David Carradine (born
John Arthur Carradine; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his leading role as a Shaolin peace-loving monk,
Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series
Kung Fu. He was a member of a productive acting family that began with his father,
John Carradine. His acting career, which included major and minor roles on stage, television and cinema, spanned over four decades. A prolific
"B" movie actor, he appeared in more than 100 feature films and was nominated four times for a
Golden Globe Award. The last nomination was for his title role in
Quentin Tarantino's
Kill Bill.