Robert Carradine, who shot to fame with his portrayal of Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds, has passed away at the age of 71.

He hailed from a famous Hollywood family as he was the younger son of actor John Carradine and the brother of Keith and David Carradine.

According to a statement issued by his older brother Keith, the renowned American actor had been suffering from bipolar disorder for twenty years.

The statement said, “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. 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. At this time we ask for the privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion,” Keith noted.

The surviving family want people to know what Robert went through while battling his decades-long struggle with bipolar.

Keith explained, “We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it. It is an illness that got the best of him, and I want to celebrate him for his struggle with it, and celebrate his beautiful soul.”

“He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day. We will take solace in how funny he could be, how wise and utterly accepting and tolerant he was. That’s who my baby brother was,” the brother of The Long Riders star concluded.