Net Worth Ranker
What Is David Carradine’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death in June 2009, David Carradine, the multifaceted American actor, musician, writer, director, producer, and martial artist, had a net worth of approximately $500,000. This figure reflects the culmination of a long and varied career spanning over 230 film and television projects, supplemented by his endeavors in writing, directing, and music.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born John Arthur Carradine Jr. on December 8, 1936, in Los Angeles, California, David’s early life was marked by familial complexities. His parents, John and Ardanelle Carradine, divorced in 1944, setting the stage for a childhood spent between his parents and various educational institutions. David attended Oakland High School and later enrolled at Oakland Junior College before transferring to San Francisco State College, where he studied music theory and drama. During his time at San Francisco State College he wrote music for annual revues put on by the school’s drama department. His formal education was interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1960. He was honorably discharged in 1962 after being court-martialed when he was caught shoplifting at a base grocery store.
Carradine’s career took off after his military service. He debuted on Broadway and in film in 1964, appearing in Rolf Hochhuth’s “The Deputy” and the Western movie “Taggart.” In 1965, he won a Theatre World Award for Peter Shaffer’s “The Royal Hunt of the Sun.” Throughout the 1960s, he acted in films like “Bus Riley’s Back in Town” (1965), “Too Many Thieves” (1966), and “Heaven with a Gun” (1969), and guest-starred on television shows like “Alfred Hitchcock Hour” (1965) and “Ironside” (1968).
“Kung Fu” and Subsequent Career Highlights
David Carradine’s net worth was significantly influenced by his role as Kwai Chang Caine in the “Kung Fu” television series (1972-1975). Airing for 63 episodes over three seasons on ABC, the series garnered Carradine a Primetime Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nomination. He reprised his role in “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues,” which ran for 88 episodes from 1993 to 1997, and in the 1986 television film “Kung Fu: The Movie.” Beyond “Kung Fu,” he starred in Martin Scorsese’s “Boxcar Bertha” in 1972 and “Mean Streets” in 1973, adding to his profile and income.
Carradine’s filmography expanded during the 1980s, with appearances in over 20 films, including “Lone Wolf McQuade” (1983) and “Armed Response” (1986). In 1985, he played Justin LaMotte in the miniseries “North and South,” earning another Golden Globe nomination. The 1990s saw him in films like “Bird on a Wire” (1990) and “Martial Law” (1990), along with voice work in “An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island” (1998). He also made guest appearances on television shows such as “Just Shoot Me!” (2000) and “Alias” (2003; 2004). From 2004 to 2005, he hosted “Wild West Tech” on The History Channel.
One of the later high points in Carradine’s career was his role as Bill in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” films (2003-2004). “Kill Bill: Volume 1” grossed $180.9 million at the box office, and “Kill Bill: Volume 2” grossed $152.2 million. This success earned Carradine several award nominations, including his fourth Golden Globe nomination. The income from these films, along with royalties and residuals, contributed to his net worth.
Throughout the 2000s, David Carradine appeared in over 50 films, some released posthumously, such as “Epic Movie” (2007), “How to Rob a Bank” (2007), and “True Legend” (2010). His diverse roles and consistent work in the industry helped sustain his earnings, contributing to the half a million net worth at the time of his passing.
Writing, Directing, and Producing Ventures
Beyond acting, Carradine’s net worth benefited from his involvement in writing, directing, and producing. He wrote, directed, and co-produced the short musical “A Country Mile” (1973). He also directed the films “You and Me” (1975) and “Americana” (1981), along with three episodes of “Kung Fu” and an episode of “Lizzie McGuire” in 2001. His production credits include “Americana,” “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues,” and several other projects, such as “Kung Fu: The Movie” (1986), “Crime Zone” (1988), and “Richard III” (2007). These roles allowed him to earn additional income and build his net worth. Additionally, Carradine authored several books, including “The Spirit of Shaolin” (1991), “Endless Highway” (1995), and “The Kill Bill Diary: The Making of a Tarantino Classic as Seen Through the Eyes of a Screen Legend” (2006), further contributing to his financial portfolio through royalties and sales.
Personal Life and Marital History
David Carradine’s personal life, marked by five marriages and several legal issues, may have impacted his financial standing. His first marriage was to Donna Lee Becht in 1960, and they divorced in 1967. He then had a relationship with Barbara Hershey, with whom he had a son in 1972. His subsequent marriages were to Linda Gilbert (1977-1983), Gail Jensen (1986-1997), Marina Anderson (1998-2001), and Annie Bierman (2004 until his death). Divorce settlements and legal fees from various incidents, including arrests for assault, drug possession, and DUI, may have influenced his overall net worth. In 1974, for example, David allegedly broke into a neighbor’s house while he was naked and high on peyote, and he allegedly assaulted a woman who later sued him for $1.1 million (she only received a $20,000 settlement).
In 2010, a year after David’s death, his widow, Annie, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against MK2 Productions, the company producing the film he was working on in Bangkok. The lawsuit, settled in August 2011, resulted in Annie receiving $400,000 from the production company. This settlement provided additional financial resources to his estate.
Despite the various contributing factors, David Carradine’s Net Worth at the time of his death reflected a lifetime of work across different creative avenues.
