This star of the 1980s and beyond was spotted earlier this week while taking his motorcycle out for a spin with other enthusiasts around Los Angeles.
Though he was once known for his clean-cut image, he sported a salt-and-pepper goatee and a thick head of shaggy hair that made him unrecognizable.
The performer gained fame for starring in a risqué comedy during the mid-1980s that was a major success at the box office and resulted in three follow-up films, all of which he headlined.
The wildly prolific star introduced himself to a new generation of fans when he played a major supporting role in a hit Disney Channel series.
Beyond his film and television work, this star is well known for being part of a famous acting family, and he’s also a defender of Hollywood unions.
Can you guess who he is?
This individual is recognized for a string of successful comedies from the 1980s, as well as a beloved TV program from the 2000s. While hailing from a well-known acting family, his current appearance may catch you off guard. Any guesses as to who this might be?
He’s Robert Carradine, star of Revenge Of The Nerds (1984) and Lizzie McGuire (2001–2004).
At 71 years old, Carradine was seen mingling with fellow motorcycle enthusiasts at The Rock Store, a dining establishment situated in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles that has traditionally been a favored hangout for bikers.
He looked cool in a weathered black leather motorcycle jacket, which he paired with dark blue jeans and black cowboy boots.
The actor wore striking, chunky black-frame glasses, and he wore a black helmet for safety once it was time to ride away on his motorcycle.
Although Robert has styled himself with facial hair in recent years, for decades before that he was best known for a smooth-faced visage.
The actor is part of the Carradine dynasty of stars, which includes his father John Carradine (who died in 1988 at 82), as well as his brother Keith and half-brother David Carradine (who died in 2009 at 72), all of whom were well-known stars.
Other notable actors in the family include his brother Keith’s daughters Martha Plimpton and Sorel Carradine, and Roberts own daughter Ever Carradine, whom he shares with his former partner Susan Snyder.
The actor is best-known film is 1984’s Revenge Of The Nerds, which he led with future ER star Anthony Edwards.
He’s Robert Carradine, star of Revenge Of The Nerds and Lizzie McGuire; pictured with Revenge Of The Nerds costar Anthony Edwards (L) in 1984
Carradine, a motorcycle enthusiast, rocked a black leather jacket, dark jeans and black boots as he took his bike out for a ride at The Rock Store, a popular restaurant for bikers located in LA’s Santa Monica Mountains
He’s the son of legendary actor John Carradine, brother of Keith Carradine and half-brother to the late David Carradine, among other famous names in the family; seen in October 2023 in LA
They played a group of ‘nerds’ who were pushed out of student housing to make way for jocks in a fraternity after their house burned down.
The nerds then launch a campaign to take over the athletes’ prime social position — and steal their girlfriends.
The film was panned by critics, but it earned an impressive $60.4. million in total against a budget of only $6–8 million.
Carradine and Edwards returned for a sequel, 1987’s Revenge Of The Nerds II: Nerds In Paradise, though Edwards requested a smaller role and left the franchise afterward due to disagreements about its direction and quality.
Still, the film was a box office hit, albeit a smaller success than the first film. Carradine would go on to lead two more sequels, both made as TV movies.
Carradine’s first role was a small part in 1972’s The Cowboys, which starred John Wayne and Bruce Dern, and he followed that up with another small part in Martin Scorsese’s 1973 classic gangster film Mean Streets.
He continued to work steadily throughout the 1970s, particularly in low-budget films, though he also won several prestigious roles, including an acclaimed part in Hal Ashby’s 1978 Vietnam War drama Coming Home, which starred Jane Fonda, Jon Voight and Bruce Dern.
His career began to rise in the 1980s when he appeared with Star Wars actor Mark Hamill in the World War II film The Big Red One.
His 1984 film Revenge Of The Nerds was panned by critics, but it earned an impressive $60.4. million in total against a budget of only $6–8 million; pictured with Ted McGinley (L) and Julia Montgomery (center)
Carradine began appearing on television and in films in the early 1970s. He notched several small roles in major films before becoming a bigger star in the ’80s; seen in 2019 in LA
The movie, which was written and directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Samuel Fuller, featured a large ensemble cast, but Carradine had a prominent role as the stand-in for the director in the semi-autobiographical story.
Carradine subsequently had lead roles in 1982’s Tag: The Assassination Game (opposite a young Linda Hamilton), 1983’s sci-fi film Wavelength and the crime film Number One With A Bullet (1987), which costarred Billy Dee Williams.
Carradine continued to shoot one or more movies every year throughout the 1990s and 2000s, but he increasingly took supporting roles in low-budget films and direct-to-video movies.
He had been a steady presence in guest roles on television since making his debut with a Bonanza episode in 1971.
He was featured in several TV movies in the ’90s, including Body Bags (1993), an omnibus film from director John Carpenter, who was a regular collaborator in that period.
His longest running TV role was on the Disney Channel’s series Lizzie McGuire, on which he played the father of Hilary Duff’s character over four seasons.
He went on to reprise his role in 2003’s The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
Carradine has continued to work steadily ever since, and he has multiple films already in postproduction.
His career got a boost when he appeared on Lizzie McGuire (2001–2004) and in The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003); Jake Thomas, Carradine and Hallie Todd seen in a still from the film
In 2023, he spoke out against the then-ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike against Hollywood studios and streamers
At the time, he posted an insulting residuals check from Disney that paid him a grand total of $0.00 for the given time period. ‘Why we’re striking…’ he captioned the photo
The actor has also been a vocal critic of Hollywood greed and a proponent of unions.
In 2023, he spoke out against studios amid the then-ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike by posting a photo of a residuals check issue by Walt Disney Pictures for his work on Lizzie McGuire, which showed he had earned a grand total of $0.00 for the given time period.
‘Why we’re striking…’ he captioned the photo.
Fans were outraged at the insulting display, with some mocking Disney for even bothering to send the check.
Others noted that the entertainment giant spent more to print the piece of paper than it paid to Carradine for that time period.
