David Carradine took a massive secret to the grave when he was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room.
The Kill Bill actor was found naked with a rope tied around his neck, wrists, and genitals in the closet in June 2009 while in the country filming a new movie.
It was initially speculated that the 72-year-old, who shot to fame as the star of 1970s series Kung Fu, had taken his own life.
However, it soon became clear that there was way more to this heartbreaking tragedy – and the dark mystery may never be solved.
Two autopsies both concluded that David’s death was not a suicide and the cause of death was widely accepted as “accidental asphyxiation”.
As more details emerged ABC news reported that the actor “accidentally suffocated in a lone sex practice known as autoerotic asphyxiation”.
David Carradine was found dead at the age of 72 (Image: Press Association)
Thai police insisted the actor had tragically died after a bondage game went wrong.
Police said there were no signs of a struggle or other suspicious circumstances.
Two of his former wives, Gail Jensen and Marina Anderson, publicly testified that he enjoyed self-bondage, including “being choked to the point of orgasm”.
But the Carradine family’s lawyer claimed there had been “conflicting reports” about the death.
Some of his close relatives believe David was actually “assassinated” by a secret kung fu sect.
Carradine played a martial arts expert in the Kill Bill films (Image: Buena Vista)
Carradine was fascinated with martial arts since he played wandering monk Kwai Chang Caine in Kung Fu, then played martial arts expert Bill in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films.
Members of his family are convinced he was “murdered” because he was trying to expose an underworld martial arts group.
Speaking on the Larry King Live US talk show, attorney Mark Geragos said: “David was very interested in investigating and disclosing secret societies – absolutely. What that means is connected to his interest in martial arts.
“And so there is a suspicion that if there was some foul play, that may be the first area they should look.”
The actor rose to fame as Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine in Kung Fu (Image: Getty Images)
His manager, Chick Binder, also thinks David was murdered because his hands were tied behind his back and there was a footprint on the bed that didn’t match his shoes.
“For sure there was foul play. We definitely don’t believe it was a suicide. David was a great guy and a great client and a great friend,” said Binder.
The Carradine family reportedly asked the FBI to send special agents from the US to Thailand to investigate the baffling case.
While claims of a secret kung fu sect may seem far-fetched, other members of David’s family came up with more believable but equally worrying theories over his death.
Carradine starred alongside Uma Thurman (Image: Buena Vista)
Marina Anderson, who was Carradine’s fourth wife, confirmed that her ex often took part in “potentially deadly” kinky sex acts.
But she was far from satisfied with the conclusion into the cause of his death and did not accept the official findings.
Marina is convinced that there is someone out there responsible for David’s death and does not believe it was an accident.
“I believe he was murdered,” she told ABC News in 2010. “That’s all there is to it.”
She added: “For David to accidentally do it to himself, that’s not the act. He never flew solo when we were together. That didn’t fit the scenario. David liked participation.”
Carradine worked closely with film director Quentin Tarantino (Image: Reuters)
As to why someone would target David, Marina has claimed that he might have been murdered because he always carried valuables with him.
“Maybe someone would want to do that for money. David always carried a lot of cash and he always wore expensive watches,” she said.
“Given what David was into, Thailand, Bangkok is sex heaven, and I think he indulged and something went incredibly wrong,” she continued.
“I believe he was targeted, whether they went up to his room unsolicited or he got bored and went into town and brought somebody up. I don’t believe he was by himself.”
Carradine’s death has been shrouded in mystery (Image: Reuters)
On the first anniversary of David’s death, widow Annie Carradine announced she had filed a wrongful death against a French company handling the actor’s final film, Stretch.
Suing MK2 in June 2010, she claimed they promised to provide David with an assistant to help him navigate Bangkok, but the assistant left him behind for dinner on the night before he was found dead.
It read: “The suit alleges, the assistant left him behind for dinner on the night before the actor was found dead.
“The assistant and other film staffers apparently could not reach Carradine and decided to leave without him.
“Carradine called the assistant an hour later but was told the group was across town, and he would have to make his own arrangements that evening.”
MK2 denied any wrongdoing in court filings.
In August 2011, an attorney for Annie filed a notice in Los Angeles indicating the parties had reached a conditional settlement but exact terms were not disclosed.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
