Ardanelle McCool is best known as the first wife of prolific American actor John Carradine (born February 5, 1906), one of Hollywood’s most recognizable character actors with over 350 film and television credits across 6 decades.
She married John in 1935 and their marriage lasted 9 years until 1944. Through this marriage, she became the mother of actor David Carradine, who went on to become a major Hollywood star. For another compelling family story, also read about Michael Conrad Braxton Jr..
Ardanelle McCool: Age, Birthday & Quick Bio
Ardanelle McCool’s exact birth date and birthplace are not publicly confirmed in any verified source. She is believed to have been born in the United States in the early 1900s, and would have been in her 20s when she married John Carradine in 1935. Below is a quick-reference table of the most consistently verified facts about her life based on available historical records.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ardanelle McCool Carradine |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Birthplace | United States (exact location unconfirmed) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | John Carradine (m. 1935 – div. 1944) |
| Years Married | 9 years |
| Children | Bruce Carradine, David Carradine |
| Ex-Husband | John Carradine (Feb 5, 1906 – Nov 27, 1988) |
Who Was Ardanelle McCool First Husband? Frank J Cosner
Frank James Cosner (c. 1887–1970) was an actor and photographer who married Ardanelle McCool in California on August 27, 1932. During their brief marriage, the couple had one son together, Bruce, before officially divorcing in Denver, Colorado, on August 16, 1934.
Following the divorce, Cosner continued working as a photographer and spent his later years in Los Angeles until his death in 1970.
Who Was Ardanelle McCool Second Husband? Early Life
Ardanelle McCool is best known for her marriage to actor John Carradine, whose birth name was Richmond Reed Carradine. They married on December 31, 1935, and had one son together, David Carradine, who later became famous for starring in the TV series Kung Fu. John also adopted Ardanelle’s son, Bruce Carradine, from her previous marriage.
Their marriage ended in divorce in 1944. Before marrying John Carradine, Ardanelle was married to a man with the last name Cosner, which is why Bruce originally had the surname Cosner.
Career & Profession
Ardanelle McCool’s career or profession is not documented in any verified public source. She was not a Hollywood actress or public entertainer, and no employment records, job titles, or professional achievements are linked to her name in any historical record.
During the 1930s and 1940s, when she was married to John Carradine, she lived in Los Angeles as he built his film career appearing in major productions including “Stagecoach” (1939), “The Grapes of Wrath” (1940), and “Blood and Sand” (1941).
Ardanelle McCool: Family Background
John Carradine, Ardanelle’s ex-husband, was born Richmond Reed Carradine on February 5, 1906, in New York City. He appeared in over 350 films and TV productions between the 1930s and 1980s, working with directors like John Ford, Cecil B. DeMille, and Raoul Walsh.
He died on November 27, 1988, in Milan, Italy, at age 82. After his 1944 divorce from Ardanelle, he remarried 3 more times. For more family-focused biographies, also check out Alice Marrow.
Ardanelle McCool: Personal Life & Marriage
Ardanelle McCool married John Carradine in 1935, when he was 29 years old and building his reputation as a character actor in Hollywood. Their 9-year marriage produced 2 sons: Bruce Carradine and David Carradine (born December 8, 1936). The couple divorced in 1944. John Carradine subsequently married Sonia Sorel in 1944, with whom he had 2 more sons — Keith Carradine (born August 8, 1949) and Robert Carradine (born March 24, 1954). Ardanelle’s life after the divorce is not documented in any verified public source.
Children
Ardanelle McCool had 2 sons with John Carradine. Her younger son, David Carradine, born December 8, 1936, in Hollywood, California, became one of the most recognized actors of his generation — best known for the TV series “Kung Fu” (1972–1975) and Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003) and “Kill Bill: Volume 2” (2004). David Carradine died on June 3, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand, at age 72. Her older son Bruce Carradine also pursued an acting career, though with a lower public profile than his brother David.
Ardanelle McCool Son Net Worth In 2026
Ardanelle McCool’s personal net worth is not publicly confirmed in any source. She was not a public figure with a documented career or income. Her son David Carradine had an estimated net worth of approximately $1.5 million at the time of his death in 2009, built through over 40 years of film and television work.
No financial records, divorce settlement figures, or inheritance details tied to Ardanelle McCool are documented in any verified historical or public source.
Business Ventures
No business ventures are confirmed for Ardanelle McCool in any verified source. She has no documented connection to any company, brand, investment, or entrepreneurial activity.
Her public identity is defined entirely by her marriage to John Carradine from 1935 to 1944 and her role as the mother of David and Bruce Carradine. No business record under her name exists in any historical archive, public database, or published biography that I was able to verify.
Death Of Ardanelle McCool
No verified record of Ardanelle McCool’s death date or cause of death is available in any public source. Given that she married in 1935 and was likely born in the early 1900s, she would have passed away at some point in the latter half of the 20th century, but no obituary, death record, or news report confirming this has been publicly documented or widely reported.
Final Remarks
Ardanelle McCool married John Carradine in 1935 and gave birth to David Carradine in 1936 — a man who would go on to appear in over 100 films and become one of Hollywood’s most distinctive stars. Her own story remains almost entirely invisible in public records, as was the case for most women of her era who lived outside the entertainment industry. Her legacy is inseparable from the family she helped create.If you want to learn about other successful family businesses, you can visit BizLixo for more information.
FAQs
Did Ardanelle McCool have children?
Yes, she had two sons: Bruce Carradine and actor David Carradine.
When did Ardanelle McCool marry John Carradine?
She married John Carradine on December 31, 1935.
What was Bruce Carradine’s original last name?
His original last name was Cosner before being adopted by John Carradine.
What was Ardanelle McCool’s nationality?
Ardanelle McCool was American.
