Family Sues UCLA Over Robert Carradine’s Death, Alleging Psychiatric-Unit Negligence

The family of actor Robert Carradine filed a wrongful-death and elder-abuse lawsuit against the regents of the University of California, asserting that failures at UCLA’s psychiatric facility contributed to his fatal outcome. The complaint, obtained by TheWrap, claims that Carradine entered a locked psychiatric unit on a belt that the hospital’s own policy designates as contraband, and that staff did not remove the belt or other hazardous items such as shoelaces and drawstrings. The filing further alleges that a rolling bedside table—unusual for the unit—was left in his room, and that staff failed to conduct the required 15-minute checks for a patient with active suicidal thoughts and a history of attempts. Nineteen hours after admission, Carradine attempted self-harm, suffered an anoxic brain injury, spent five weeks in intensive care, and died on February 23, 2026.

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Robert Reed Carradine, born March 24, 1954 in Los Angeles, was a member of the Carradine acting family and known for roles in the “Revenge of the Nerds” series, “The Long Riders,” and Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire.” The family’s statement to media described his long-standing battle with bipolar disorder, noting his “nearly two-decade” struggle with the condition.

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According to the filing, UCLA’s policy lists “belts and belt buckles” as prohibited items, yet the hospital allegedly allowed Carradine’s belt to remain, creating a means for self-harm or hanging. The complaint also contends that the unit’s standard safety procedures—removing hazardous objects and conducting frequent observations—were not followed, resulting in “shortcuts with two safeguards” that the family says directly led to his death. The suit seeks general, special, economic, and wrongful-death damages from the university’s leadership.

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Representatives for the regents of the University of California did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

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The family’s legal claim includes compensation for pain and suffering, loss of financial support, and punitive damages, though specific monetary amounts have not been disclosed in the filing.

The Wrap