Bill Killed - Carradine Dies in Bangkok Hotel

David Carradine, star of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill and 70s TV hit Kung Fu, has passed away in a Bangkok hotel room.

The 72-year-old actor has been in Thailand shooting for his latest film Stretch. His death was confirmed this morning by his agent Chuck Binder. Mr Binder told KBAC: “He was full of life, always wanting to work… a great person.” Adding that the death was “shocking”.

Carradine rose to fame in the mid-70s when he starred as the character Kwai Chang Caine in the cult hit Kung Fu. He appeared in over 200 motion pictures and TV shows. More recently he was chosen by Quentin Tarantino to star as Bill in his Kill Bill films. He is believed to have died of natural causes, however, some reports have suggested a possible suicide.

According to a Associated Press news report, Michael Turner, a US Embassy spokesman, confirmed that the actor had passed away either late on Wednesday 3 June or early this morning. Mr Turner did not supply any more detail out of consideration for Carradine’s family, including two children and his fifth wife, Annie Bierman.

Police in Thailand have since told BBC News that the martial arts star was found by a maid in the hotel. He is reported to have been discovered sat in a wardrobe with a rope tied around his neck and body this morning (4 June).

To a new generation he was best known as Bill the vicious boss in Kill Bill – a role which earned him a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor – but to most fans he was synonymous with the character of Shaolin monk, Kwai Chang Caine, as he fought for justice in the America in the Kung Fu series.

A man who was more than just a martial arts master, he also took several turns behind the camera as a producer and director.

Celebrities news posted by Rayali on Thursday, June 04, 2009