LOS ANGELES - FORMER wife of late actor David Carradine has revealed that he regularly tied himself up for sexual 'self-gratification', said media reports on Wednesday.

Carradine's third wife, Gail Jensen, told Radaronline.com that during her 10-year marriage to Carradine he often tied himself up in the bedroom wearing only a Speedo swimming costume, but "never, never, never" took part in auto-erotic asphyxiation.

"He told me it was a form of meditation, because of all the pressure on his life. It was a form of relaxation," Ms Jensen said.

"I'd walk in and I'd say, 'Honey, you've got to be kidding me.' To me it was a little weird ... but our love was deep."

However, she said that she did not think he was putting himself in danger.

"No, I never thought he thought he was in danger. He had his kinky moments but I tell you, honest to goodness, if you'd lived with him, and all the things we did together, you would forgive him anything."

According to news.com.au, Ms Jensen also said the Carradine had a 'Speedo fetish'..

"He loves Speedos. He ran around the entire 15 years we were together in his Speedos... He liked to go horseback riding bareback in his Speedos," she said.

Ms Jensen said she never took part in the sex games. "No, I'd just leave him alone and take care of my business."

There has been speculation about Carradine's death since his body was found last Friday hanging inside a wardrobe from a rope attached to his neck and genitals at a Bangkok hotel.

Police said the 72-year-old actor may have died from accidental suffocation or heart failure, leading to speculation Carradine may have engaged in auto-erotic asphyxiation, reported news.com.au.

But his family's lawyer says he may have been killed by a secret sect of martial arts assassins.