Robert Carradine of 'Lizzie McGuire' and 'Revenge of the Nerds' dies at 71

Robert Carradine, the actor known as Lewis in \

Robert Carradine, the actor known as Lewis in "Revenge of the Nerds" and dad to Hilary Duff in "Lizzie McGuire," has died. He was 71.

Carradine's brother, "Nashville" actor Keith Carradine, confirmed his death to Deadline late Monday, Feb. 23, saying the actor died by suicide.

"It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away. In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon [of] light to everyone around him," the family said in a statement. "We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby's valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder. We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness."

The older Carradine told the outlet that Robert was the bedrock of their family – which includes the late "Kill Bill" actor David Carradine and their patriarch, "The Grapes of Wrath" actor John Carradine.

The family's statement asked for privacy to grieve the "unfathomable loss."