The family of actor Robert Carradine has filed a wrongful-death and elder-abuse lawsuit against the regents of the University of California, alleging that failures at UCLA contributed to his death earlier this year.
The lawsuit, filed on Friday, claims Carradine entered UCLA's locked psychiatric unit seeking treatment, hoping the structured environment would help with his anxiety, according to documents obtained by TheWrap.
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Allegations of Negligence
The family alleges that UCLA failed to follow important safety procedures during Carradine's stay.
A key allegation is that staff did not remove his belt, despite policies identifying belts and belt buckles as prohibited items in the psychiatric unit.
The lawsuit also claims Carradine was left with a rolling bedside table in his room, which the family says was not normally used in the locked unit.
About 19 hours after arriving, Carradine attempted suicide, according to the filing. The family alleges UCLA failed to conduct required 15-minute checks, leaving Carradine unobserved for extended periods.
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Carradine never regained consciousness after the incident, suffering an anoxic brain injury. He remained in intensive care for approximately five weeks before his death on February 23, 2026.
The family further alleges that UCLA's subsequent investigation did not accurately reflect what happened, with hospital records conflicting with surveillance footage.
The lawsuit seeks general, special, and economic damages, along with damages related to Carradine's death. The allegations have not been proven in court.
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Carradine's family announced his death in February, describing him as a beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother.
They also spoke publicly about his longtime struggle with bipolar disorder, hoping his story would encourage greater understanding of mental illness.
Carradine was part of Hollywood's famous acting dynasty, with his father John Carradine and brothers David and Keith Carradine.
He was best known for his role as Lewis Skolnick in the "Revenge of the Nerds" movies, as well as "The Long Riders" and Disney Channel's "Lizzie McGuire."
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UCLA has not yet responded to requests for comment.
