Film
Carradine made his film debut in 1972 in The Cowboys, starring John Wayne. He also appeared in a short‑lived television series of the same name based on the film. He later played a killer in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, shooting the character portrayed by his brother David.
During this period, he worked with David on several independent projects, including the biker film You and Me (1975) and an unreleased musical titled A Country Mile. He also did camera work for David's Vietnam War-inspired film Americana, which was not released until 1983.
In 1976, Carradine had the chance to demonstrate what he described as his "first ambition", car racing, when he played Jim Cantrell in Paul Bartel's Cannonball. His character wins the cross-country road race, beating the favorite, Coy "Cannonball" Buckman, played by David. In 1977, Robert appeared in the killer-whale thriller Orca.
Carradine joined other Hollywood offspring in 1977 film Joyride, starring alongside Desi Arnaz Jr., Melanie Griffith, and Anne Lockhart in a story about young Californians traveling to Washington and Alaska to seek their fortunes. In 1978, he landed a role in Hal Ashby's Oscar-winning Vietnam War drama Coming Home, starring Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. His performance led to speculation declaring him the strongest actor in the Carradine family.
Carradine played a key role in assembling one of the most unusual casting ensembles in film history when he and his two brothers David and Keith portrayed the Younger brothers in The Long Riders (1980), alongside three other sets of acting brothers: Stacy and James Keach, Dennis and Randy Quaid, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest.
Also in 1980, he co-starred with Mark Hamill and Lee Marvin in Samuel Fuller's The Big Red One, a World War II drama based on Fuller's own experiences. Carradine's character, modeled on Fuller, narrates the film.
In 1983, he starred opposite Cherie Currie of the Runaways in the science fiction film Wavelength, playing a washed‑up rock musician who helps extraterrestrials escape from a military base. He performed several of his own compositions for the film, including one named after his daughter Ever. That same year, he appeared as the love interest in the Motels' music video for the song "Suddenly Last Summer."
In 1984, he starred as Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds, becoming one of his most successful roles. To prepare for the role, he spent time at the University of Arizona during rush week; no fraternity selected him, reinforcing his sense that he was right for the part. He reprised the role in three sequels, serving as executive producer on the latter two.
In 2000, Carradine co-starred with Caroline Rhea in Disney Channel Original Movie Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire. In 2001, while appearing in Lizzie McGuire, he portrayed Max's father Donald Keeble in Max Keeble's Big Move. In 2003, he reprised his role as Sam McGuire in Disney's teen comedy film The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
