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David Carradine was born in Hollywood, California, the eldest son of legendary character actor John Carradine, and his wife, Ardanelle Abigail (McCool). He was a member of an acting family that included brothers Keith Carradine and Robert Carradine as well as his daughters Calista Carradine and Kansas Carradine, and nieces Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.

He was born in Hollywood and educated at San Francisco State College, where he studied music theory and composition. It was while writing music for the Drama Department's annual revues that he discovered his own passion for the stage, joining a Shakespearean repertory company and learning his craft on his feet. After a two-year stint in the army, he found work in New York as a commercial artist and later found fame on Broadway in "The Deputy" and "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" opposite Christopher Plummer. With that experience he returned to Hollywood, landing the lead in the short-lived TV series Shane (1966) before being tapped to star opposite Barbara Hershey in Martin Scorsese's first Hollywood film, Boxcar Bertha (1972). The iconic Kung Fu (1972) followed, catapulting Carradine to super-stardom for the next three years, until he left the series to pursue his film career.

That career included more than 100 feature films, a couple of dozen television movies, a whole range of theater on and off Broadway and another hit series, Kung Fu: A Legend Reborn (1992).

Carradine received the Best Actor Award from the National Board of Film Review as well as a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Woody Guthrie in Hal Ashby's Bound for Glory (1976), and he won critical acclaim for his work as Cole Younger in The Long Riders (1980). "Kung Fu" also received seven Emmy nominations in its first season, including one for Carradine as Best Actor. In addition, he won the People's Prize at the Cannes Film Festival's "Director's Fortnight" for his work on Americana (1981), and a second Golden Globe nomination for his supporting role in North & South: Book 1, North & South (1985). Among his other notable film credits were Gray Lady Down (1978), Mean Streets (1973), Bird on a Wire (1990), The Long Goodbye (1973), The Serpent's Egg (1977) and Circle of Iron (1978). He returned to the screen in what could be his greatest performance, playing the title role in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), for which he received his fourth Golden Globe nomination. He also continued his devotion to music, and recorded some 60 tracks in various musical genres and sang in several movies. He made his home in Los Angeles with his fifth wife Annie, her four children and their two dogs.

Found dead in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 3, 2009, aged 72.

Shih Kien was born on 1 January 1913 in Shígang Village, Panyu, Guangdong, China. He was an actor and production manager, known for Enter the Dragon (1973), Rivals of Kung Fu (1974) and Na Zha nao dong hai (1957). He died on 3 June 2009 in Hong Kong, China.

KoKo Taylor was born on 28 September 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. She was an actress, known for Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), Wild at Heart (1990) and Adventures in Babysitting (1987). She was married to Hay Harris and Robert 'Pops' Taylor. She died on 3 June 2009 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Benoît Marleau was born on 17 March 1937. He was an actor, known for Y'a toujours moyen de moyenner! (1973), Les aventures d'une jeune veuve (1974) and La pension Velder (1958). He died on 3 June 2009 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Sam Butera was born on 17 August 1927 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He was an actor, known for Big Night (1996), The Dogwalker (1999) and The Crew (2000). He was married to Vera Butera. He died on 3 June 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Kum-Bong Do was born on 27 August 1930 in Incheon, South Korea. She was an actress, known for Yeojaui saemteo (1965), Moksumeul pan sanai (1966) and Uijeok Iljimae (1961). She died on 3 June 2009.

György Ajtai Andor was born on 15 May 1929 in Budapest, Hungary. He was an actor, known for Dögkeselyü (1982), A skorpió megeszi az ikreket reggelire (1992) and Ki beszél itt szerelemröl?! (1980). He died on 3 June 2009 in Budapest, Hungary.

Carmen Salas was born on 23 February 1929 in Madrid, Spain. She was an actress, known for Sweet Challenge (1988), El juramento (1974) and La insaciable (1961). She died on 3 June 2009 in Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

David Marks was an actor, known for Carnage (1984) and The Civil War (1990). He died on 3 June 2009 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

Roy P. Stevens was born in 1949. Roy P. was an assistant director and production manager, known for Dragonslayer (1981), Raise the Titanic (1980) and Bear Island (1979). Roy P. died on 3 June 2009 in England.

Janice Webb was born in 1961 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She died on 3 June 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Ib Geertsen was born on 7 January 1919 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was an actor, known for Historien om en mand (1944). He was married to Birthe. He died on 3 June 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.