And so the entertainment world has lost yet another of its members. David Carradine, famous for his role in the old TV series Kung Fu, was found dead in his hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand, apparently having hanged himself (yes, I said hanged. For those who think I should have said hung, it's only hung when it's an object, like a picture or poster. If it's a person, it's hanged.) Even though he is most remembered for his role as the quiet and calm Shao-Lin monk of the Kung Fu series, he apparently had many other tv and movie roles. I don't remember seeing him, though, on anything other than en episode or two of Charmed, when he played Tempus, a demon with the power to manipulate time. Thai police are saying he hanged himself in his hotel room closet with a curtain cord, and had been dead for at least twelve hours before he was found. I have to admit, he was the last person I ever thought would kill himself. Thai police, however, are saying that's what seems to have happened, since there was no evidence of foul play or a struggle. His agent however claims he died of natural causes. Well, in a way, I guess that's right, too, because it IS only natural that you'd die sooner or later if you had a cord wrapped tightly aroung your throat cutting off your air and circulation, but somehow I doubt that's what the agent was trying to get at.
Regardless of how it happened, however, the sad fact is that he's gone. He may not have been a brilliant actor, but I'm sure his family, friends, and fans will all miss him a great deal. My condolences to them, and to everyone else whose lives were touched by this man.