Robert Carradine stopped speaking with filmmaker weeks before his death

Robert Carradine halted "gung-ho" conversations about starring in a forthcoming movie weeks before his tragic death. He had been slated to play mafia leader Antonio Politano in "The Driver," and director Connie Lamothe said their last conversation was positive and upbeat; the discussion focused on specifics for a table read and the date had been set for February 21.

Lamothe said Carradine was mostly in contact through his friend Wayne Shipley until communication stopped for about four weeks. She and Shipley were concerned but decided to give him space, noting that some actors fall out of touch temporarily. When the table read was moved to March 14, Carradine was not informed.

Lamothe said his role will be recast and that the film will be dedicated to him. Carradine died by suicide on February 23 after a years-long struggle with bipolar disorder; he was 71. He was the father of actress Ever Carradine and of Marika and Ian, and was diagnosed after his brother David died in 2009 from asphyxiation, per TMZ.

robert carradine, connie lamothe, the driver, antonio politano, wayne shipley, table read, recast, suicide, bipolar disorder, ever carradine