David Carradine's spiritual legacy

June 5, 8:07 PMSacramento Spirituality ExaminerSteve Curless

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Sacramento Spirituality Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

AP Photo/ABC, File

"Kung Fu" was one of the finest and most innovative series dramas in the history of television, and David Carradine was the star who made the show so stellar. Carradine masterfully played the role of Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin priest who roamed the American West in the latter 1800's using his profound wisdom and extraordinary skills to help people while seeking a half-brother he had never met and to evade or, if necessary, reluctantly defeat bounty hunters and Chinese assassins sent by the emperor to capture or kill him along the way.

The series premiered on ABC in 1972 and lasted three seasons. At that time, martial arts and Eastern philosophy were still relatively new to America. "Kung Fu" was an enrapturing revelation of both to those of us who burned with idealism and hungered for exoticism and transcendence in those chaotic times. For an hour each week, we entered Caine's world and steeped ourselves in Eastern spirituality, martial arts, and the selfless triumph of good over evil. It was like a meditation session whose warm afterglow lasted for hours or even days. Some of us aspired, consciously or unconsciously, to be as wise, serene and yet strong and determined as Caine to do right and realize our destiny, and his character has become something of an archetype of spiritual self-mastery.

Rumor has it that "Kung Fu" began as an idea of the legendary martial arts master Bruce Lee, and, whether or not that's true, no one disputes the fact that Lee hoped to star in it and was so disappointed when the role of Caine went to Carradine that he returned to Asia to star in films there. Carradine, unlike Lee, was not a martial artist at the time, but was hired on the strength of his acting and dancing ability.

Carradine, son of the great character actor John Carradine and half-brother of actors Keith and Robert Carradine, appeared in several TV shows including "Kung Fu" and "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" and in over 100 films during his long career. His most famous movie roles were of folk singer Woody Guthrie in "Bound for Glory" and the title character Bill in parts 1 and 2 of "Kill Bill." He also, in the opinion of this examiner, was wonderful in his playing of four roles in an obscure, late 70's, Zen-inspired martial arts film titled "Circle of Iron" conceived by Bruce Lee, James Coburn, and Sterling Silliphant. But David Carradine will best be remembered as "Grasshopper" Kwai Chang Caine to Keye Luke's Master Po in the original "Kung Fu" and has left an indelibly positive mark on the minds and spirits of many as a result of that singular role.

Caradine died Wednesday, June 3 at the age of 72 under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand. He will be sorely missed.

Below are video clips from "Kung Fu" (top) and "Circle of Iron" (bottom)