David Carradine Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

The Man Behind the Icon: David Carradine — Birthdate, Name & Roots

David Carradine was born John Arthur Carradine Jr. on December 8, 1936 in Los Angeles, California — a name and birthdate that anchor a life both storied and turbulent. 
His upbringing was shaped by his father, John Carradine, a prolific character actor whose own long career cast a long shadow over David’s early years.
From the outset, David inhabited Hollywood corridors — but he was determined to forge his own path, not simply ride on family name.

When a Stage Name Became a Legacy

It was under the name “David Carradine” — rather than his birth name — that he would come to define a unique identity. Born into a family of actors, he rather consciously shaped himself into a different kind of star. 
His early steps in theatre and film laid the foundation: a 1965 Broadway turn in the play The Royal Hunt of the Sun gave him the kind of attention that opened doors beyond just being “John Carradine’s son.” 

Stardom, Reinvention, and Martial-Arts Mythos

David’s breakout came when he was cast as the lead in the TV series Kung Fu (1972–1975), playing a Shaolin monk roaming the Old West. That role — combining philosophy, martial arts, and a reserved mystique — made him a household name.

He never stayed pigeonholed. In the 1970s and beyond, Carradine worked prolifically: low-budget B-movies, cult action flicks, independent films, and even music and stage. Over his lifetime, he amassed over 200 credited roles in film, television, and theatre.

Decades after “Kung Fu,” he experienced a powerful resurgence: his role as “Bill” in Kill Bill (2003–2004) — written and directed by Quentin Tarantino — introduced Carradine to a new generation and cemented his status not just as a martial-arts star, but as a versatile actor capable of chilling gravitas.

A Life of Complexity: Relationships, Family, and Personal Struggles

Behind the mythic on-screen presence was a man whose personal life was riddled with turbulence. Carradine had multiple marriages and relationships over the years. Perhaps the most publicly known was his domestic partnership with actress Barbara Hershey spanning from 1968 to 1975.  Their relationship produced a son, born October 6, 1972. 

In the years that followed, like many Hollywood figures, Carradine’s life was marked by frequent transitions — professional and personal. While his screen presence remained constant, off-screen struggles with substance issues and legal troubles periodically surfaced. 

One of his marriages (to actress Marina Anderson) would later involve public claims about Carradine’s private life. In a memoir published after his death, Anderson questioned the official ruling of his death and claimed that Carradine “never flew solo,” suggesting the possibility of foul play rather than the then-declared accidental death. 

What Remained — Or Was Lost — at the End: Net Worth, Legacy, Death

At the time of his death in 2009, estimates of David Carradine’s net worth converge around USD 500,000 — a modest sum compared to the iconic status many would attribute to him decades earlier. 

On June 3, 2009, Carradine was found dead in a hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand, while reportedly working on a film. Official reports concluded his death was due to accidental asphyxiation during autoerotic asphyxiation.
The circumstances of his death spurred controversy and speculation — particularly from ex-spouse Marina Anderson, who publicly rejected the accident ruling and alleged that Carradine was murdered.

The Paradox of Cult Status and Fragile Wealth

It’s a striking — even tragic — contrast: a man whose face is etched into pop-culture memory as a martial-arts monk, a cool assassin, a wandering samurai’s ghost, yet who reportedly left behind only half a million dollars.

Carradine’s career, in many ways, reflects the volatility of Hollywood stardom: peaks of fame, sudden rediscovery, and periods of heavy toil in lower-budget productions. His immense output, spanning well over 200 roles, speaks to a restless creativity — but also to the harsh economic realities of sustaining a long acting career beyond blockbuster success.

At the same time, the messy personal history — relationships, substance struggles, public scrutiny — underscores how personal demons can shadow even the most charismatic of stars. His death’s controversial circumstances only deepen the enigma around him, leaving a legacy that mixes admiration with unresolved questions.

Why David Carradine Still Matters

David Carradine’s story resonates today because it sits at the crossroads of several powerful cultural currents: the martial-arts boom in Western cinema, the reinvention of genre through late-career comebacks, and the enduring allure of the Western samurai mythos that informed roles like Kung Fu’s wandering monk or Kill Bill’s enigmatic Bill.

His birthdate — December 8, 1936 — and birthday continue to be celebrated by fans who rediscover his work. Despite the modest net worth at his passing, his cultural footprint far exceeds monetary valuation.

Above all, Carradine represents a Hollywood archetype: deeply flawed, resilient, endlessly reinventing — whose legend persists not just because of fame, but because of complexity.