Richard Chamberlain of 'Dr. Kildare,' 'Shogun' dies: reports
(NEXSTAR) — Richard Chamberlain, well-known for his roles in "Dr. Kildare" and "Shogun," among other titles, has died, according to multiple reports. He was 90.
Chamberlain, who would have turned 91 on Monday, died late Saturday in Waimanalo, Hawaii, publicist Harlan Boll told The Washington Post and Variety. He had experienced complications following a stroke, Boll noted.
Chamberlain was born in Beverly Hills, California, in 1934. His father was a salesman and his mother a homemaker. It was films, however, that inspired him as a child.
He would later attend Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he began acting. Chamberlain spent two years in the Army in Korea before returning home and landing roles on television.
While Chamberlain appeared in several television series in the late 1950s and early 1960s — including roles on "Gunsmoke" and "Riverboat" — it was his work as Dr. James Kildare that turned him into a heartthrob of the era. He appeared in more than 190 episodes of the medical drama "Dr. Kildare" during the 1960s, even earning him a Golden Globe in 1963 for best TV star.
Chamberlain's extensive resume entails roles across multiple television series, movies, and miniseries. He had recurring roles on "Shogun," "The Thorn Birds," "Island Son," and "Black Beard."
It was "Shogun" that earned him another Golden Globe, this time for best actor in a television drama, while Chamberlain's work on "The Thorn Birds" secured him a Golden Globe for best actor in a miniseries or motion picture for TV. The latter also gave him an Emmy nomination.
He scored his greatest miniseries success with "The Thorn Birds," based on Colleen McCullough's best-seller. He played Father Ralph de Bricassart, a Roman Catholic priest in Australia who falls in love with beautiful Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward). The ABC production, which also starred Barbara Stanwyck, reportedly attracted 100 million viewers.
When the public began to lose interest in miniseries, Chamberlain turned to the theater, where he displayed a fine singing voice. He appeared as Henry Higgins in a 1994 Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady" and as Captain von Trapp in a 1999 revival of "The Sound of Music."
He reprised his role of de Bricassart in the 1996 TV movie "The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years."
His more recent work included appearances on the television series "Desperate Housewives," "Chuck," and "Twin Peaks," his IMDb page shows.
“I’ve been so lucky,” Chamberlain told The Associated Press in 2014. “I’ve been acting for 55 years — meeting the right people, getting the right advice, getting the right jobs.”
Outside of acting, Chamberlain has been credited with supporting ecological causes, including helping to protect the Tuolumne River which begins in Yosemite National Park.
In 2003, Chamberlain publicly came out in his memoir, "Shattered Love." He recounted how he was forced to hide his sexuality. He would escort glamorous actresses to movie premieres and other public events at the request of studio executives and dodge reporters' questions about why he had never married with a stock reply: "Getting married would be great, but I'm awfully busy now."
"When I grew up, being gay, being a sissy or anything like that was verboten," he said in an NBC interview. "I disliked myself intensely and feared this part of myself intensely and had to hide it."
Director and producer Martin Rabbett, his longtime partner, said in a statement shared with Variety that, "Our beloved Richard is with the angels now."
"He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us. How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.