Robert Carradine had struggled with his mental health for several years before his shocking death on Monday.
The “Lizzie McGuire” actor has been battling bipolar disorder for 20 years, which worsened after the death of her half-brother David Carradine, who died of suffocation in a hotel room in Thailand in 2009.
In 2015, the “Revenge of the Nerds” star and his then-wife Edith Mani were injured in a car accident in Colorado.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, Robert veered into oncoming traffic on Colorado Highway 145 and collided with a tractor-trailer.
He and Mani were both injured, but their injuries were not life-threatening. The truck driver, Richard Clayton of Wisconsin, was also uninjured.
Robert was issued a citation and later mailed $169.50 in payment for the accident.
Two years later, Mani, who shares two children with Robert, Marika, 35, and Ian, 33, said in divorce court documents that Robert had “confessed to me and my two children that he intentionally rammed the truck in order to kill us both.”
At the time, Mani claimed that Robert, who was a professional race car driver, purposely pivoted to full-size semi-trucks due to the depression he suffered after David’s death.
In court documents, Mani requested possession of Robert’s 17 guns, fearing he would harm himself.
Shortly after the allegations surfaced, the actor revealed that he was in an acute psychotic state, which caused him to ram into oncoming traffic. However, according to TMZ, his psychosis was allegedly the result of Mani begging him to stop taking his medication and drive while in that state.
Robert and Mani married in 1990, but she filed for divorce in 2015.
The Disney Channel alum was also the father of daughter Ever Carradine, 51, whom he shares with Susan Snyder.
As Page Six previously reported, Robert died by suicide on Monday after a 20-year battle with bipolar disorder. He was 71 years old.
“In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light for those around him. We are saddened by the loss of this beautiful soul and would like to honor Bobby’s courageous fight against bipolar disorder for nearly 20 years,” Robert’s family told Deadline in a statement.
“We hope that his journey will shine a light and encourage us to address the stigma that surrounds mental illness. At this time, we ask for privacy as we grieve this unfathomable loss. Thank you for your understanding and compassion.”
Several stars have paid tribute to the late star, including Hilary Duff, who played Robert’s daughter on Lizzie McGuire from 2001 to 2004.
“This hurts. It’s hard to face this reality about an old friend,” she wrote on Instagram Monday.
“There’s so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents,” Duff added.
“For that I will be forever grateful. I am so saddened to hear of Bobby’s suffering. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
