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Where the Lizzie McGuire cast are now as tributes pour in for 'dad' Robert Carradine

Home> Celebrity> News

Published 10:24 24 Feb 2026 GMT

Where the Lizzie McGuire cast are now as tributes pour in for 'dad' Robert Carradine

The star, who played Sam McGuire in the series and movie, died on Monday February 23

Ellie Kemp

Ellie Kemp

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Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

Tributes have flooded in for Lizzie McGuire star David Carradine after his death aged 71.

The actor played Lizzie's dad Sam in both the hit Disney Channel show and its 2003 movie.

Carradine, who openly spoke about his mental health struggles following a bipolar diagnosis, died by suicide on Monday (February 23).

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In a statement to Deadline, his family 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.”

Robert Carradine played Sam McGuire in the popular Disney channel series (L. Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images)
Robert Carradine played Sam McGuire in the popular Disney channel series (L. Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images)

They continued: “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.”

Hilary Duff was among those to lead tributes to Carradine, who was Duff's on-screen father between 2001 and 2004.

Taking to Instagram to respond to the news, she wrote: "This one hurts. It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend. There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents.

"I’ll be forever grateful for that. I’m deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him."

Carradine is the second cast member to have died, following Daniel Escobar, who played school teacher Mr. Escobar on the series, who died in December 2013 at the age of 49 from diabetes complications.

We take a look at where the other cast members of Lizzie McGuire are now, and what they've been doing since the show ended 22 years ago.

Hilary Duff - Lizzie

Hilary Duff recently announced the Lucky Me world tour (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for ABA)
Hilary Duff recently announced the Lucky Me world tour (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for ABA)

Since the show concluded in 2004, Duff has gone on to enjoy a successful mainstream career, starring in movies including Cheaper by the Dozen and A Cinderella Story and releasing multi-platinum albums including Metamorphosis.

More recently, she stars in and executive produces the 2025 Hulu drama Pretty Ugly and also released her new LP Luck... Or Something, announcing the 2026 Lucky Me world tour alongside it, with shows across North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia.

Adam Lamberg - David 'Gordo' Gordon

Lamberg played Lizzie's best friend in the hit series, but after the show, he stepped back from acting and moved into work outside Hollywood, including working at the Irish Arts Center in New York.

He was, however, attached to the canceled Lizzie McGuire Disney+ revival, which was called off in December 2020 after filming two episodes due to creative differences between Duff and Disney.

Ashlie Brillault - Kate Sanders

Ashlie Brillault in 2004 (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/Getty Images)
Ashlie Brillault in 2004 (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/Getty Images)

You'll remember Brillault as Lizzie's rival-turned-friend Kate in both the Lizzie McGuire series and movie.

After retiring from acting in 2004, she pivoted into an entirely different career.

Brillault earned a law degree and became a criminal defense attorney in California.

She is now married with two children.

Alex Borstein - Ms. Angela Ungermeyer

Also appearing in only the Lizzie McGuire Movie was Borstein, who played the strict school teacher chaperoning the children around Rome, Ms. Ungermeyer.

Borstein has voiced Lois in Family Guy since 1999 and has gone on to have other major successes, including playing Susie Myerson in the Prime Video series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which won her two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Jake Thomas - Matthew 'Matt' McGuire

Lizzie's mischievous younger brother was played by Thomas, who appeared across all 65 episodes of the hit show.

He went on to continue acting in TV shows like House M.D., CSI: Miami and Cold Case, and later discussed his Disney experience fondly in interviews.

Clayton Snyder - Ethan Craft

 Clayton Snyder and Allegra Edwards (Anna Webber/Getty Images for Prime Video)
Clayton Snyder and Allegra Edwards (Anna Webber/Getty Images for Prime Video)

Snyder played popular classmate Ethan in both the series and movie.

Clayton went to college where he took up water polo and continued to act in various TV and film roles, including 2019's Alien Warfare.

He now works in real estate, as per Zillow, and he married fellow actress Allegra Edwards in 2020.

Hallie Todd - Joanne 'Jo' McGuire

Todd played the role of Lizzie's quirky, supportive mom Jo.

Like Thomas, she too continued acting and co-wrote/co-produced the 2020 sports film The Last Champion.

She also works as an acting coach and author, helping young performers develop their talent.

Yani Gellman - Paolo Valisari

Gellman played Italian pop star and Lizzie's charming counterpart during her Rome adventure in the movie.

After, Gellman continued acting in television and film, including appearances on Pretty Little Liars and 90210.


If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.



Featured Image Credit: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images

Topics: Disney, Mental Health, Film and TV, Celebrity, Hollywood

Ellie Kemp
Ellie Kemp

Ellie joined UNILAD in 2024, specialising in SEO and trending content. She moved from Reach PLC where she worked as a senior journalist at the UK’s largest regional news title, the Manchester Evening News. She also covered TV and entertainment for national brands including the Mirror, Star and Express. In her spare time, Ellie enjoys watching true crime documentaries and curating the perfect Spotify playlist.

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@EllieKempOnline

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