1 episode
The Defectors (2001) – TV movie
King of the Hill (1997-2010) – 1 episode
Largo Winch (2001-2002) – 2 episodes
The Outsider (2002) – directed by Randa Haines – TV movie
Alias (2001-2006) – 2 episodes
Eve (2003-2006) – 1 episode
Medium (2005-2011) – 1 episode
Danny Phantom (2004-2007) 2 episodes
Son of the Dragon (2006) – directed. T David Wu – miniseries – 2 episodes
Kung Fu Killer (2008) – directed by Philip Spink – TV movie
Dinocroc vs. Supergator (2010) – directed by Jim Wynorski (as Jay Andrews)

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