Richard Chamberlain, an actor known for his appearances in “Dr. Kildare,” “Shōgun,” and “The Thorn Birds,” died on Saturday in Waimanalo, Hawaii, owing to complications from a stroke. He was 90 years old.
George Richard Chamberlain was born March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California. He helped start a theater group in Los Angeles and started acting in movies and TV shows in 1960. He became famous in the early 1960s as the lead in the NBC medical drama “Dr. Kildare,” which ran from 1961 to 1966. In 1963, his portrayal of the benevolent Dr. James Kildare earned him a Golden Globe for Best Male TV Star.
In the 1980s, Chamberlain was dubbed the “King of the Miniseries” due to his roles in “Shōgun” (1980) and “The Thorn Birds” (1983). English navigator’s adventures in feudal Japan were shown in “Shōgun,” which was based on James Clavell’s book. “The Thorn Birds” was about a priest who is pulled between his vows and an unapproved love. He won Golden Globes for both of these roles.
Chamberlain had a varied film career as well. He was in “Julius Caesar” (1970), “The Three Musketeers” (1973), and “The Towering Inferno” (1974), among others. Besides that, he played Jason Bourne in the 1988 TV movie “The Bourne Identity.”
In his 2003 book”Shattered Love,” he revealed to the world that he was gay. He talked of how difficult it was to maintain his “heathen” persona and be gay too. Martin Rabbett, an actor or writer, was his long-term partner. In a statement after Chamberlain’s death, Rabbett stated, “Our precious Richard is with the angels now.”We are so grateful to have found one so kind and compassionate.
Richard Chamberlain spent over 60 years in the show business and had an enormous influence on the movies and television shows.
