I’m a David Carradine fan. Well, I’m a fan of David Carradine in movies. I didn’t know David personally, so I can’t say if I’m a personal fan. And be that as it may, I’ve tried to separate out his on-film image from the images conjured up by the reports of his death in Bangkok last year.
The images of David being found dead in a hotel closet with ropes around his neck and genitals.
I didn’t need to know that David. But thanks to the widespread press, I now do.
Why do I bring this up now? Because now David Carradine’s widow, Anne, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the French production company that was managing Carradine’s final film.
Anne’s lawsuit alleges that the production company, MK2 SA, could’ve prevented the actor’s death if they had provided him with “all the best amenities” and “sufficient assistance”.
I’m not sure just what the hell that means, but after reading several (ok, many) news sources on the story, it appears that David et al were supposed to go to dinner on the night of his demise. When someone from the production company (that would be his aforementioned “assistance”) called to arrange picking David up, David did not answer the phone. So the dinner party left without him. David apparently called a bit later and the dinner party was already across town—so he was on his own to get himself to the dinner.
He never made it. We know where he made it.
The above crossing of the wires re: dinner plans is apparently part of the “negligence” involved on the part of the production company—ie, that they should not have left Carradine alone that night.
So, when I read such things, I try to put myself in the person’s shoes—you know, what would I have done if I were David. Here’s what I would’ve done: If I were hungry, I would’ve called the concierge or the front desk and arranged for a car to come get me. If not, I would’ve ordered room service and called it a night.
The picture above is of the Swissotel Nai Lert Park in Bangkok—which is where, according to BBC reports at the time, the actor was staying. It’s a 5-star property. For me, the hotel which is described as catering to the “demands of the most discerning traveller” would’ve classified as “all the best amenities”—or at least damn in range.
What was lacking?
It leads me to question things like… how much of David Carradine’s demise was maybe brought on by David himself? How much assistance does a person need to get to dinner? Did David have way the heck more difficulty in managing day-to-day activities than we knew? Did David not answer the phone call on purpose? Was the thread count at the hotel not up to snuff—is that why things moved to the closet?
And reports at the time indicated that Carradine’s sex life and preferences were not, let’s just say, like mine—and that this was a fairly well-known tidbit.
I don’t know—and I truly don’t mean to make light of it (though clearly I am). I also feel badly for the Carradine family—that news blast last year had to be a bit of an embarrassment. But I question Anne Carradine’s motivation.
Oh, maybe this explains it—according to AP, the lawsuit also states that Anne has run into difficulties collecting on an insurance policy that MK2 was required to have for the actor.