I spent my schooldays being compared to David Carradine (aka Kung Fu) and the joke has been re-kindled with the success of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films (lol). So I thought I would look into the Carradines. David, whose real name is John Arthur Carradine, seems to be wrapped up in the Hollywood spin machine, and declares that the Carradine family traces its ancestry back to an actual saint--St. Pedro Carradegna, patron saint of Barcelona. I hate to be the fly in the ointment, but would like to point out that the patron saints of Barcelona are Our Lady of Ransom (aka Our Lady of Mercy, 24 September) and Auzalie of Barcelona (aka Eulalie, Occille, Olacie, Olaille, or Olaire of Barcelona
; 12 February) a sanctified virgin - martyred at age 13 or 14 in the persecutions of Diocletian. Of course they might mean Saint Peter Claver (1580-1654), a Jesuit Priest who worked in Cartgena de Indias, and is locally known as St. Pedro of Cartagena. But Peter Claver was an African?

In fact I don’t know why I give this rubbish the time or effort, as most Saints were celibate. So I assume that the studio spin doctors who dream up such rot, were just trying to add some interest to a name they could not be bothered to research. You may have guessed it, but Calladine, pronounced in the West Country comes out as Carradine, and most parish records for this variant of the surname come from Warwickshire and Gloustershire – England, which is a little less exotic than Spain I suppose.

David Carradine is the eldest son of the character actor John Carradine. He was born in Hollywood and educated at San Francisco State College, where he studied music theory and composition. After a two-year stint in the US Marines, he found work in New York as a commercial artist and later found fame on Broadway. With that experience he returned to Hollywood, landing the short-lived TV series "Shane" (1966) before being tapped to star opposite Barbara Hershey in Martin Scorsese's first Hollywood film, Boxcar Bertha (1972). The iconic "Kung Fu" (1972) followed, catapulting Carradine to a short lived superstardom for the next three years.

That career now includes more than 100 feature films, a couple of dozen television movies, and a whole range of theatre on and off Broadway. He recently returned to the screen in what could be his greatest performance to date, playing the title role in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.

David Carradine was born John Arthur Carradine, December 8th, 1936 to John and Abigail Carradine. His brother Bruce Carradine was Abigail's son by a previous marriage and adopted by John. He is also the half-brother of actors Keith Carradine and Robert Carradine.
(1960-1968) Married to Donna Lee Becht, had a daughter Calista Miranda Carradine, b.1962.
(1969-1975) Lived with Barbara Hershey, whom he had a son, Free Carradine, b.1972
(1977-1983) Married to Linda Gilbert, had a daughter Kansas Anne Carradine b. 1978
(1988-1997) Married to Gail Jensen.
(1998-2001) Married to Coco d'Este (aka. Marina).
Currently lives in Los Angeles with his girlfriend Annie, her four children and their three dogs.



Ahnentafel,

1. David CARRADINE was born 8 DEC 1936 in Hollywood, Los Angeles Co., CA,


2. Richmond Reed (John) CARRADINE was born 5 FEB 1906 in New York, NY, and died 27 NOV 1988 in Milan, Italy.
3. Ardanelle Abigail MCCOOL.


4. William Reed CARRADINE
5. Genevieve Winifred RICHMOND
6.
7.

8. Beverly Francis CARRADINE was born 1848, and died 1919.
9. Laura REID was born 1845.
10. Horace RICHMOND was born 1847,
11. Winifred RYAN was born 1847.
12.
13.
14.
15.


16. Henry Francis CARRADINE was born 1808, and died 1854.
17. Mary Caroline HEWITT was born 1819, and died 1881.
18. David REID.
19. Martha GOSS was born 1845.
20. Killian van Rensselaer RICHMOND was born 1810 in Broome, NY.
21. Emily CULVER was born 1812.

34. James HEWITT was born 1781, and died 1821.
35. Caroline Ann GRAYSON was born 1785, and died 1830.

38. Benjamin GOSS was born 1777, and died 1857.
39. Martha Patricia HARBIN was born 1783, and died 1853.
40. Benjamin RICHMOND was born 1786, and died 1866.
41. Mary BULL was born 1791.

The birth information for Beverley Francis Carradine is a little subjective, being from the LDS members submissions, and although there is no evidence to support his birth in Yazoo City, Missouri (sic), there are records of his marriage to Laura REID on the 4th July 1869, at Yazoo, Mississippi, in the transcribed Marriage records, 1845-1917 Yazoo County (Mississippi). Circuit Clerk


David’s famous father John Carradine was born - Peter Richmond Reed Carradine on Feb. 5, 1906 - in New York City, to William Reed an attorney and Genevieve Winifred Carradine a surgeon, but grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York attending Christ School. John Carradine began his career in show business as a Shakespearean dramatic actor on Broadway. Arrived in Los Angeles in 1927, worked in local theatre. Applied as scenic designer to Cecil B. DeMille, who rejected his designs but gave him voice work in several films. Debuted on film in Tol'able David (1930), billed as Peter Richmond. Protégé and close friend of John Barrymore. The money was in Hollywood and beginning in 1930, he found success, taking the stage name John Carradine (1935), then appeared in literally hundreds of "B" movies and horror films. He is famously known as a specialist in eccentric roles - gaunt, supporting player who appeared in ten John Ford films, including the 1940 classic "The Grapes of Wrath".

He had been on location filming in Africa and on the return trip to California, stopped in Milan, Italy to view the sculptures and works of art at historic Milan Cathedral. The elevator used to take tourist to the top of the structure was out of order and he proceeded to walk the stairs which resulted in a heart attack. He passed away (on Nov. 27, 1988) at age 82 after being taken to Milan Fatebenefratelli Hospital. John was returned home and after services at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hollywood was buried at sea, with full naval military honours, off the California coast.

Married Ardanelle McCool Cosner (1935 - 1941) (divorced) Bruce Carradine adopted, John (David) Carradine.
Sonia Sorel (13 August 1944 - 1956) (divorced) Christopher John Carradine. born c. 1947, Keith Ian Carradine, Robert Reed Carradine
Doris Rich (1957 - 1971) (widowed)
Emily Cisneros (1974 - ?)