David Carradine Murdered or Just the Seed of Legend?

Famed actor David Carradine reportedly committed suicide in a Bangkok hotel Thursday, but friends and family are questioning the official version of the story and some believe he may have been murdered. In fact, some have posited that the actor, who was characterized as so "full of life," had no reason to commit suicide and had every reason to live. Larry King convened an impromptu tribute panel Thursday night to talk about the 72-year-old actor: director Quentin Tarantino, manager Binder, and actors/friends Michael Madsen and Rob Schneider. And the panel agreed that suicide was unlikely, although they did not go so far as to say he may have been murdered.

The actor reportedly was found by a hotel worker in the closet, a drapery cord around his neck and body. Thailand officials believe that Carradine had been dead approximately 12 hours before he was found.

The panel expressed their shock about hearing the news, told anecdotes about David Carradine, about working with him and what it was like being around him as a friend. Actress Vivica Fox, who worked with Carradine on "Kill Bill," called in to add a few words to the conversation as well.

But before the show ended, the discussion turned to the air of mystery that seemed to surround the circumstances of David Carradine's death. Pointing to new purchases Carradine had made, several projects he was currently involved in, the fact that he was in Thailand to begin filming on a new film ("Stretch"), and his general demeanor, Rob Schneider, who worked with Carradine on the film "Big Stan," injected the cycle of mystery that seemed to work through David Carradine's life and likened it to the mysterious death of Bruce Lee, the martial arts expert and film legend that had originally been cast to star as Caine in the television series "Kung Fu," the drama that would launch David Carradine into stardom.

The twist in the conversation began with Larry King's prompt: "Someone said something kind of weird, but maybe truthful, that with this mystery around his death and being in Thailand, we may never find out the total answer. He would like it that way."

Quentin Tarantino, Michael Madsen, and Chuck Binder, who were all connected through David Carradine's work on "Kill Bill," all agreed with Schneider that Carradine would somehow have approved that his death be wrapped in just enough mystery to keep people guessing.

Michael Madsen said, "It's a typical David way to go. The mysterious death of David Carradine. That sounds --"

Quentin Tarantino: "Talking about his autobiography, if the last chapter was the mysterious demise of David Carradine, that would be perfect."

Then Rob Schneider mentioned the Bruce Lee connection. "The truth is I think David always felt bad he took the "Kung Fu" role that was originated from Bruce lee. I think it's a really odd and beautiful mystery, that it's the same way that Bruce Lee... We'll never know exactly what happened with Bruce Lee."

And thus legends begin. A much loved and revered celebrity dies under somewhat mysterious circumstances, certainly circumstances that are uncharacteristic of his mindset and outlook, in a faraway country, and speculation as to what "truly" transpired begins to flourish. David Carradine's death will no doubt become the stuff of legend, of conspiracy theory, and of mysterious "coincidences" (like the Lincoln/Kennedy coincidences).

But was he murdered? Perhaps. And this, too, will become part of the mystique surrounding the popular actor's death, along with all the shadowy drama that are endemic to murder mystery stories.

Ironically, considering his enormous amount of work on Broadway, television, and in film (over 200 productions), David Carradine's tragic death may become his most memorable and referenced moment.

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Source:

"Larry King Live," CNN Television