http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31103217/
David Carradine found dead in Thailand hotel
72-year-old ‘Kung Fu,’ ‘Kill Bill’ actor reportedly hanged himself
Actor David Carradine, a born seeker and cult idol who broke through as the willing student called “grasshopper” in the 1970s TV series “Kung Fu” and decades later as leader of an assassin squad in “Kill Bill,” was found dead Thursday in Thailand. Police said he appeared to have hanged himself.
The officer responsible for investigating the death, Teerapop Luanseng, said the 72-year-old actor was staying at a suite at the luxury Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel.
“I can confirm that we found his body, naked, hanging in the closet,” Teerapop said. He said police suspected suicide.
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A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, Michael Turner, said the embassy was informed by Thai authorities that Carradine died either late Wednesday or early Thursday, but he could not provide further details out of consideration for his family.
Carradine came from an acting family. His father, John, made a career playing creepy, eccentric characters in film and on stage. His brothers Keith, Robert and Bruce also became actors. Actress Martha Plimpton is Keith Carradine’s daughter.
“My Uncle David was a brilliantly talented, fiercely intelligent and generous man. He was the nexus of our family in so many ways, and drew us together over the years and kept us connected,” Plimpton said Thursday.
Carradine was in Bangkok shooting the movie “Stretch,” said his manager, Chuck Binder.
“We’re very saddened, he was a wonderful guy,” said Lori Binder, a partner in the agency that represented Carradine.
“It is shocking to me that he is no longer with us,” said Michael Madsen, who played an assassin in “Kill Bill.”
“I had been thinking about calling him for the last several days. ... I have so many great memories of David that I wouldn’t even know where to begin . He has a very special place in my heart.”
The Web site of the Thai newspaper The Nation said Carradine could not be contacted after he failed to appear for a meal with the rest of the film crew on Wednesday, and that his body was found by a hotel maid Thursday morning. It said a preliminary police investigation found that he had hanged himself with a cord used with the suite’s curtains. It cited police as saying there was no sign that he had been assaulted.
Police said Carradine’s body was taken to a hospital for an autopsy that would be done Friday.
