R.I.P. David Carradine 1936-2009

As many of you out there now know, yesterday, the world suffered the loss of an actor who Quentin Tarantino once described as "One of Hollywood's Mad Geniuses", Mr. David Carradine. Carradine, whose father John Carradine was a noted Hollywood actor himself, did not set out immediately to become an actor, dabbling in a myriad of art forms and arenas until receiving his big break at the age of 39 in the film Bound For Glory in 1976, in which he essayed the role of Woodie Guthrie. I myself had the pleasure of working with David in the film William Shakespeare's Richard III.

I received several phone calls and text messages from friends yesterday informing me of Carradine's death, just as I was about to go onstage for a performance. Words escaped me. Whenever someone you have known or worked with passes in that manner, it doesn't even seem real. I really didn't even know how to react. I had admired Carradine for years before working with him and found him to be pleasant and very content with his path in life. He seemed to be at the height of his career at the age of 72, working more now than ever. I have often thought to myself, "If I could be like that guy when I'm his age, I'll be all right!"

Since the initial news broke, there are now several theories regarding his passing from suicide to just a tragic accident. For all our sakes, I hope it was the latter. For if a man like David Carradine, who spent decades working in a career he loved and by all accounts was living life to the fullest, could be so overcome by personal demons that he saw no other option than to take his own life, that my friends has dark portents for us all.

I prefer to remember him as the man he was, a good natured, hard working guy with boundless energy and committment to his craft. Rest In Peace, brother. We'll miss you.