Zai jian, Kwai Chang Caine

David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine

RIP, David Carradine (1936-2009)

The 72-year-old actor was found dead at a hotel room closet in Bangkok, Thailand where he was close to wrapping up his shoot for the action film “Stretch”.  According to Thai police, the cause of death was accidental strangulation brought about by autoerotic arousal, as there was rope knotted around his neck and his genitalia.

I still have fond memories of Carradine roaming the Old West and taking on gun-slingin’ cowboys with his Shaolin-trained moves and stoic calm in the original Kung Fu series (which used to air over at IBC 13 locally).   What also baffled me, even at that time, was not just how a gweilo like Carradine can pull it off playing a half-American Shaolin disciple but also carry out these intricate moves with great conviction (well,  it helps that Carradine was – and still is – a practicing martial artist with a background in dance).  Interestingly, there was a persistent rumour (boosted by the biopic Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story) that Bruce Lee himself pitched the idea of the Kung Fu series as a starring vehicle for himself (who felt that playing Kato in the Green Hornet reinforced negative Asian stereotypes)

Part 4 of pilot telefilm for the original Kung Fu series

The Tao of Caine (also from the pilot episode)

In its original run (there were a total of three Kung Fu series, including Kung Fu: The Next Generation starring Brandon Lee – yet another one who has been taken so young,  just like his old man – and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, which had Carradine playing Kwai’s own grandson) the series boasted of guest apprearances from Don Johnson, Pat Morita, Leslie Nielsen and even Harrison Ford and Jodie Foster.

It was also quite surprising to find out that Carradine has had over 100 feature films in his CV,  not to mention innumerable TV series guest appearances.  On the big screen, he has worked alongside the likes of directors Martin Scorsese, Hal Ashby (who cast Carradine as celebrated folk singer Woody Guthrie in Bound for Glory), Ingmar Bergman and Quentin Tarantino, who originally wanted Warren Beatty to play the titular character in both Kill Bill movies.  Tarantino suggested that Beatty attack the character just like Carradine’s Caine, so Beatty suggested he hire Carradine himself.

After all, this tough motherfucker took on Chuck Norris once – and no one, NO ONE, in his right frame of mind, ever messes with Chuck Norris!!!

Carradine faces off against the Chuck Norris

David Carradine as "Bill" in Kill Bill

David Carradine faces Uma Thurman in Kill Bill vol. 2

Can’t forget this particular monologue:

Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there’s the superhero and there’s the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he’s Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. Superman didn’t become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he’s Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red “S”, that’s the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears – the glasses, the business suit – that’s the costume. That’s the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent. He’s weak… he’s unsure of himself… he’s a coward. Clark Kent is Superman’s critique on the whole human race.

Ever the tireless professional,  Carradine kept himself active with appearances on both big screen and small…whether it was in the Rob Schneider comedy Big Stan or the high-octane Jason Statham actioner Crank: High Voltage.

Just before leaving for Thailand, Carradine filmed a guest appearance for an episode of the new Fox psychiatric drama Mental.

His zest for life and prodigious spirit shall be greatly missed.

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