Facts About David Carradine

He was one of those guys who was kung fu fighting.

David CarradinePhoto byCreative Commons: mooon2

Most adults who have watched TV or movies are aware of who David Carradine was. Carradine has literally hundreds of acting credits from stage, TV, and films. In addition, he comes from one of Hollywood’s most famous acting families.

Beyond two the Kill Bill movies, Carradine is also famous for his role as Caine in the TV show, Kung Fu, as well as his manor of death. I’m not going to go into detail about Carradine’s death. I’ll say that it wasn’t ruled a suicide, but it also wasn’t the result of what most people would deem, natural causes.

As for his character Caine from Kung Fu, there was a certain irony about him. Though he was a very peaceful guy, he had to kick an inordinate amount of butt. I believe it was determined that kicking butt was better for ratings than being peaceful. Beyond that, here are some things you didn’t know about David Carradine.

1: He had an unusual gig in the Army.

He drew pictures for training aids. I’m not sure of what type of training was being illustrated.

2: At the time he was starring in “Kung Fu,” he didn’t know anything about martial arts.

He actually used his experience as a dancer to get through the fight scenes. I’m guessing going through the Old West as a minority dancer could lead to a lot of dangerous situations.

3: Carradine starred in the TV western Shane.

His version of Shane was younger than the movie/Alan Ladd version. In addition, Marian Starett was a widow, played by Charles Bronson’s eventual wife, Jill Ireland. In the TV version, Shane succumbed to an adversary more deadly than the Rykers, low ratings.

4: While Carradine wasn’t into martial arts when the series, Kung Fu began, he started studying it as the series wore on.

Maybe as a peaceful guy, he should have studied conflict resolution techniques some more.

5: Carradine had a six-year relationship with Barbara Hershey.

The two met while filming Heaven with a Gun. During the rape scene in the movie, Carradine cracked one of Hershey’s ribs. They also did a Playboy pictorial together. And yet somehow the relationship didn’t last.

6: The relationship between Carradine and Hershey produced a son, whom Hershey named “Free.”

When Free was nine years old he changed his name to Tom. No doubt Tom was happy to be Freed from that name.

7: In case some of you have forgotten the storyline of “Fung Fu,” Carradine played the role of Kwai Chang Caine, who is a Shaolin monk fugitive who fled to America to escape the emperor who put a price on his head.

I believe, Nuns on the Run, is the American version of the story. Wait, being told that’s not the case.

8: In looking at Carradine’s body of work, the “Kill Bill” movies is among the most well-known.

I would also venture to say that most of his work wouldn’t make it to Masterpiece Theater.

9: Carradine appeared in a Lipton Tea commercial that appeared on Super Bowl XXVIII.

The commercial featured Carradine playing off his Caine character but using some Three Stooges moves. It was like he was practicing Stooge Fu.

10: Carradine played Cole Younger in, “The Long Riders.”

In the movie, David, Keith, and Robert Carradine played the Younger brothers, while James and Stacy Keach played the James brothers. That must be a great family movie. What’s that? Being told it is not.