By Isabella Torregiani
1:44pm PST, Feb 24, 2026
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After Robert Carradine's family confirmed his death on February 23,
Hilary Duff turned to
Instagram to honor the late actor and reflect on their time together.
Carradine starred as Sam, Duff's on-screen dad, in both the 2001 Disney Channel series, which ran through 2004, and 2003's
The Lizzie McGuire Movie. He also starred in
Revenge of the Nerds,
The Cowboys and
Escape from L.A.
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"This one hurts," Hillary Duff captioned
a slideshow of two photos with Robert Carradine from their
Lizzie McGuire days. The
second shot featured their castmates
Hallie Todd and
Jake Thomas.
"It's really hard to face this reality about an old friend," Duff continued.
"There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. I'll be forever grateful for that. I'm deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him," she wrote.
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Robert Carradine's relatives shared the news of his death with Deadline, calling him a "beloved father, grandfather, uncle and brother" in a joint statement.
"In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him," the statement read. "We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby's valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder. We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness. At this time we ask for the privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion."
Carradine is survived by his three children: daughter Ever Carradine with ex Susan Snyder, plus son Ian Alexander and daughter Marika Reed with ex-wife Edie Mani, as well as his grandchildren, brothers, nieces and nephews.
(If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.)
