David Carradine was married five times across a volatile career that spanned theater, television, and film. While his portrayal of Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s television series Kung Fu and his later role in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill cemented his on-screen legacy, his personal life was defined by a sequence of high-profile relationships, turbulent separations, and distinct partnerships. Understanding the women who shared his life reveals the private pressures behind a legendary Hollywood surname.
Across his five marriages to Donna Lee Becht, Linda Anne Gilbert, Gail Jensen, Marina Anderson, and Annie Bierman—alongside significant long-term partnerships like his years with actress Barbara Hershey—Carradine lived a life far removed from conventional stability. Each marriage reflected a different chapter of his professional trajectory, from his early struggling days in New York and California to his career revivals later in life.
The Early Years and First Marriage: Donna Lee Becht
Long before international fame found him on the set of Kung Fu, Carradine married his high-school sweetheart, Donna Lee Becht, in 1960. At the time, Carradine was exploring various artistic avenues, moving from San Francisco State College—where he studied drama and music theory—into regional theater and early television guest spots.
The couple welcomed a daughter, Calista Carradine, who later pursued an acting career. However, the pressures of an unpredictable acting career took a heavy toll on the young household. The marriage ended in divorce in 1968, just as Carradine was beginning to secure more prominent roles on Broadway and in underground cinema.
The Partnership With Barbara Hershey
Though not legally a marriage, Carradine's seven-year relationship with actress Barbara Hershey from 1968 to 1975 remains one of his most culturally significant personal pairings. The couple met while working on the film Heaven with a Gun and quickly became figureheads of the 1970s counterculture film scene.
During this era, they legally changed their middle names to "Thus" and "Pain" respectively as part of an artistic statement, though they later dropped the practice. They had a son, Free Carradine (later known as Tom Carradine). Their relationship predated his massive television success on Wikipedia and captured the bohemian lifestyle of New Hollywood before parting ways amicably.
Linda Anne Gilbert and Gail Jensen: The Middle Marriages
Following his split from Hershey, Carradine married Linda Anne Gilbert in February 1977 during a civil ceremony in Munich, Germany, after wrapping production on The Serpent's Egg. Gilbert was previously married to musician Roger McGuinn of The Byrds. The marriage produced a daughter, Kansas Carradine, before ending in divorce in 1983.
In 1986, Carradine married his third wife, Gail Jensen. Jensen, an artist and performer, remained married to Carradine for over a decade, making it his longest legal union up to that point. The marriage concluded in divorce in 1997. Jensen passed away in 2010, remembered by friends as a grounding creative force during a notoriously erratic period of Carradine's career.
Marina Anderson: Management and Turmoil
Carradine married his fourth wife, Marina Anderson, in 1998. Anderson had worked as his personal manager starting in 1995, helping navigate the ebb and flow of his professional offers.
Their relationship was heavily scrutinized by the media following their separation and subsequent divorce in 2001. Anderson later authored a candid memoir detailing the complexities of living with the actor, shedding light on the domestic realities behind his public persona.
Annie Bierman: The Final Chapter
In December 2004, Carradine married his fifth wife, Annie Bierman, who served as his widow when he passed away in June 2009. Bierman brought three daughters from a previous marriage into the blended family.
Bierman later spoke about how her role involved supporting him through late-career renaissances, including his iconic casting as Bill in Quentin Tarantino's martial arts epic Kill Bill. Despite the decades-long age gap, Bierman remained a steady presence through his final years. Detailed historical retrospectives of his filmography can be explored via Britannica.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times was David Carradine married?
David Carradine was married five times. His wives were Donna Lee Becht, Linda Anne Gilbert, Gail Jensen, Marina Anderson, and Annie Bierman.
Who was David Carradine's longest marriage?
His marriage to his third wife, Gail Jensen, lasted from 1986 to 1997, spanning roughly eleven years.
Did David Carradine have children with his wives?
Yes, he had children from multiple relationships, including daughters Calista and Kansas, alongside children from non-marital partnerships such as his son with Barbara Hershey.
Who was David Carradine married to when he died?
He was married to his fifth wife, Annie Bierman, at the time of his passing in 2009.
