American actor Richard Chamberlain, known as a heartthrob of the 1960s and the star of landmark TV series including “Dr. Kildare,” “Shogun,” and “The Thorn Birds,” has died at the age of 90, according to a statement from his publicist, Harlan Boll.
Chamberlain passed away late Saturday at his home in Hawaii due to complications from a stroke, Boll confirmed in an announcement on Sunday.
A career spanning over six decades
Richard Chamberlain achieved immediate fame playing the handsome, compassionate Dr. James Kildare in the iconic television series “Dr. Kildare,” which aired from 1961 to 1966. His performance made him an instant teen idol, paving the way for a prolific and enduring career that spanned theatre, films, and television.
His broad acting range earned him the nickname “king of the mini-series,” particularly in the 1980s when he starred in acclaimed TV dramas like “Shogun” (1981) and “The Thorn Birds” (1983). His powerful performances earned him four Emmy nominations, including portrayals of an English navigator in “Shogun,” the conflicted priest Ralph de Bricassart in “The Thorn Birds,” Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg in “Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story,” and the titular character in “The Count of Monte-Cristo.”
In 1988, Chamberlain also originated the role of Jason Bourne in the television adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s “The Bourne Identity.”
Producer Susan Baerwald praised Chamberlain’s versatility in a 1988 interview, stating, “What’s fascinating about Richard is that his range is enormous. His ability to be different each time out is what makes him such a valuable property.”
Publicly acknowledging his sexuality later in life
For much of his career, Chamberlain was celebrated as a romantic leading man, a status that led him to keep his sexuality hidden for decades. He publicly came out as gay at age 68, expressing relief and describing the experience as “wonderful” in a 2019 interview.
“When you grow up in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s being gay, it’s not only ain’t easy, it’s just impossible,” Chamberlain told the New York Times in 2014. “I assumed there was something terribly wrong with me. And even becoming famous and all that, it was still there.”
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Chamberlain shared a three-decade relationship with actor and writer Martin Rabbett, his co-star in the 1986 film “Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold.” The couple parted in 2010 but remained close friends.
Upon Chamberlain’s passing, Rabbett shared a heartfelt tribute: “He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us. How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul.”
Early life and path to fame
Born George Richard Chamberlain on March 31, 1934, in Los Angeles, he initially aspired to become an artist. However, while attending Pomona College, Chamberlain discovered a passion for acting. His budding career was briefly interrupted when he was drafted into the US Army in 1956, where he served in Korea.
After returning from service, he resumed acting, co-founding a theatre group in Los Angeles and securing small television roles before his big break in “Dr. Kildare.”
Transitioning to stage and international success
Chamberlain successfully transitioned from American television to British stage and screen in the late 1960s, sharpening his skills with roles in the BBC series “The Portrait of a Lady” and notably as Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Recalling his transition to British acting circles, Chamberlain once said, “Dr Kildare was a huge hit in England, and I heard that all the London reviewers were coming to rip this interloper to pieces. But we got very good reviews.”
Throughout the 1970s, Chamberlain solidified his international star status, portraying Lord Byron in “Lady Caroline Lamb,” performing in “The Three Musketeers,” and taking on the villainous role in the blockbuster “The Towering Inferno.”
Versatile performances and later life
Chamberlain’s later career was marked by diverse performances in Broadway plays, musicals, television, and film. His theatre credits included starring roles in classics like Tennessee Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana” and leading roles in musical productions such as “My Fair Lady,” where he portrayed Professor Henry Higgins, and Captain von Trapp in “The Sound of Music.”
After publicly acknowledging his sexuality, Chamberlain continued to perform, playing both gay and straight characters on popular TV shows including “Brothers & Sisters,” “Will & Grace,” and “Desperate Housewives.”
Throughout his extensive career, Richard Chamberlain remained beloved by audiences around the world, remembered for both his captivating performances and his courageous personal journey.
