Home : R.I.P., David Carradine : David Carradine May Have Committed Suicide

R.I.P.
David Carradine May Have Committed Suicide

Posted Jun 4th 2009 12:30PM by TMZ Staff

UPDATE: Thai officials have announced that an autopsy will be performed on David Carradine this Friday.

One of the officers investigating the incident has just released the following statement: "I can confirm that we found his body, naked, hanging in the closet."

UPDATE: A Thai newspaper is now reporting the body was hanging for no less than 12 hours before it was discovered by the maid, adding there was no sign of struggle.

David Carradine: Click to watch
UPDATE: We just spoke with the director of the film David finished last week. Jim Wynorski told us as recently as a week ago Sunday, David was "jovial, full of life and kept everyone laughing on the set." Wynorski said he constantly talked about his family -- the apparent suicide "just doesn't at all seem like him."

UPDATE: TMZ has learned that the day before he died, David Carradine was in good spirits while shooting scenes for a movie at a local eatery -- the Witch's Oyster Bar & Restaurant.

We're told Carradine's crew was posted up on the second floor -- but David would occasionally stroll down to the restaurant level to enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage. Sources inside the restaurant tell us "he didn't look sad ... he looked fine."

UPDATE: The BBC claims Thai police told them a hotel maid found David Carradine this morning sitting in a wardrobe room with a rope around his neck and body.

David CarradineThere are conflicting reports about the rope. A Thai newspaper is citing cops who say the cord used in the hanging was from curtains in the hotel room. A Thai wire service says the rope did not come from the hotel.

TMZ has not been able to confirm any of these reports independently.

The 72-year-old's agent claims the actor had been in great spirits during the trip to Thailand.

Story developing ...



Tags: david carradine, DavidCarradine, suicide, thailand

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136. I refuse to believe that he committed suicide. He seemed like the kind of person that would be offended by the concept. I could maybe see it if he was just diagnosed with terminal cancer or something but as far as I know he was healthy.

Posted at 10:02PM on Jun 4th 2009 by areolata

137. how ironic kill bill kills himself!!! very sad my condolences RIP david

Posted at 10:50PM on Jun 4th 2009 by smallstuff

138. Just read there was another part of his body tied. This sounds like an s&m situation, with a mistress possibly depriving him of oxygen , which is the ultimate high in certain sexual games. Especially, if true, (another part) of his body was restricted. I think you can guess.
In the states lots of kids are getting into this situation for an ultimate high. Unfortunately many kids have died from this practice also. It's an epidemic in us for kids. Saw a report on it a year ago. Adults are into it also.
He knew, I think what he was doing. It should be investigated if the was another person in the room, dna etc.
How tragic, he had everything to live for, and seemed like a very chilled individual, deep into eastern philosophy. I'm sure with that he believed in Kharma.
I don't believe he would take his life, that is bad Kharma totally. What a loss of a beautiful human being.

Posted at 2:05AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Elena

139. I read that Michael Huccence left a suicide note. Saying he lost his sence of smell totally due to what I don't know. However that he would kill himself if he could never smell p---y again. He as so highly sexual, I maybe would believe that, but not Mr. Carradine.
So sorry for his familia.

Posted at 2:28AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Elena

140. Oh so sad and tragic for all of us,but his poor wife and children.My prayers and heartfelt support are sent out to them.
David was a very kind loving soul that will be greatly missed.
I do not beleive it was suicide......something is very weird about all of the inconsistencys that have been reported.More is to be revealed......I do not trust the thai police or this story at all.
May he rest in Peace and he is David the Angel nowoxoxox

Posted at 2:59AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Jeannine B. Madsen

141. well all i know is..is that if i commit suicide,im gonna tie up my balls like he did.

Posted at 11:25AM on Jun 5th 2009 by spacebar

142. “Update: .. a buzz on the internet speculates that Carradine's death is linked to Bruce Lee. Speculation is that either 1] evil kung fu forces (triad society curse) behind the death of Bruce Lee and his son were involved in Carradine's death... or, 2] a vendetta by embittered Bruce Lee extremists who view Bruce Lee as the true master of Kung Fu, who's untimely death led to Carradine usurping the role of Hollywood Kung Fu master. Moderate Bruce Lee followers seem to be reconciling with Kung Fu followers of Carradine, while extremists are splitting off now that the Carridine Dynasty has ended. Like the mysterious demise of Bruce Lee, the story may never be fully revealed. Extended interveiws of local hostesses may be needed to get to the bottom of things.

Farewell Grasshopper. You were always the lonely one. Wandering the earth alone, you touched so many, and gave peace and comfort to countless people you never knew, who pray you find peace and release as you fly away home.

May many learn your final life lesson: Don't get ur kink on alone, when so many able and adoring would love to be with you.

Posted at 2:46PM on Jun 5th 2009 by fredo

143. DAVID CARRADINE DIED BY HIS OWN HAND!!! His Will is not worth much except in ebay terms. He's borrowed through the years and was always known as a big money spender to himself family and friends, so he decided to make it look like he was in some sex thing, put that rope around his neck, not his genitals (please that was investigators paid off to put it there) and hung himself, knowing full well that they would claim "accidental death" so his family gets the MOVIE CO. INSURANCE, which is sometimes 3 times the size of some crappy Will David had years ago thru a lawyer of an ex wife, please! And, remember this, where there is a Will, there is a family, and Carradine knew this! So he staged his own death as accidental, got manager to agree, and did the dirty deed for cash and he was was old and was ailing! So try and bust that theory! Don't forget the pay off to the Bangkok police, they are easiest to pay off...

Posted at 7:51PM on Jun 5th 2009 by Nancy Cohen

144. hmm. the life insurance angle presents an interesting twist, but i would first suspect the insurance company as being the one to try to pay off police or silence witnesses to claim suicide, as the clearest and easiest way out of paying on the policy. As a rule, health, life, and other insurance companies first dispute all claims, then only reluctantly pay out on those with the least chance of prevailing in litigations. As far as i know most life insurance policies have suicide clauses, either it pays or it does not.. Grasshopper could have simply switched policies if this were premeditated, as a poster here has speculated. Grasshopper seems to be the opposite of the typical money grubbing whiplash shiester, spending much of his life devoted to tai chi, philosophy, and asian herbs... it is incongruios to presume at age 72 he suddenly became so insane with greed to take his own life for money. Now the widow.. that is another story.. there are rumors floating around the internet that she was recently posting her profile on dating and single sites.. another interesting twist. ...

Posted at 8:22PM on Jun 5th 2009 by FREDO

145. David Carradine was an Amercican actor, best known for his role in "Kung Fu." staged his own death to look accidental so his family could collect insurance monies from movie production company. He was found dead by suicide in a hotel room on June 4, 2009. Carradine planned this so that his 5th wife could pick up the cash from production company insurance, and that those other wives who made Carradine's bank account go from a rock to swiss cheese can't get their greasy hands on it and then Annie, the real love of his life can claim it, so it's accidental death staged by Carradine himself (the man who said the essence of acting is pretending you are pretending you are not pretending), he lived like a chess player! I knew him and all his wives except Annie and the first one! TAKE MY WORD FOR IT...this is the way it is.

Posted at 7:52PM on Jun 5th 2009 by Nancy Cohen

146. It is more than obvious from the solid evidence that was presented, (after the covered 3 conflicting reports by officials in Thailand), that this is a prof. hit. There is a way to kill someone in Chinese martial arts by touching their jugular a certain way, that will mimic asphyxiation by eroticism, in the manner they found him; (look up "touch of death"). You do not do certain "things" by tying your own hands behind your back! It's just not possible. But let's for argument's sake- say it is. It is not possible, that a man of 72 has the physical capability of living this long with that sort of tendency. As you get older, your skin thins, your arteries are much more fragile; this would have happened long before now. But our forensic pathologists in the US will see that the circles around his neck from hanging were done postmortem in an attempt at a cover up- it will become more obvious than it is now. The mysterious footprint in the bed- the conflicting stories by paid authorities, the unwillingness of the authorities to instantly provide security tapes to our authorities and the family. He had many enemies in the martial arts world- as did Bruce Lee and his son, that believed any deviation from true martial arts from China, (strict narrow mindedness in the discipline), is corrupt, as is anyone performing it. We have only to look at our reporters that have been kidnapped in Korea to look at the differences in culture- and martial arts has a long line of scary individuals, (we know the media can't say the "M" word- but the Triad has "fingerprints" such as these), that strictly enforce the principles by making examples of those whom color outside the lines....

Posted at 1:09PM on Jun 6th 2009 by Gabby

147. DAVID CARRADINE STAGED HIS OWN DEATH TO LOOK ACCIDENTAL SO FAMILY GETS MONIES, NOT GRUBBING EX WIVES DAVID CARRADINE COMITTED SUICIDE BUT HAD TO MAKE IT LOOK ACCIDENTAL, SO FAMILY GETS BUCKS!

Posted at 3:31PM on Jun 6th 2009 by Nancy Cohen

148. No, no you are all talking out of your rear,David Carradine did not commit suicide so his family could gain money.His hands were tied around his back and his career had been revived.I think some of them Chinks killed him and i want to know who? and WHY? I demand a thorough investigation.I am saving up to go to Bangkok and i'm gonna see about this.No one better stand in my way.

Posted at 12:34PM on Jul 7th 2009 by Shakeel Nazar

149. David Carradine introduced the mysterious sayings of the Taoist book of philosophy, the Tao Te Ching, to a mainstream American audience. It is to his credit that he left us showing a peaceful way, in total complete organism. How exactly do you want to die?

David was not on drugs, he was happy, he was high. "He was in the hotel lobby, relaxing and playing the piano -- he looked very happy." Nobody needs to go home alone, in Bangkok unless they want to. A maid found Carradine hanging naked by a rope in the closet of his plush hotel suite.

The autopsy report revealed Carradine died from a sudden lack of oxygen; while his body showed no signs of struggle... the moment of sexual climax is “la petit mort,” - the little death.

Forensic pathologist Michael Biden said that “autoerotic asphyxiation remains a possible cause of death.” The intent being to cut off the flow of oxygen to the brain, and in so doing, heightens the sense of climax. There was no evidence to show the death was anything other than unintended and accidental.

Most life insurance policies provide that the policy is void if the cause of death is suicide, but if it's an accidental death insurance companies are not only required to pay out ... some policies provide that the beneficiaries get twice the payout.

Posted at 7:03AM on Sep 1st 2009 by Owls

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