Born Richmond Reed Carradine in New York City, he began his career in show business as a Shakespearean dramatic actor and made his cinematic debut in 1930 under the name Peter Richmond. He adopted the stage name "John Carradine" in 1933, and took the name as his own two years later. He appeared in more than 200 movies, mostly in the B-movie/Suspense genre. He also appeared in ten John Ford productions, including The Grapes of Wrath (1940), and made numerous television cameos.
Carradine's idiosyncratic habit of strolling Hollywood streets while reciting Shakespearean soliloquies earned him the nickname "Bard of the Boardwalk".
Four sons, David, Robert, Keith and Bruce are also actors.