Billy West
American voice actor
David Carradine was an acclaimed American actor known for his iconic role as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s television series Kung Fu. He had a prolific career spanning over four decades, with roles in numerous films, TV shows, and on stage. Carradine was part of the renowned Carradine family of actors and was recognized with several award nominations for his impressive performances.
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About the David Carradine
David Carradinewas an American actor, director, and producer, whose career included over 200 major and minor roles in film, television and on stage, spanning more than four decades. He was widely known to television audiences as the star of the 1970s television series Kung Fu, playing Kwai Chang Caine, a peace-loving Shaolin monk traveling through the American Old West.
A member of the Carradine family of actors, he got his break playing Atahuallpa in the Broadway play The Royal Hunt of the Sun. He appeared in two early Martin Scorsese films: Boxcar Berthaand Mean Streets (1973), and played Woody Guthrie in the critically-acclaimed biopic Bound for Glory (1976), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. He received nominations for a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for his work on Kung Fu.
Later in his career, he became known for his B movie and martial arts roles, but experienced a resurgence after playing the title character in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill duology. He received additional Golden Globe nominations for his performances in the television miniseries North and South (1985), and Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), for which he won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor. On April 1, 1997, Carradine received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Throughout his life, Carradine was arrested and prosecuted for a variety of offenses, which often involved substance abuse. Films that featured Carradine continued to be released after his death. In addition to his acting career, Carradine was a director and musician. Moreover, influenced by his Kung Fu role, he studied martial arts, particularly Shaolin quan. In 2014, Carradine was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.
Frequently Asked Questions
David Carradine was an American actor, director, and producer who had a long and successful career in film, television, and theater. He was best known for his starring role as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s TV series Kung Fu.
Carradine played Atahuallpa in the Broadway play The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Woody Guthrie in the biopic Bound for Glory, and the title character in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill duology. He also received award nominations for his work on the TV series Kung Fu and the miniseries North and South.
David Carradine was a member of the Carradine family, a renowned dynasty of American actors. He was the son of actor John Carradine and was part of the family’s acting legacy, which included his brothers Keith and Robert Carradine.
Carradine’s portrayal of the peace-loving Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine in Kung Fu inspired him to study martial arts, particularly Shaolin quan. This connection to the role led to Carradine being inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 1997, David Carradine received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a prestigious honor that recognized his contributions and achievements as an actor during his long and successful career in the entertainment industry.
Throughout his life, Carradine was arrested and prosecuted for a variety of offenses, often involving substance abuse. Despite these legal troubles, he continued to work and had films released even after his death in 2009.
Carradine initially gained fame for his dramatic roles in films like Bound for Glory, but later in his career became known for his B-movie and martial arts roles. However, he experienced a resurgence of popularity after playing the lead in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films.
22 Quotes by David Carradine
- 1.
Well I would never say to anybody that Warren Beatty got fired, but uh, I think he and Quentin fell out of love, and I think Warren told Quentin to hire me for the film.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 2.
I was involved in a web cartoon of Kung Fu with WB a few years back.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 3.
You know, I’ve never actually really believed that death is inevitable. I just think it’s a rumor.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 4.
Most actors spend a lot of time training themselves to be an actor. And I kind of didn’t do that. I just started doin’ it in front of an audience and had to deliver.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 5.
If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 6.
I like Bill a lot. As Bill is presented, I mean you don’t ever see Bill blow her head off? You know? And I think what Quentin has done is he created a monster.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 7.
Quentin is very organic; there was no way that he was going to put someone else’s hand in there and anyway, my hands are kind of famous. It seemed right.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 8.
I don’t need to convince anybody that I know kung fu, but maybe somebody needs to know that I really can act, without doing a Chinese accent or a funny walk.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 9.
Quentin wanted to create this special world in which everybody walks around with a samurai sword, extras in the airport, a special little place in the airplane to stick your samurai sword.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 10.
I’ve worked with a lot of real heavy hitters, and Quentin is maybe heads and shoulders, at least a forehead, above just about anybody I’ve ever worked with.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 11.
Quentin and I were constantly finding something new that we had in common and comic books were one of them. I think we were talking about comic books much earlier in our relationship, before I had the part.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 12.
Why would you be afraid of death? It would be an inconvenience. I have a lot of undone things and it’s bound to get in the way. But, no, it doesn’t scare me at all.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 13.
But, Tarantino has seen all of my movies. He’s seen my good stuff, he’s seen my bad stuff, he’s seen the ones I directed, he’s read my autobiography. There’s an awful lot of things he knows about me, all of which I think had something to do with his casting.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 14.
There’s an alternative. There’s always a third way, and it’s not a combination of the other two ways. It’s a different way.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 15.
My big fight is not in the movie and I don’t understand that decision but I know he’s right about it, whatever it is. Quentin did not hire me because I’m a kung fu expert; he hired me because he liked to listen to me talk.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 16.
I’m not regretful about dropping acid, but I could have stopped it a little sooner.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 17.
In the second installment, I pretty much dominate the show. Somehow or another, though, I manage to apparently dominate the first show pretty well with just my voice and my hands and a shot of my boots kicking cartridges out of the way.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 18.
‘Born to play? Hmmm. Probably Romeo… or Hamlet, I guess. Also, I’d be a great Alexander the Great.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 19.
I remember when I did the pilot, and I though no network is going to want to do this. How could that happen? A half Chinese guy walking the old west that doesn’t fire one gun and never gets on a horse?
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 20.
Because you know how you say I’ve got to really get down and really do some training and then of course, you never do or you do it for a couple of weeks and slough it back off again but I’m being forced to do something that I really want to do and I loved it.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 21.
Tarantino is the coolest damn guy; he’s just so much fun to work with. He might be the best director I’ve ever worked with. He just seems to know how to do it and he knows how to make you feel good about it. He’s having so much fun you start having fun. You can’t help it.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)
- 22.
It was pretty extensive – we worked out 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 3 months, which I think is more than anybody in the Olympics. I thought well I don’t need this, the girls need it, but it was a gift.
David CarradineAmerican actor (1936-2009)