All About Robert Carradine's Famous Family, Including His Dad John, Brother Keith and Niece Martha Plimpton
All About Robert Carradine's Famous Family, Including His Dad John, Brother Keith and Niece Martha Plimpton
Samantha StutsmanTue, February 24, 2026 at 7:39 PM UTC
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Robert Carradine in 2025; John Carradine with his sons in 1979.
Amanda Edwards/Getty ; Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty
Robert Carradine was born to actors John Carradine and Sonia Sorel in 1954
He and his siblings followed in their parents' Hollywood footsteps
Robert, who died at age 71 on Feb. 24, is survived by his three children, including actress Ever Carradine
Robert Carradine will be remembered as "a beacon of light to everyone around him."
The actor, best known for his roles in Lizzie McGuire and the Revenge of the Nerds franchise, died on Feb. 24 at age 71, per Deadline.
"We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby’s valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder," Robert's family said in a statement. "We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness."
Robert was born into a Hollywood acting dynasty. His parents, actors John Carradine and Sonia Sorel, raised three sons together: Christopher, Keith and Robert. While Keith and Robert followed in their parents’ footsteps on-screen, Christopher carved out a career as an architect and a vice president at Walt Disney Imagineering, per his LinkedIn.
John was also father to Bruce and David Carradine, whom he shared with his first wife, Ardanelle McCool. After her 1956 divorce from John, Sonia married Michael Bowen, and the pair welcomed a son, also named Michael Bowen, who pursued acting, too.
Of Robert's three children, only his older daughter, Ever, whom he shared with actress Susan Snyder, went into the family business. Robert was also dad to daughter Marika and son Ian, whom he welcomed with ex-wife Edie Mani.
Here's everything to know about Robert Carradine's famous family members, including his parents and brothers.
Robert’s father, John Carradine, appeared in hundreds of films
John Carradine in 'The Green Hornet.'
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
John was among the most prolific character actors of Hollywood’s Golden Age, building a massive résumé before his 1988 death.
With his unmistakable voice and commanding presence, he appeared in classics like The Grapes of Wrath and Stagecoach, later becoming a staple of gothic and horror films.
His second wife and Robert's mother, Sonia, was also an actress. She appeared in projects including Blonde for a Day and Harold and Maude. She died in 2004.
His brother, David Carradine, was best known for his role in the Kill Bill films
David Carradine and Robert Carradine in 2008.
Neilson Barnard/Getty
David — Robert’s half-brother — rose to fame while playing Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine on the 1970s TV series Kung Fu. Decades later, he introduced himself to a new generation of fans as the titular assassin in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill franchise.
Robert appeared alongside David several times throughout his career, most memorably in The Long Riders, the 1980 Western that famously cast real-life acting brothers — including the Carradines — as the outlaw siblings they portrayed on screen.
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David died in 2009 at age 72 while in Thailand.
Robert’s brother, Keith Carradine, is an Oscar winner
Robert Carradine and Keith Carradine in 2016.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
Keith, Robert’s older brother, has enjoyed a decades-long, acclaimed career across film, television and music. In 1976, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “I’m Easy,” which he wrote and performed in the film Nashville.
On the small screen, he has appeared in series including Dexter, Madam Secretary and Fear the Walking Dead.
Speaking to Deadline following Robert’s death, Keith addressed his brother’s bipolar disorder.
“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” he said. “It is an illness that got the best of him, and I want to celebrate him for his struggle with it. He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day. We will take solace in how funny he could be, how wise and utterly accepting and tolerant he was. That’s who my baby brother was.”
Robert’s niece, Martha Plimpton, is an Emmy Award-winning actress
Martha Plimpton and Keith Carradine in 2017.
J. Kempin/Getty
Keith's children — Martha Plimpton, Cade Carradine and Sorel Carradine — have all followed in the family’s show business footsteps.
Plimpton is best known for her breakout role in The Goonies, as well as her television work in Raising Hope and The Real O'Neals. In 2012, she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance on The Good Wife.
His daughter, Ever Carradine, starred in The Handmaid’s Tale
Ever Carradine and Robert Carradine.
Ever Carradine/Instagram
Ever, Robert’s older daughter, has built a successful acting career, with major TV roles in The Handmaid’s Tale and Runaways. Off-screen, Robert was one of her biggest supporters — even calling himself a “super fan” of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Despite sharing the same profession, Ever never had the chance to work alongside her father. In April 2025, she told PEOPLE that she was hesitant about blending family and work.
“I can't even imagine it. I feel like I would just be really self-conscious because he's my dad,” Ever said at the time. “But it would be fun ... he's such a good guy to be around — on set also.”
Following Robert's death, Ever posted a touching tribute to her dad on Instagram, writing, "My sweet, funny dad, who’s only 20 years older than I am, is gone. If you knew my dad, you know he’s the guy that’s always there."
She continued, "I knew my dad loved me, I knew it deep in my bones, and I always knew he had my back. I think it’s partly because we basically grew up together. We were in it together. Rest easy, Dad. I love you the most."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
