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David Carradine spoke of suicide wish before his death in Bangkok hotel

David Carradine, the Kill Bill actor found dead in the wardrobe of his Bangkok hotel room, had spoken in the past of contemplating suicide.

David Carradine: David Carradine found dead in wardrobe of Bangkok hotel
David Carradine appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby Credit: Photo: AFP

In a 2004 interview which may have foretold his death, Carradine said: "I remember one time sitting in the window of the third or fourth floor of the Plaza Hotel for about an hour, thinking about just tipping off. And that was at a time when I was having more fun than you could imagine.

"I just thought, 'Who the ---- cares, man? Why don't I just split?' Of course I didn't, so there you go."

The actor, star of cult 1970s television series Kung Fu, said he had also considered shooting himself.

"Look, there was a period in my life when I had a single action Colt 45, loaded, in my desk drawer. And every night I'd take it out and think about blowing my head off, and then decide not to and go on with my life. Put it back in the drawer and open up the laptop and continue writing my autobiography or whatever. But it was just to see."

He told the entertainment website IGN.com: "I'm not afraid of anything. Why would you be afraid of death? It would be an inconvenience. I have a lot of undone things and it's bound to get in the way. But, no, it doesn't scare me at all."

Carradine, 72, was found dead by a maid at the Park Nai Lert Hotel in Bangkok on Thursday morning. He was in the city to shoot his latest film, called Stretch. Thai police said the actor had a curtain cord around his neck.

A US Embassy spokesman confirmed that Carradine had died either late Wednesday night or in the early hours of Thursday. He declined to comment on the circumstances of the death.

The actor's manager, Chuck Binder, said the news was "shocking", adding: "He was full of life, always wanting to work... a great person."

Carradine was part of an acting dynasty which included his father, John Carradine, and brothers Bruce, Keith and Robert.

The star was best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s TV series Kung Fu, which spawned sequels in the 1980s and 1990s.

After a career which included more than 100 movies with directors such as Martin Scorsese and Ingmar Bergman, he found fame again in 2003 thanks to his role in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films.

He is survived by his wife, Annie Bierman, and four children.