Robert Carradine, the beloved “Revenge of the Nerds” and “Lizzie McGuire” actor, died on February 23, 2026, at age 71 after suffering injuries sustained during a suicide attempt at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital. Now his family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the University of California, alleging that critical safety failures at the psychiatric facility directly contributed to his death.
The lawsuit, filed August 7 in Los Angeles County court, claims the hospital violated basic protocols designed to protect vulnerable patients and its own explicit policies. The allegations paint a stark picture of a man who entered the facility seeking help but encountered a cascade of preventable failures.
According to legal documents obtained by outlets covering the case, Carradine voluntarily checked himself into the locked psychiatric unit on January 16, feeling what his family described as “relieved to be hospitalized.” He was seeking treatment for active suicidal ideation and hoped that “additional inpatient treatment would reduce his anxiety.” The filing states he looked forward to being in what he believed would be a “locked, structured environment” where he could rest in a space that felt “containing and helpful.”
The reality he encountered proved devastatingly different. The lawsuit alleges that instead of providing a safe environment for a patient with active suicidal thoughts and a history of suicide attempts, the facility permitted Carradine to enter while wearing a belt—a prohibited item under standard psychiatric protocols and UCLA’s own policies. The family’s filing emphasizes that belts and belt buckles are specifically designated as contraband in the psychiatric unit because they can be used for self-harm or hanging.
The lawsuit further claims UCLA left a rolling bedside table in Carradine’s room, a piece of furniture that was not standard in the locked psychiatric unit. The family argues that “none of this happened because UCLA lacked the knowledge, the policies or the means. It happened because UCLA took shortcuts with two safeguards that were meant to protect Robert’s life.”
Approximately 19 hours after arriving at the facility, staff discovered Carradine unresponsive and in cardiac arrest in his room following a self-harm attempt. He never regained consciousness. The incident left him with a severe anoxic brain injury—damage caused by oxygen deprivation to the brain. Carradine spent the next five weeks in the intensive care unit before his condition steadily deteriorated and he died on February 23.
The lawsuit also alleges that UCLA failed to conduct mandatory 15-minute wellness checks that are standard practice for patients with suicidal ideation. According to the filing, Carradine was left alone for extended periods without proper observation or monitoring.
Adding to the family’s concerns, the lawsuit claims that UCLA’s subsequent investigation of the incident did not reflect what actually occurred. The filing states that hospital records conflicted with surveillance footage from the facility, suggesting an attempt to construct a narrative that differed from documented evidence.
Carradine’s family is seeking general damages, special and economic damages, and wrongful death damages. The suit was filed against the Regents of the University of California on behalf of his three surviving children: Ever, Marika, and Ian.
Carradine came from one of Hollywood’s most storied acting families. His father was the legendary actor John Carradine, and his brothers included acclaimed actors David Carradine and Keith Carradine. His daughter Ever Carradine is also an accomplished actress, known for her role in “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
The actor enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades. He is perhaps best remembered for his iconic role as nerdy fraternity president Lewis Skolnick in the 1984 film “Revenge of the Nerds,” which spawned multiple sequels. In the early 2000s, he found a new generation of fans playing Sam McGuire, the warm and bumbling father figure on Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire,” opposite young star Hilary Duff.
When news of Carradine’s death broke in February, Duff posted a tribute on Instagram, writing “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.”
Jake Thomas, who played Duff’s brother Matt on “Lizzie McGuire,” also paid tribute, writing “I was fortunate to know Bobby for most of my life. And he was one of the coolest guys you could ever meet. Funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric. He was a talented actor, musician, and director. But more than anything, he was family.”
His family announced in their statement that Carradine had battled bipolar disorder for nearly two decades. In revealing his cause of death, they acknowledged his “valiant struggle” against the mental illness and expressed hope that his journey would help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health conditions.
The family’s decision to pursue legal action reflects their determination to hold the institution accountable and potentially prevent similar tragedies. The University of California has not yet publicly responded to the allegations in the lawsuit.