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The Lizzie McGuire<\/em><\/a> family is paying tribute to one of their own: Robert Carradine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The actor, best known for playing Lizzie\u2019s dad Sam McGuire in the hit Disney Channel sitcom, died at age 71<\/a> following a battle with bipolar disorder, his family said in a statement on Monday, February 23.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away,\u201d Carradine\u2019s family told Deadline<\/a>. \u201cIn a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon [of] light to everyone around him. We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Carradine\u2019s brother, Keith Carradine<\/strong>, said, referring to the late actor\u2019s battle with bipolar disorder, \u201cWe want people to know it, and there is no shame in it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is an illness that got the best of him, and I want to celebrate him for his struggle with it, and celebrate his beautiful soul,\u201d Keith added. He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day. We will take solace in how funny he could be, how wise and utterly accepting and tolerant he was. That\u2019s who my baby brother was.\u201d<\/p>\n The stars of Lizzie McGuir<\/em>e have been sharing their emotional tributes to the former McGuire patriarch, including lead actress Hilary Duff<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Scroll down to read how Duff and her costars are remembering Carradine:<\/p>\n \u201cThis one hurts. It\u2019s really hard to face this reality about an old friend,\u201d Lizzie actress Duff, 38, shared<\/a> via Instagram<\/a> alongside two throwback photos of her and Carradine during their Lizzie McGuire<\/em> days. \u201cThere was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. I\u2019ll be forever grateful for that. I\u2019m deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him. \ud83d\udc94\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas, 36, who played Lizzie\u2019s brother, Matt, shared a picture of the pair on the Lizzie McGuire<\/em> set via Instagram<\/a> and wrote, \u201cMy heart hurts today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was fortunate to know Bobby for most of my life. And he was one of the coolest guys you could ever meet. Funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric,\u201d Thomas continued.<\/p>\nHilary Duff<\/h2>\n
Jake Thomas<\/h2>\n