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

Robert Carradine: A Portrait in Persistence

Robert Carradine remains one of Hollywood’s quietly enduring names — a member of a storied acting dynasty, but with a career carved out on his own terms. Born March 24, 1954, Carradine belongs to a lineage of actors, yet his journey reflects a distinct blend of versatility, resilience, and reinvention. His birthdate anchors a narrative that spans decades, from Westerns and war films to teen comedies and family television — a journey marked by ups, downs, and quiet achievements.

A Legacy Beyond Family Name: Carving His Own Path

Though born into the renowned Carradine family — son of John Carradine and half-brother to David Carradine and Keith Carradine — Robert’s beginning was far from gilded. Born in Los Angeles on March 24, 1954, he and his brothers faced a difficult childhood, including a period in foster care after their parents’ divorce.

Yet Carradine channeled early hardship into creative fuel. As a teenager he gravitated to performing — eventually landing his first on-screen role in 1971 on the Western television series Bonanza.

His first film appearance came in 1972 — sharing the screen with legend John Wayne in The Cowboys. From that point forward, Robert charted a course that balanced supporting roles, cult-classics, and occasional reinvention.

The Nerd Turned Cult Icon: From “The Cowboys” to “Revenge of the Nerds”

Over the 1970s and early ’80s, Carradine landed roles in a variety of genres: war movies, Westerns, dramas. He appeared in films like Coming Home (1978), the gritty WWII drama The Big Red One (1980), and the brother-heavy Western The Long Riders (1980), often sharing the screen with his siblings.

But it was 1984 that would redefine his career. Cast as the bespectacled, socially awkward but endearing fraternity president Lewis “Lew” Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds, Carradine struck gold. The film — a cheeky, irreverent comedy celebrating outcasts — became a cult classic, and Lewis Skolnick became an iconic character of 1980s cinema.

He went on to reprise the role in multiple sequels, even stepping up behind the camera as executive producer for the latter entries — a sign of his growing creative agency.

That role — nerdy, awkward, but ultimately triumphant — helped cement his place in pop-culture memory. For many, the name Robert Carradine is synonymous with that underdog spirit.

Reinvention and Reintegration: From Cult Stardom to Family TV

Carradine never locked himself into one typecast. Across the 1990s and early 2000s, he pivoted comfortably among genres, appearing in made-for-TV films, direct-to-DVD thrillers, and guest spots, but also embracing family-friendly fare. Many in a younger generation came to know him as Sam McGuire — the on-screen father in the tween-favorite series Lizzie McGuire (2001–2004).

This transition speaks to Carradine’s adaptability: from Western drifter to “nerd hero,” to parental figure, he navigated changing tides in Hollywood with quiet pragmatism. As one entertainment biography puts it, “whether as a grizzled G.I. or a hapless bookworm, Carradine remained one of the more versatile performers in Hollywood.”

In later years, he even ventured into reality television, co-hosting the competition series King of the Nerds (2013–2015), a fitting nod to the role that made him famous.

Behind the Spotlight: Family, Struggles, and Reality

Robert Carradine’s private life reflects both continuity and complexity. He fathered three children — two daughters and a son. Among them is actress and model Ever Carradine, born to Carradine and Susan Snyder.

He later married Edie Mani (also referenced as Edith Carradine or Edie Mani) around 1990; the couple eventually divorced.

Over the years, Carradine has spoken — or been reported — on certain personal difficulties, including a challenging period following the death of his half-brother David in 2009. Some public records and tabloid-style reports have suggested that those struggles contributed to marital problems and financial stress.

Yet despite challenges and controversy, Carradine continued to work — a testament to his persistence in an industry often unforgiving.

What Is Robert Carradine’s Net Worth?

Estimates of Robert Carradine’s net worth vary widely — a reflection of how hard it can be to pin down the finances of long-career character actors whose fortunes fluctuate with roles, residuals, and varying levels of visibility. According to one source, his net worth is listed as US$300,000. 

Other outlets — likely making different valuation assumptions — place it higher. A 2024 article estimated his net worth at around US$1 million.

Given his decades-long career, a mixture of film, TV, production work, and shifting industry economics, either figure may offer only a partial glimpse into his true financial picture. Nonetheless, the disparity underscores an important point: legacy and name recognition don’t always translate into lasting wealth in Hollywood — especially for actors whose peak roles were decades ago.

The Quiet Value of a Working Actor

In an age where celebrity is often equated with fortune, glitz, and headline-making roles, Robert Carradine’s story feels almost countercultural: sustained, steady, unflashy. He never became a household name in the sense of a star director or A-list celebrity, but he built a career that is respectable, varied, and — perhaps more importantly — stable over decades.

His acting pedigree gives him a recognizable place in Hollywood’s complex lineage. But beyond that, his willingness to evolve — to go from Westerns to comedies, from lead roles to supporting parts, from film to TV — shows a kind of humility and realism that many rising stars lack.

For writers, fans, or observers today, Carradine’s journey offers a different kind of lesson: that of longevity carved not by glamour or scandal, but by adaptability, resilience, and a steady commitment to craft. His birthday — March 24 — is a reminder not of fleeting fame, but of a career built with patience, persistence, and quiet passion.