Plimpton Issues Statement Regarding The Passing Of Her Uncle, David Carradine

On behalf of her family, 2009 Tony Award nominee Martha Plimpton, niece of David Carradine, has issued a statement about the actor's passing:

"My Uncle David was a brilliantly talented, fiercely intelligent and generous man. He was the nexus of our family in so many ways, and drew us together over the years and kept us connected. I adored him as a child, and as an adult I admired and respected him.

"We will all miss him terribly, and are so grateful for everyone's condolences. The passing of someone so loved is extremely difficult under any circumstances."

Plimpton has asked the media to "respect his legacy and allow his family and loved ones to grieve peacefully".

CBS News has reported the sad news that Actor David Carradine, 72, star of the 1970s TV series "Kung Fu" who also had a wide-ranging career in the movies, has been found dead in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Chuck Binder, a member of Carradine's management team, confirmed the death to CBS News. Binder said Carradine was in Bangkok shooting a film.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, Michael Turner, said Carradine died either late Wednesday or early Thursday, but he could not provide further details out of consideration for his family.

The Web site of the newspaper The Nation cited unidentified police sources as saying Carradine was found Thursday hanged in his luxury hotel room and is believed to have committed suicide.

David has had over 200 movies and television appearances, and his best work involves master directors like Tarantino, Martin Scorsese and Ingmar Bergman.

He appeared on Broadway in "The Deputy" and "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" opposite Christopher Plummer.

Carradine was a leading member of the acclaimed Hollywood acting family that included his father, character actor John Carradine, and brother Keith. He is survived by his wife, Annie Carradine.