# Kung Fu's David Carradine Dies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691 "2009-06-04T13:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/41 "2009-06-04T19:03:29Z")
Hollywood icon found dead naked in questionable and sexual circumstances. Pffft. Just your average Thursday night in Bangkok. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/42 "2009-06-04T19:07:04Z")
Beatrix Kiddo finally got to him. I don’t see anything tragic about a man who was 72 years old and lived life to the fullest dying. It’s a little sad, but it’s not tragic. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/43 "2009-06-04T19:17:36Z")
I think people are saying it was tragic because of _how_ he died. 72 or not, a suicide is always tragic. (And if it was auto-erotic asphixiation, as some are starting to suspect, that could be even worse). :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/44 "2009-06-04T19:19:37Z")
Shit. I’m speechless. I remember him from “Kung Fu,” of course. He was also in one of my favorite Chuck Norris movies, “Lone Wolf McQuade.” And he’ll always be remembered for “Kill Bill.” I even enjoyed him as the host of “Wild West Tech” on the History Channel. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/45 "2009-06-04T19:24:56Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I even enjoyed him as the host of “Wild West Tech” on the History Channel. Agreed – didn’t his brother host it before? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/46 "2009-06-04T19:25:18Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > (And if it was auto-erotic asphixiation, as some are starting to suspect, that could be even worse). No shit. This is Bangkok! Just hit a “massage parlor” why doncha? ---
**Author:** ![ProfessorX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@ProfessorX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProfessorX)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/47 "2009-06-04T20:19:22Z")
I saw this, this is sad especially the shady way it seems to have occurred. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/48 "2009-06-04T20:22:29Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Agreed – didn’t his brother host it before? Yeah. Keith put his hosting contract up for stakes in a poker hand and David won it. So Keith put on Caine’s robes and went wandering off. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/49 "2009-06-04T20:31:10Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Sounds like he did a Michael Hutchence. > > ETA: the BBC article has been edited. When I first saw it, it said the rope was around his neck and genitals. Now it just says “and body”. Well now I don’t feel so bad for assuming that’s what “and body” really was… Sorry for his family ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/50 "2009-06-04T21:08:47Z")
[Video linkage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlL0jB0j3YA) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/51 "2009-06-04T21:14:18Z")
**Clyde Bruckman:** You know there are worse ways to go, but I can’t think of a more undignified way than autoerotic asphyxiation. **Agent Mulder:** Why are you telling me that? **Bruckman:** Look, forget I mentioned it. It’s none of my business. ---
**Author:** ![Thalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@Thalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thalion)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/52 "2009-06-04T21:35:00Z")
**Johnny L.A.** , I was just thinking about the same scene. This is terribly sad. _Kung Fu_ was very inspirational to me as a kid, and his portrayal of Kwai Chang Caine is something I’ll never forget. He became an icon the likes of which very few actors could ever match, especially for a television role. Shatner and Nimoy are the only two I can think of that are in the same league. Farewell, Grasshopper. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/53 "2009-06-04T21:56:39Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Maybe this makes me odd, but I’d rather find out it was the result of AEE than a suicide. I agree. It’s a shame he died, but at least he went out doing something that made him happy. Plus, you got to admire a guy who can still get his freak on when he’s in his 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/54 "2009-06-04T22:06:21Z")
Frankly, I’d wish it was suicide rather than AEE, but then again the guy had three young children and I have nothing but ill will towards someone who would do that to their kids. Hutchence and Yates, I’m looking at you two assholes… :mad: Sucks all around, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/55 "2009-06-04T22:13:14Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Sucks all around, I guess. If there were, he wouldn’t have had to try what he did. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/56 "2009-06-04T22:23:24Z")
like Thalion said above, I found the series very inspiring too when a youngster. It inspired me to start doing karate. I watched them all again recently and all the lessons that get taught really are very wise and thoughtful. Carradine brought out a couple of books of sayings from the series. I think he was a pretty together guy mentally and philosophically so I’m really glad it wasn’t suicide. AEA is _much_ better than suicide in my view - just a dangerwank gone wrong rather than some deep unhappiness. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/57 "2009-06-04T22:30:35Z")
Is it me or does hanging seem a very odd way to kill yourself when there are guns, drugs, and any number of other means that are a lot less painful and iffy available? I’ve no idea what his financial situation was or if he had a problem with depression, but he certainly couldn’t have been depressed over a career slump: he had 7 movies that haven’t been released yet. That’s impressive for a 72 year old actor. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/58 "2009-06-04T22:36:17Z")
Have you not read the thread? He didn’t kill himself, at least not deliberately. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/59 "2009-06-04T22:47:25Z")
He appeared in commercials for [yellowbook.com](http://yellowbook.com). Did anyone else see those? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691/60 "2009-06-04T22:58:02Z")
I did not know this…[Martha Plimpton](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000588/) is his niece. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kung-fus-david-carradine-dies/498691.md?page=4)