Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of Thailand's Central Institute of Forensic Science, said the circumstances under which Carradine died suggest the 72-year-old actor may have indeed been performing auto-erotic asphyxiation. "My memoir is very much a love storyI wanted people to know David as a man, not just an icon, with incredible talents and quirky idiosyncrasies. There's got to be an understanding now of him as a human being, not a celluloid fantasy, with faults and his own demons, and for people to understand why he was like this. The true cause of death was the five point palm exploding heart technique, but then they strung him up to make it look like an accident and embarrass his memory. She added that by doing so "you can attract unwanted elements. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Police initially said Carradine's body was found "naked, hanging in a closet," causing them to suspect he committed suicide, though no suicide note was found. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Movie Actor. David Carradine died of asphyxiation - The Hollywood Reporter She continued by noting that "you can't have marks around your neck by just doing an autoerotic or sexual asphyxiation," saying that "it went over the line. Ryan Edwards Had No Clue Why He Was Arrested After Vandalizing Home, Impressive! "It is shocking to me that he is no longer with us. "David was extremely shy, but I think he would be pleased with this book as well as this being an avenue to help others," she said. However, that conclusion still didn't satisfy at least one person who knew Carradine. Because auto-erotic asphyxia is so "heavily stigmatized, by its very nature practitioners lead a hidden life," said Kafka. "But the information we now have does rule out a suicide.". His death was speculated as suicide but the autopsy report suggested that he died of accidental asphyxiation. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255). I don't believe he was by himself.". "I believe he was murdered," she told ABCNews.com in an interview this week. What Is the Debt Limit and What Happens If the US Defaults? Profits from the sale of the book will go to animal rescue groups and Children of the Night, an organization that fights child prostitution. "That [Carradine] had a substance abuse problem or had suicidal thoughts is not all that surprising," he told ABCNews.com. But the memoir isn't just about Carradine's bizarre sexual proclivities, and Anderson said she hopes it's not a "vindictive" tell-all. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. ", "I had never experienced anything like that and I was really excited about my relationship and that was new territory for me," she said. He spent days planning a different feature. Immediately following the rumors of a suicide, the actors family, friends and associates denounced the possibility of him taking his own life. Baden said he was waiting for more information on the hotel pass keys and security video to determine if, as the family had suggested, the death was a homicide. "I've got to prep myself," she said. Double-Murder Details, Kelly Ripa Taking Chastity Vow with Cohost Mark Consuelos: 'No Banging', Meghan Trainors Gross TMI Comments About Daryl Sabara Marriage, Gabby Petito Case: Laundrie Attorney Seeks Text, Call Receipts. Dr. Drew Pinsky. Friends of Carradine initially skeptical that the veteran actor would have intentionally killed himself were shocked at details emerging from the investigation. All Rights Reserved, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google, Fashions Biggest Night! "I believe he was targeted, whether they went up to his room unsolicited or he got bored and went into town and brought somebody up. The Carradine family contacted the FBI and threatened to take legal action once the culprit was found. "He would ask a lot of questions and I would do my best to educate him further in whatever he was interested in. The actor was found wearing a wig and fishnet stockings (viaNBC Washington). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Death Race 2000 VHS Action Sci-Fi David Carradine New Horizons Home Video at the best online prices at eBay! While the FBI investigates whether David Carradine's death was the result of foul play, it appears more likely that it was a case of auto-erotic asphyxiation (AEA). but there's every reason . There was something really hinky that happened. "He didn't die of natural causes, and he didn't die of suicidal causes from the nature of the ligatures around the body, so that leaves some kind of accidental death.". At first it was called a suicide. Per TMZ, Anne Carradine was awarded $400,000 in the wrongful death suit. "The two ropes were tied together," Police Lt. Gen. Worapong Chewprecha told reporters. The couple called each other affectionately "Johnny" [Carradine was born John Arthur] and "Blackie" [for her raven hair]. Carradine's body to return home, while questions remain June 5, 2009— -- Actor David Carradine was found dead in the closet of a Bangkok hotel room Thursday with a cord wrapped around his neck and genitals, leading Thai police to suspect his death was not a suicide but an accident resulting from dangerous sex practices. Obituary: David Carradine Cause Of Death - Tradegy Info Keith and Robert Carradine say they're grateful for the outpouring of support during what they call a "profoundly painful time." He most recently starred as Poon Dong, a Chinese mobster, in the action film "Crank: High Voltage. In her memoir, "David Carradine: The Eye of My Tornado," which hit bookstores this month, Anderson said she was compelled to investigate the mysterious circumstances of Carradine's death, obtaining autopsy results and death scene photos and interviewing coroners in Bangkok, as well as American coroners Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Steven Pitt. Though Carradine's ex-wife Anderson said he was "always happy when he was working," he reportedly suffered from bouts of depression and had written about suicide. A Thai tabloid has revealed a photo of David Carradine dead in his hotel room. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I had a friend who was a mentor, and he suddenly said, 'I've never seen you abuse a substance before.' ", "I believe he was targeted, whether they went up to his room unsolicited or he got bored and went into town and brought somebody up," said Anderson. He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill." A Thai police colonel told Reuters early in the probe the likely cause of death was asphyxiation. Carradine had been in Thailand since May 29 to shoot his latest film, "Stretch.". Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. . He never healed from it.". "David was pretty strange," she said. See What the Kardashian-Jenners Wore to the 2023 Met Gala, Karlie Kloss Announces Pregnancy With Baby No. The body of David Carradine was found in a hotel room closet with a rope tied to his neck and genitals, and his death may have been caused by accidental suffocation, Thai police said Friday. Every A-Lister That Opted Out of the 2023 Event, Doja Cat Wears Prosthetics to Embody Cat at 2023 Met Gala: See Photos, Pregnant! Since his acting debut in 1947, Carradine was known for his character Kwai Chang Caine in the TV show "Kung Fu" and later became best known as the titular character Bill in the "Kill Bill" film series (per IMDb). His remains were to arrive in Los Angeles this week, ABCNews.com reported. ", "This doesn't look like a solo act at all," he told ABCNews.com. The actor's wife, Anne Carradine, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against MK2 in June 2010, claiming that the film company was supposed to have an assistant with Caradine all the time to guide him around Bangkok (via CBS News). He was hanging from his hotel room closet, with his hands tied up over his head. Admiring the act itself is also a hallmark of the deadly practice. ", "For David to accidentally do it to himself, that's not the act," said Anderson. Baden, the host of HBO's "Autopsy" series, ruled out suicide because of the way the actor's body was bound. "He didn't die of natural causes, and he didn't die of suicidal causes from the nature of the ligatures around the body, so that leaves some kind of accidental death," he said. "It was the '70s and the free-love era and he had this whole viewpoint on life and you color outside the lines and don't put yourself in a box -- very much the rebel thing and one of the things I loved about him. David Carradine. The picture showed the "Kung Fu" star's body suspending from a trail in a closet, with his hands being tied above his head.In addition, his genital was also tied with a rope. The family of the actor, who was found dead on June 4 in his Bangok hotel suite in Thailand, had hired Dr. Michael Baden of HBO's "Autopsy" series to conduct a second autopsy after Carradine's body was returned to the U.S. last month. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Miami Juror in Historic Death Penalty TrialExplains Life in Prison Verdict. In the days after his brother's death, Keith Carradine expressed gratitude for fans' support as his family searched for answers. And while Thai authorities have ruled the actor's death as a sex play accident -- auto-erotic asphyxia gone wrong -- some say the evidence just doesn't add up. I put them in a folder to help me release a lot of pent-up hurt and frustration.". Until now, details on autopsies here and in Thailand have been scant. Other parts of his body were tied up too, including his genitals and neck. "It's hard to know their intention because we can't ask them," Kafka said. "The cause of death was asphyxiation, an inability to breathe, now why that happened is still what we're working on. David Carradine Sick Secrets Of 'Kung Fu' Star's Autopsy His performance in North and South earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. 101 Share Save 73K views 13 years ago Thai Police say David Carradine's death was most likely caused by a sex act gone wrong. It's terribly damaging to a child growing up in those circumstances. Wild west martial arts fighter who gained fame on TV's Kung Fu and starred in Kill Bill. Baden stressed that his full determination of how Carradine died will not be ready until at least a week. Last Friday, police said the actor may have died from accidental suffocation or heart failure after revealing that he was found with a rope tied around his neck and penis leading to speculation that Carradine may have engaged in a dangerous form of sex play known as auto-erotic asphyxiation. June 11, 2009 -- A forensics expert hired by the family of actor David Carradine said that he does not believe the "Kung Fu" star committed suicide and that more information . Pinsky also suggests that Carradine was addicted to opiates, which enabled him to sustain pain. His performance in North and South earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award . He was one of my favorite actors. "It is unclear whether he committed suicide or not or he died of suffocation or heart failure. Carradine's body was discovered Thursday morning in his luxury suite by a chambermaid at Bangkok's Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel, said its general manager, Aurelio Giraudo. "I was angry," wrote Anderson, now 58. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Carradine was found June 4 hanging in the closet of his Bangkok hotel room. In a a sworn statement filed in 2003, Anderson also alleged that Carradine carried on an "incestuous relationship with a very close family member.". David Carradine's Death - Cause and Date - The Celebrity Deaths Carradine's manager Chuck Binder has publicly echoed his own concerns. David Carradine Death: In the loving memory of David Carradine, we are saddened to inform you that David Carradine, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed at the age of 72. David Carradine - Wikipedia A representative for Carradines brothers said the family had no comment on preliminary results of the second autopsy. "I started writing this about nine years ago before he passed away," she said. David Carradine was found dead on June 3, 2009, at 'Park Hotel' in Bangkok, Thailand. As for how one reaches orgasm with hands tied behind the back, he noted that anoxia -- severe oxygen deprivation -- alone can be associated with orgasm. Grainy images printed in the tabloid Thai Rath reportedly show the "Kung Fu" actor suspended from a clothing bar in a closet. His father was actor John Carradine, and his brothers were actors Bruce, Robert and Keith Carradine. Anderson said she wrote the book to help herself heal and to help others understand the casualty of Carradine's life of addiction and risk-taking. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. David Carradine died on 4 June 2009 from accidental asphyxiation, according to the medical examiner who performed a private autopsy on the actor. Recently discovered court documents from the actor's latest divorce posted by The Smoking Gunsuggest that Carradine may have have long history of "deviant sexual behavior which was potentially deadly," according to ex-wife Marina Anderson. Death Race 2000 VHS Action Sci-Fi David Carradine New Horizons - eBay He would tie himself up and I would walk in and see him and say, 'Oh, my God, David, you got to be kidding me -- and I would (turn around and) walk out. July 2, 2009 Kung Fu actor David Carradine 's June death was the result of asphyxiation, not suicide, a medical examiner hired by his family confirmed Thursday. His ex-wife, actress Marina Anderson, not only won't accept the official findings regarding her former husband's passing, but she thinks his death was intentional and that someone out there was responsible for killing Carradine. Now, his ex-wife says she believes the 72-year-old "Kung Fu" actor was murdered. He didn't die of natural causes, and he didn't die of suicidal causes from the nature of the ligatures around the body, so that leaves some kind of accidental death." But, he added, who has nothing to do with the Carradine investigation, "I do not know if that is fact or fiction.". However, Anderson said he didn't like to do erotic asphyxiation alone but always with a partner, which raised her suspicions (via ABC News). I was already hooked in the relationship. A grainy photo of his limp body in a Bangkok hotel room -- in what appears to be fishnet and a wig -- raised more questions about his mysterious death. FROM BEYOND : David Carradine talks about feeling his wife's dead husband haunting him fromhis closet on "Celebrity Ghost Stories." He hung himself from a . Due to the stigma around autoerotic asphyxiation, lots of people practice it in complete secrecy (perABC News). ", Anderson admits she, too, tried erotic asphyxiation with Carradine, and felt "obligated to talk about it in her book because of her concern over increased interest among teens in the so-called "choking game. RELATED: David Carradine's Career Highlights. Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:PLAY IT NOW: Access Extended: David Carradine's Fourth Wife Opens Up, MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: David Carradine - Deaths - News, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. FOXNews.com's Allison McGevna and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Bad Bunny, Kendall Jenner Walk Met Gala Carpet Solo Amid Dating Rumors, Kendall Jenner Shows Off Her Nude Butt at the 2023 Met Gala: Photos, Kylie Jenner's 2023 Met Gala Gown Is Stunning! Sisters Tammy Seemingly Out of Wheelchair Amid Weight Loss. "I felt I had a very heavy responsibility to his fans, family and our relationship to see that my book was a balanced and truthful recount of our life together," said Anderson. Thai coroners completed an autopsy on the body of actor David Carradine Friday, a day after the star of 1970s-era U.S. television show "Kung Fu" was found naked and hanging dead in his luxury . Baden had earlier said the actors death was not a suicide, but details of autopsies have been scant and on Wednesday Baden stressed that his full determination of how Carradine died will not be ready until at least a week. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- David Carradine's wife and his manager disputed suggestions that the actor's death was a suicide, while rescue workers and police in Bangkok, Thailand, said the . Though he had starred in more than 100 films, his career was most recently revived in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" (2003) and "Kill Bill II" (2004) in which he played a steely assassin. Of primarily Irish ancestry, Carradine's ambiguous features landed him a lifetime of roles playing a range of ethnicities, although he was often cast as Chinese. Carradine was found hanging in the closet of his Bangkok hotel suite on June 4 and his family hired New York-based forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to conduct a follow-up death investigation to the one handled by Thai authorities. According to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Carradine starred in over 100 movies in his lifetime. I mean, it went over the line. David Carradine found dead. All rights reserved, PLAY IT NOW: Access Extended: David Carradine's Fourth Wife Opens Up, Florida Principal Resigns After Sending $100K to Scammer Posing as Elon Musk, 25-Year-Old Makes $200/Hour Without a Bachelor's Degree: I Work Less Than 6 Hours a Day', Mother Arrested After Toddler Found Wandering at 3 AM in Miramar Neighborhood, Check Your Change! July 2, 2009 3:59pm. "I start shaking with clammy palms and I start crying. I said, 'Am I doing that now?' Check out Us' photo tribute to stars gone too soon, "The cause of death was asphyxiation, an inability to breathe, now why that happened is still what we're working on," the examiner said, according to Reuters. The media has suggested Carradine could have died from accidental autoerotic asphyxiation. For me, it was just a phase and I just tried it because it was something new. David Carradine died of asphyxiation - The Hollywood Reporter All rights reserved, 7 Bodies Found During Search for Missing Oklahoma Teens, Man Shot Trying to Stop Scooter Robbery in Northwest DC, Witnesses Say, Metropolitan Police Department (DC Police / MPD), Family Awaits Return of DC Mother Missing for More Than 3 Weeks. Anderson used connections with Robert Redford to buy Carradine a Bernese mountain dog. Kill Bill: Vol. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2011) (Crime, Action) 2. Thai authorities conducted one shortly after the actor's death. Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Somprasong said there was no indication that there was someone else in the room with Carradine at the time of his death. He never flew solo when we were together. Actor David Carradine was usually happiest when he was filming new movies, and his family says he was in a good place while filming "Stretch"(viaABC News). Thai authorities had suggested the 72-year-old actor could have died from accidental autoerotic asphyxiation. Binder asked. David Carradine Cause of Death Asphyxiation, Says Medical Examiner The 72-year-old actor was found with his hands bound above his head and a rope around his neck, wrists and genitals. Anderson's four-year marriage to Carradine was eventually derailed by incest. I would leave him to his own devices. At the time, Carradine family attorney Mark Geragos blamed the death on a mysterious sect of secret kung fu assassins. Mona Elyafi. He wasn't open about it, but he projected an inner core of unhappiness. According to ABC News, two of the cords were tied together in order to cut off his oxygen a practice called autoerotic asphyxiation, which is used to increase pleasurability during masturbation. David liked participation.". Nearby on a bed is what appears to be red women's lingerie. Are 90 Day Fiance's Debbie and Oussama Still Together Despite Age Gap? Thai coroner seeks cause of David Carradine's death | Reuters Speculation has suggested Carradine, 72, died during an autoerotic sex act, but members of his family believe foul play may have been involved. The court documents do not include details about Carradine's "deviant sexual behavior" or name the family member with whom Anderson alleges he had a relationship. "David was always happy when he worked," she said. I wanted to confront him and help him move forward, but I could not.". He was 72 years old; I wonder what he was thinking about? But the cause. The photo was published by Thai Rath tabloid paper in Bangkok on Saturday, June 6, with some of the actor's body parts were shadowed. The bizarre life of David Carradine came to a sudden end as he choked to death in a hotel closet on June 3, 2009 and The National ENQUIRER obtained exclusive chilling photos of the "Kung Fu" star's death scene. . Contradicting media reports saying Carradine's hands were tied behind his back, Baden told Reuters the actor's hands were above his head. The forensics expert hired by David Carradine's family has concluded that the "Kung Fu" actor did not commit suicide, but said that more information was needed from Thai investigators before. He played Caine, and Bill. The forensic pathologist said he is not disappointed with how long it has taken Thai authorities to send him material for his death investigation. While Anderson's ideas may never be proven or dispelled, she wasn't the only one with a theory about how the star died. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. July 2, 2009, 1:11 PM. In the immediate aftermath of his death, it seemed like he had committed suicide. Bill, the worldly father figure of a pack of crack assassins, was a shadowy presence in 2003's "Kill Bill Vol. Profession. David Carradine's death might be accidental - The Hollywood Reporter "He was quite knowledgeable" about sex toys, owner Shoshana Arazy told the paper. NBC Washington reports that Carradine's third wife, Gail Jensen, said that Carradine found erotic asphyxiation to be relaxing. She won't identify the family member she calls, "X" -- not even the gender -- though she acknowledges the relationship was with a younger relative and spanned both his marriages to her and to his previous wife of 11 years, Gail Jensen. ", Though Carradine, son of the prolific actor John Carradine, never talked about it, Anderson said an unstable youth was the source of many of his "demons. "I don't think he ever wanted to intentionally hurt anybody," said Anderson. Baden, the host of cable channel HBOs Autopsy series, also said the ligatures, or ties that bind, which were on Carradines body at the time of his death helped him rule out suicide. He was shuffled off to one person, then another. It is a love story and healing journey. All rights reserved. I liked having oxygen in my brain.". Autopsy reveals David Carradine's death not a suicide David Carradine was born in Hollywood, California, the eldest son of legendary character actor John Carradine, and his wife, Ardanelle Abigail (McCool). ", Jensen, who was divorced from Carradine in 1997, added, "He liked to be tied up. David Carradine Book Reveals Incest, Murder Suspicions Everything We Know, Pregnant Rihanna, ASAP Rocky Walk 2023 Met Gala Red Carpet 2 Hours Late, Who Skipped the Met Gala? ", Anderson acknowledges that Carradine did engage in kinky sex practices during the time that they were married from 1998 to 2001, including "a penchant for bondage and being choked to the point of orgasm," per ABC News. It was a big abandonment issue. Now, his ex-wife says she believes the 72-year-old "Kung Fu" actor was murdered. or redistributed. "Kung Fu" star David Carradine died of asphyxiation, a medical examiner who worked on the second, private autopsy of the actor told Reuters. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "I never got to the point of suffocation," she said. "But when he passed away under the circumstances he did, he was handing the baton to me to correct people's thinking and explain why. ", "I've just been told that possibly his hands were tied, in either the front or the back, and that there was something in his mouth, stuffed in his mouth, and that he used a rope that is used with the curtains," said friend David Winters. "How do you get a rope around your neck and around your genitals and do all this by yourself?" The medical examiner who oversaw a private autopsy on David Carradine said Wednesday that the "Kung Fu" star died from asphyxiation and the way the actor's body was . Carradine was found June 4 hanging in the closet of his Bangkok hotel room. "Some cloth would've hidden the rope mark around his neck so that it wouldn't show next day. "Given what David was into, Thailand, Bangkok is sex heaven, and I think he indulged and something went incredibly wrong.". Carradine was found dead on June 4, 2009 at the Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel where he was staying while shooting the film "Stretch." Later, after two autopsies were conducted, Thai authorities concluded Carradine's death had been caused by "accidental asphyxiation. In response to a question on that topic, Baden did not rule out that possibility, but he also did not say autoerotic asphyxiation was the cause. After the star's family and friends refused to accept that Carradine had taken his own life, the local authorities changed the cause of death to "accidental asphyxiation." ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. There's a lot of weird stuff that happens in Bangkok. I loved Kung Fu! Inside The Tragic 2009 Death Of David Carradine. David Carradine's death 'not suicide', says American pathologist The Thai police initially said they suspected the. Reply [deleted] . Carradine, 72, best known for his role in the 1970s television drama "Kung Fu," was found by a chamber maid at Bangkok's Park Nai Lert Hotel naked and dead, slumped in a closet with cords bound and connecting his neck and his genitals, Bangkok police said. But Carradine's fourth wife, Marina Anderson, told the New York Post, "If he was involved in secret societies, it was a secret that even I didn't know about. She even describes a self-exorcism with olive oil to cleanse their house of "bad vibes.". The sordid details of the "Kill Bill"star's sexual life began to surface as the photos generated more questions about the actor's mysterious death. His body was found hanging by ropes in a closet June 4 in a Bangkok hotel. "It had to come from somewhere. She and Carradine were both dog lovers. "I believe he was murdered," she said, adding, "That's all there is to it."