Origins & Early Life

John Arthur "David" Carradine Jr. ( KARR-ə-deen; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor and director, whose career included over 200 major and minor roles in film, television and on stage. He was widely known to television audiences as the star of the series Kung Fu (1972–1975), playing Kwai Chang Caine, a peace-loving Shaolin monk traveling through the American Old West. A member of the Carradine family of actors, he got his break playing Atahuallpa in the 1965 Broadway production of The Royal Hunt of the Sun.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He became known for his B movie and martial arts roles, particularly as Big Bill Shelly in Martin Scorsese's Boxcar Bertha (1972), Frankenstein in Death Race 2000 (1975), the titular character in Cannonball (1976), Kaz Oshay in Deathsport (1978), Detective Shepherd in Q – The Winged Serpent (1982), and Rawley Wilkes in Lone Wolf McQuade (1983). He portrayed Woody Guthrie in the biopic Bound for Glory (1976), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. He also received Golden Globe nominations for Kung Fu and for the television miniseries North and South (1985), as well as an Emmy Award nomination, also for Kung Fu. Carradine...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdul Qadeer Khan — Contemporary (Born in 1936) (1936): Pakistani nuclear physicist, known as the 'father of Pakistan's atomic weapons program'
• Al Oerter — Contemporary (Born in 1936) (1936): Four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw, pioneering athletic consistency.
• Alan Alda — Contemporary (Born in 1936) (1936): Esteemed American actor celebrated for M*A*S*H and decades of versatile performances.
• Aage Bohr — Contemporary (Died in 2009) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Al Martino — Contemporary (Died in 2009) (2009): Iconic Italian-American crooner, celebrated for standards and his role in The Godfather.
• Ali Akbar Khan — Contemporary (Died in 2009) (2009): Master sarod virtuoso who popularized Hindustani classical music in the West.
• Adolph Menzel — Shared historical date (12-08 · Born) (1815): Pioneering German Realist master, celebrated for his detailed etchings and genre scenes.
• Antônio Carlos Jobim — Shared historical date (12-08 · Died) (1994): Pioneering composer of Bossa Nova, merging samba with cool jazz.
• Alain Resnais — Shared historical date (06-03 · Born) (1922): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• Allen Ginsberg — Shared historical date (06-03 · Born) (1926): Pioneering American poet, central figure of the Beat Generation, known for 'Howl'.
• 1936 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1936
• December 8 (12-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 8
• 2009 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2009
• June 3 (06-03) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 3