David Carradine: 1936-2009

Actor David Carradine, who was a versatile presence in film and television, has died in Bangkok, aged 72. He was a longtime practitioner of kung fu, as seen in this photograph, taken on a studio lot in Hollywood in 1970 Photograph: Photoshot/Getty Images

Carradine became famous for his starring role in the 1972 TV series Kung Fu Photograph: Allstar/Cinetext/Warner Bros

Carradine as the Shaolin monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in Kung Fu Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features

Carradine clan patriarch John (centre) celebrates his 68th birthday in 1974 with a family reunion, including (left to right) Robert, 19; Christopher, 26; Keith, 24; John; Bruce (in striped shirt); David; Barbara (Hershey) Seagull; and David and Barbara's child, Free Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

David Carradine in Death Race 2000 (1975) Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive

David Carradine and Gail Strickland in Hal Ashby's Bound for Glory (1976) Photograph: Allstar/Cinetext/United Artists

Carradine doing a kung-fu kick in Carquake, aka Cannonball! (1976) Photograph: Allstar

David Carradine with Liv Ullman in Ingmar Bergman's 1977 film The Serpent's Egg Photograph: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis

David Carradine right, starring with his brothers Keith and Robert in The Long Riders (1980) Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive

David Carradine in 2004 Photograph: Ric Francis/AP

Carradine playing the title role in Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004). The Quentin Tarantino double bill reignited Carradine's film career, introducing him to a whole new audience Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar

David Carradine with Kill Bill: Volume 2 director Quentin Tarantino and co-stars Daryl Hannah and Uma Thurman at the 2004 Cannes film festival Photograph: Action Press/Rex Features

Carradine in one of his last roles, in Crank 2: High Voltage (2009) Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar