Robert Carradine’s family launched a wrongful death lawsuit against UCLA after the actor’s February death. The filing alleged that hospital staff missed critical safeguards while Carradine received psychiatric treatment.
The actor had voluntarily entered UCLA’s locked psychiatric unit, hoping treatment would ease his anxiety. Carradine reportedly felt relieved when he entered the facility on January 16. His family said he wanted the structured environment to help him manage suicidal thoughts.
The family claimed UCLA staff failed to remove Robert Carradine’s belt despite psychiatric unit rules
According to TheWrap, the lawsuit alleged UCLA allowed Carradine to enter with a belt. The filing claimed hospital policy listed belts and buckles as contraband.
The family argued that staff should have removed the belt immediately. They also alleged that UCLA left a rolling bedside table inside his room.
The lawsuit claimed Carradine attempted suicide approximately 19 hours after admission. He suffered an anoxic brain injury and never regained consciousness.
Carradine remained in intensive care for five weeks before his death on February 23, 2026. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death a suicide.
The filing also accused UCLA staff of failing to complete required 15-minute checks. The family claimed surveillance footage contradicted observation records entered into hospital documents.
TheWrap reported that the lawsuit alleged staff recorded Carradine attending therapy after he became unresponsive. His family described those entries as inaccurate.
Carradine’s children sought general, special, economic, and wrongful death damages from the University of California regents. University representatives had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
Carradine became famous through “Revenge of the Nerds,” “The Long Riders,” and “Lizzie McGuire.” He also belonged to Hollywood’s famous Carradine acting family.
His loved ones previously described him as “a beacon on light” in February. They also highlighted his nearly two-decade battle with bipolar disorder.
Carradine’s brother Keith later remembered him as profoundly gifted, funny, wise, accepting, and tolerant. The lawsuit added another painful chapter to Carradine’s final months. His family now sought accountability over the treatment he received before his death.
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