Ever Carradine has written an emotional eulogy for her beloved father, Robert Carradine, who passed away on Monday.
“Today, my dad passed away. My sweet, funny dad, only 20 years older than me, who never missed an opportunity to drive me to the airport or tell me how much he loved my homemade salad dressing, is gone,” the “Handmaid’s Tale” alum wrote on Instagram Monday night, along with a merry-go-round of throwback photos with Robert.
“If you know my dad, you know he’s the guy who’s always there. Invite me to dinner? He’s attending. There’s a kid’s little league game in Simi Valley, so tell him the time. My plane is red-eye and I need to drive home from the airport. Once you get your luggage, text him the row number.”
“Growing up in Laurel Canyon with a single father in the ’70s and ’80s is not a recipe for a grounded childhood, but somehow that was the case for me. Whenever someone asks me how I became normal, I always say it’s because of my father.”
Eber, 51, wrote that she knows her late father Robert “loved[her]” and that they “basically[grew up]together” because of their 20-year age difference.
“I never thought of him as a brother, but I always thought of him as a partner. We worked hard together. I never wanted to let him down and I wanted him to believe that I had his back just like he had my back,” she wrote.
The “Guns for Hire” actress then listed the many things she learned from the “Lizzie McGuire” alum, including how to change your own wiper blades and how to never hold a grudge.
“My father was not a fighter, he was a lover. He was truly genuine. In a world filled with conflict and division, I believe that today we can read a page from his book, open our hearts, feel love, and share.”
“I have a thousand stories and memories galore, so if you ever meet me, please ask me about my father, Bobby Carradine, who made me who I am. Rest assured, Dad. I love you the most,” she concluded.
Robert died by suicide after battling bipolar disorder, his brother Keith Carradine told Deadline. He was 71 years old.
“In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to those around him. We are saddened by the loss of this beautiful soul and would like to pay tribute to Bobby’s brave fight against bipolar disorder, which lasted almost 20 years,” Robert’s family told the outlet in a statement.
“We hope his journey shines a light and inspires us to address the stigma that plagues mental illness. At this time, we ask for privacy as we grieve this immense loss. Thank you for your understanding and compassion,” they added.
Relatives of the “Revenge of the Nerds” actor said they want the world to know there is “no shame” in his illness.
Robert was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after his brother David Carradine died of suffocation in June 2009.
The Long Riders actor had a daughter, Ever, with Susan Snyder in 1974. Robert married Edith Manni in 1990 and they have two children, Marika (35) and Ian (33).
The couple divorced in 2018, a year after Mani accused Robert of trying to kill them both in a horrific 2015 car crash.
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.
