Biography
Who is Keith Carradine?
Early life and family
Keith Carradine was born on August 8, 1949, in San Mateo, California. His parents were actress and artist Sonia Sorel and actor John Carradine. He grew up alongside several brothers in a household connected to the entertainment industry, though his childhood involved a difficult period following his parents' divorce in 1957. After a bitter custody battle, he and his brothers spent time in a court-supervised facility before he was raised primarily by his maternal grandmother in San Mateo.
He attended Hollywood High School and later Ojai Valley School, where he participated in the theater department. He briefly attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins with the idea of becoming a forest ranger before changing his major to drama. He dropped out after one semester and returned to California, living with his older half-brother David Carradine, who encouraged him to pursue acting and helped him secure an agent.
How Keith became famous
Keith Carradine launched his professional acting career on the stage. As a youth, he appeared in Shakespeare productions with his father. He joined the original Broadway run of Hair in 1969, starting in the chorus and eventually playing the lead roles of Woof and Claude. His early film appearances included McCabe & Mrs. Miller and A Gunfight in 1971.
His breakthrough came in 1975 when he appeared in Robert Altman's film Nashville. In the movie, he performed a song he had written titled "I'm Easy." The song became a popular hit, and Keith won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. This success established him as a prominent figure in both film and music.
Career highlights
Following his success in Nashville, Keith Carradine appeared in numerous films throughout his career. He starred in Ridley Scott's The Duellists in 1977 and Louis Malle's Pretty Baby in 1978. He frequently collaborated with director Alan Rudolph, appearing in films such as Choose Me, Trouble in Mind, and The Moderns. He also acted alongside his brothers David and Robert in Walter Hill's Western film The Long Riders.
On television, Keith took on memorable roles across various hit series. He played Wild Bill Hickok in the HBO series Deadwood, FBI agent Frank Lundy in Dexter, and Lou Solverson in Fargo. He also returned to Broadway in 1991, starring in The Will Rogers Follies, which earned him Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations.
Personal life and awards
Keith Carradine has been involved in several relationships and marriages throughout his life. He has children, including Martha Plimpton and Sorel Carradine. Beyond his Academy Award and Golden Globe win for "I'm Easy," his career has been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
His extensive television credits include appearances in Madam Secretary, The Big Bang Theory, and Into the West. He continues to work in film and television, maintaining a long and diverse career spanning multiple decades in the entertainment industry.
Birthday and age
Keith Carradine was born on August 8, 1949, which makes Keith 77 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Keith shares the date with 29 other famous people.
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