David Carradine
He brought a quiet, philosophical grace to the screen as a wandering Shaolin monk, defining a generation's idea of Eastern wisdom in the American West.
1936–2009 (age 73)·American actor·Birthday: December 8·The Silent Generation
Biography
David Carradine (1936–2009) played Kwai Chang Caine in the television series 'Kung Fu.' Born into a theatrical dynasty as the son of actor John Carradine, he studied music and served in the U.S. Army before drifting into acting, landing stage and film roles that traded on his lean, enigmatic presence. The role of Caine, with its calm demeanor and fluid martial arts, turned him into a cultural symbol of 1970s spirituality and non-violent resistance. That part typecast him, but he never stopped working, navigating a long career marked by praised performances and personal tumult. Later, he played the titular assassin in Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' films, reintroducing his unique intensity to a new audience. Carradine channeled a searching, sometimes troubled spirit into characters of profound stillness.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
David was born in 1936, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1936
#1 Movie
San Francisco
Best Picture
The Great Ziegfeld
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1936Born
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1941Started school
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1949Became a teenager
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Could drive
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1954Could vote
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Turned 21
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1966Turned 30
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 40
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 50
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 60
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 70
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Died at 73
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Starred as Kwai Chang Caine in the groundbreaking TV series 'Kung Fu,' which popularized martial arts and Eastern philosophy in Western culture.
- Earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his performance in the television film 'Kung Fu.'
- Played the iconic role of Bill in Quentin Tarantino's two-part film 'Kill Bill: Volume 1' and 'Kill Bill: Volume 2.'
- Received a Saturn Award nomination for his supporting role in the post-apocalyptic film 'Death Race 2000.'
Did You Know?
He was a skilled musician and composer, playing several instruments and writing songs for some of his films.
He turned down the role of the Gunslinger in the film 'The Shootist,' which later went to John Wayne.
He was a direct descendant of John Adams, the second President of the United States.
He performed many of his own stunts and martial arts sequences in 'Kung Fu' after extensive training.
““If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.””
