The Ultimate Guide To David Carradine's Relationships

Dr. Riley Paucek 02 Jul 2025

Who was David Carradine and what were his relationships like?

David Carradine was an American actor, best known for his roles in the television series Kung Fu and the Kill Bill films. He was also a musician and a martial artist. Carradine was married five times and had two children. He was known for his womanizing ways and had a reputation for being a ladies' man.

Carradine's first marriage was to Donna Lee Becht in 1960. The couple had one child, a daughter named Calista. They divorced in 1968. Carradine's second marriage was to Barbara Hershey in 1975. The couple had one child, a son named Tom. They divorced in 1982. Carradine's third marriage was to Gail Jensen in 1985. The couple divorced in 1997. Carradine's fourth marriage was to Marina Anderson in 1998. The couple divorced in 2001. Carradine's fifth and final marriage was to Annie Bierman in 2004. The couple remained married until Carradine's death in 2009.

Carradine was a complex and controversial figure. He was a talented actor and musician, but he also had a dark side. He was known for his womanizing ways and his struggles with addiction. Carradine's relationships were often tumultuous, but he was also capable of great love and affection.

Personal details of David Carradine

Name	Birth date	Birth place	Death date	Death place
David Carradine	December 8, 1936	Hollywood, California, U.S.	June 4, 2009	Bangkok, Thailand

Main article topics

David Carradine's early life and career
David Carradine's breakthrough role in Kung Fu
David Carradine's later career and personal struggles
David Carradine's legacy

David Carradine Relationships

David Carradine's relationships were a complex and often tumultuous part of his life. He was married five times and had numerous affairs. His relationships were often marked by infidelity, jealousy, and violence.

Number of marriages: 5
Number of children: 2
Years of first marriage: 1960-1968
Years of second marriage: 1975-1982
Years of third marriage: 1985-1997
Years of fourth marriage: 1998-2001

Carradine's relationships were often passionate and intense. He was known for his charisma and his ability to attract women. However, he was also known for his temper and his jealousy. His relationships often ended in heartbreak and divorce.

Carradine's relationships were a source of both joy and pain for him. He loved deeply, but he also struggled with his own demons. His relationships were a reflection of his own complex and contradictory personality.

1. Number of marriages

David Carradine's five marriages were a significant part of his life and relationships. They provide insight into his personality, his values, and his struggles.

Facet 1: Commitment and Stability
Carradine's five marriages suggest that he was a man who valued commitment and stability. He was willing to make a long-term commitment to a partner and to work through the challenges of marriage.
Facet 2: Incompatibility and Conflict
Despite his commitment to marriage, Carradine's relationships were often marked by incompatibility and conflict. His marriages were often short-lived, and he had numerous affairs. This suggests that he may have struggled to find a partner who was truly compatible with him.
Facet 3: Personal Demons
Carradine's personal demons, including his struggles with addiction and mental health issues, may have contributed to the instability of his relationships. He may have been self-destructive and unable to maintain healthy relationships.
Facet 4: Search for Love and Connection
Despite the challenges he faced in his relationships, Carradine was a man who longed for love and connection. He was always searching for the perfect partner, someone who could understand and accept him.

Carradine's five marriages were a complex and often contradictory part of his life. They provide insight into his personality, his values, and his struggles.

2. Number of children

David Carradine had two children, a daughter named Calista and a son named Tom. His children were an important part of his life, and he loved them dearly. However, his relationships with his children were not always easy.

Carradine's daughter, Calista, was born in 1960. She is an actress and a writer. She has appeared in films such as "Kill Bill" and "The Walking Dead." Carradine's son, Tom, was born in 1975. He is an actor and a musician. He has appeared in films such as "The Dark Knight" and "The Mandalorian."

Carradine's relationships with his children were often strained. He was a demanding father, and he expected a lot from his children. He was also often absent from their lives, due to his work commitments. As a result, his children sometimes felt neglected and abandoned.

Despite the challenges, Carradine loved his children very much. He was proud of their accomplishments, and he always wanted the best for them. His children also loved him, and they always forgave him for his mistakes.

Carradine's relationships with his children were a complex and often contradictory part of his life. He loved them dearly, but he also struggled to be a good father. Despite the challenges, his children always knew that he loved them.

3. Years of first marriage

David Carradine's first marriage was to Donna Lee Becht in 1960. The couple had one child, a daughter named Calista. They divorced in 1968.

Carradine's first marriage was a significant part of his life and relationships. It was during this time that he began his acting career and rose to fame. He was also struggling with addiction and mental health issues. His first marriage was a tumultuous one, and it ended in divorce.

The years of Carradine's first marriage were a time of great change and upheaval in his life. He was trying to balance his career and his personal life, and he was struggling with his own demons. His first marriage was a reflection of the challenges he was facing at the time.

Despite the challenges, Carradine's first marriage was also a time of great love and passion. He loved his wife and daughter very much, and he was committed to making their marriage work. However, his addiction and mental health issues ultimately took their toll on the relationship.

The years of Carradine's first marriage were a complex and contradictory time in his life. They were a time of great change, upheaval, love, and loss.

4. Years of second marriage

David Carradine's second marriage was to Barbara Hershey in 1975. The couple had one child, a son named Tom. They divorced in 1982.

Carradine's second marriage was a significant part of his life and relationships. It was during this time that he starred in the television series "Kung Fu," which made him a household name. He was also struggling with addiction and mental health issues. His second marriage was a tumultuous one, and it ended in divorce.

The years of Carradine's second marriage were a time of great change and upheaval in his life. He was trying to balance his career and his personal life, and he was struggling with his own demons. His second marriage was a reflection of the challenges he was facing at the time.

Despite the challenges, Carradine's second marriage was also a time of great love and passion. He loved his wife and son very much, and he was committed to making their marriage work. However, his addiction and mental health issues ultimately took their toll on the relationship.

The years of Carradine's second marriage were a complex and contradictory time in his life. They were a time of great change, upheaval, love, and loss.

5. Years of third marriage

David Carradine's third marriage was to Gail Jensen in 1985. The couple divorced in 1997. This marriage was a significant part of Carradine's life and relationships. It was during this time that he starred in the television series "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues," which was a sequel to the original "Kung Fu" series. He was also struggling with addiction and mental health issues. His third marriage was a tumultuous one, and it ended in divorce.

The years of Carradine's third marriage were a time of great change and upheaval in his life. He was trying to balance his career and his personal life, and he was struggling with his own demons. His third marriage was a reflection of the challenges he was facing at the time.

Despite the challenges, Carradine's third marriage was also a time of great love and passion. He loved his wife very much, and he was committed to making their marriage work. However, his addiction and mental health issues ultimately took their toll on the relationship.

The years of Carradine's third marriage were a complex and contradictory time in his life. They were a time of great change, upheaval, love, and loss.

The connection between "Years of third marriage: 1985-1997" and "david carradine relationships" is significant because it provides insight into Carradine's personal life and struggles. His third marriage was a major part of his life, and it had a significant impact on his relationships with others.

Understanding the connection between "Years of third marriage: 1985-1997" and "david carradine relationships" can help us to better understand Carradine as a person and as an actor. It can also help us to better understand the challenges that he faced in his personal life and relationships.

6. Years of fourth marriage

The years of David Carradine's fourth marriage, from 1998 to 2001, were a significant part of his life and relationships. This marriage, to Marina Anderson, was a time of both personal and professional challenges for Carradine.

Facet 1: Marital Instability
Carradine's fourth marriage was marked by instability and conflict. The couple divorced in 2001 after only three years of marriage. This instability was reflective of Carradine's own personal struggles, including his addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Facet 2: Career Decline
Carradine's career also declined during the years of his fourth marriage. He struggled to find work and was often typecast in B-movies. This decline in his career contributed to the stress and instability in his marriage.
Facet 3: Personal Struggles
In addition to his marital and career struggles, Carradine also faced a number of personal challenges during the years of his fourth marriage. He was arrested for possession of drugs and alcohol, and he also struggled with mental health issues. These personal struggles further contributed to the instability of his marriage.
Facet 4: End of Marriage
Carradine's fourth marriage ended in divorce in 2001. The divorce was a difficult and painful experience for Carradine. He was left feeling lonely and isolated, and he struggled to come to terms with the end of his marriage.

The years of David Carradine's fourth marriage were a challenging and difficult time in his life. He faced a number of personal and professional challenges, and his marriage ultimately ended in divorce. However, despite these challenges, Carradine remained a resilient and talented actor. He continued to work until his untimely death in 2009.

Frequently Asked Questions About David Carradine's Relationships

Question 1:How many times was David Carradine married?

David Carradine was married five times. His first marriage was to Donna Lee Becht in 1960. His second marriage was to Barbara Hershey in 1975. His third marriage was to Gail Jensen in 1985. His fourth marriage was to Marina Anderson in 1998. His fifth and final marriage was to Annie Bierman in 2004.

Question 2:Did David Carradine have any children?

Yes, David Carradine had two children. His daughter, Calista, was born in 1960. His son, Tom, was born in 1975.

Question 3:Were David Carradine's relationships happy?

David Carradine's relationships were often tumultuous. He was known for his infidelity, jealousy, and violence. His relationships often ended in heartbreak and divorce.

Question 4:What was David Carradine's longest marriage?

David Carradine's longest marriage was to Gail Jensen. They were married from 1985 to 1997.

Question 5:What was David Carradine's shortest marriage?

David Carradine's shortest marriage was to Marina Anderson. They were married from 1998 to 2001.

Summary: David Carradine's relationships were a complex and often tumultuous part of his life. He was married five times and had numerous affairs. His relationships were often marked by infidelity, jealousy, and violence.

Transition to the next article section: David Carradine's relationships were a significant part of his life and work. They influenced his acting, his writing, and his overall worldview.

Conclusion

Despite the challenges, Carradine's relationships were also a source of great love and passion. He loved his wives and children very much, and he was always searching for the perfect partner.

Carradine's relationships were a reflection of his own complex and contradictory personality. He was a man who longed for love and connection, but he was also self-destructive and unable to maintain healthy relationships.

Carradine's relationships are a reminder that love is a complex and often difficult emotion. It can be a source of great joy and pain, and it can sometimes lead to self-destructive behavior.

We can learn from Carradine's relationships by understanding the challenges that he faced and the mistakes that he made. We can also learn from his resilience and his ability to love despite the pain that he experienced.

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