Robert Carradine’s Cause of Death Confirmed

The cause of death of Robert Carradine has been confirmed following his passing earlier this week at the age of 71 on Monday, Feb. 23.

According to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office, the actor death has been ruled a suicide. The cause of death was listed as sequelae of anoxic brain injury, which occurs when oxygen is cut off completely from the brain.

Carradine was best known for starring in the Eighties cult classic Revenge of the Nerds and later, found a new generation of fans in the early 2000s with Lizzie McGuire on the Disney Channel.

“It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away,” read a previous statement from Carradine’s family. “In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him. 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. We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness.”

Following news of his death, the actor’s Lizzie McGuire co-stars and other Hollywood peers remembered his legacy in heartfelt tributes. Hilary Duff, who starred as the titular character Lizzie, shared Instagram photos of her and Carradine, who played her father Sam McGuire. In a caption, Duff wrote: “This one hurts. It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend. There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. I’ll be forever grateful for that. I’m deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him , his family, and everyone who loved him.”