John Carradine's Real Name: Richmond Reed Carradine

Quick answer: The actor is known professionally as John Carradine. Britannica and the Los Angeles Times independently identify him as Richmond Reed Carradine, date his birth to February 5, 1906, in New York, and date his death to November 27, 1988, in Milan, Italy (Britannica; Los Angeles Times).

Real name and early life

He is known professionally as John Carradine. Britannica gives the original name Richmond Reed Carradine and dates his birth to February 5, 1906, in New York, New York, U.S. A Los Angeles Times report of November 28, 1988, filed from Milan, independently says he was born Richmond Reed Carradine in New York City's Greenwich Village on Feb. 5, 1906, and that by 1935 he had changed his name to John Carradine. Britannica says he studied art, supported himself by selling sketches, began acting on a New Orleans stage, and first came to Cecil B. DeMille's attention in voice work. The Times independently says that as a young man he hitchhiked across America, drawing sketches of people he met.

Career highlights

Britannica says he appeared in more than 200 films and names John Ford pictures including Stagecoach (1939), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). It also lists Hitler's Madman (1943), The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944), and The Ten Commandments (1956), in which he played Aaron. The Los Angeles Times independently cites Stagecoach and The Grapes of Wrath among his credits, says he made his film debut in 1930 in the talkie remake of Tol'able David, and says he appeared in more than 500 films, a count that conflicts with Britannica's "more than 200." This page records both figures rather than choosing one. Both sources also note his work in low-budget horror films and a nickname, the "Bard of the Boulevard." The Times says he portrayed Count Dracula three times; Britannica says he portrayed Dracula several times.

Death

Britannica says he died on November 27, 1988, in Milan, Italy. The Los Angeles Times, published November 28, 1988, independently says he died Sunday, November 27, at age 82 at Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Milan; a spokeswoman would not disclose the cause and said two of his sons, the actors Keith and David Carradine, had come to Milan.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up John Carradine or Richmond Reed Carradine are looking for the same New York-born actor, later known for Stagecoach and The Grapes of Wrath. The Los Angeles Times dates the change to the professional name to 1935.