Richard Chamberlain, the actor who began his career playing handsome television doctors and later became a master of the miniseries, has died at the age of 90, according to his publicist.
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04-01, 2025Harlan Boll, the publicist, said in a statement that Chamberlain died on Saturday in Hawaii of complications from a stroke. The award-winning star of "The Thorn Birds" would have turned 91 on Monday.
A three-time Golden Globe-winning actor, Chamberlain wore many hats over the years – actor, singer, soldier, painter, writer – but he initially rose to fame and solidified his heartthrob status for his role as a handsome young doctor in the 1960s television series "Dr. Kildare." In 1963, Chamberlain won the Golden Globe for Best TV Star - Male for his performance in "Dr. Kildare."
“It was, in fact, an instant worldwide hit,” Chamberlain said in a 2021 interview. “And I got all the attention and everything, which was absolutely what I was dreaming of. I was very happy about it.”
Chamberlain also had a burgeoning film career. In 1970, he played Octavius Caesar in "Julius Caesar" with Charlton Heston and Jason Robards, and in 1973, he starred in "The Three Musketeers" with Raquel Welch and Oliver Reed. In 1974, he played a role in the Oscar-winning film "The Towering Inferno."
In the 1980s, Chamberlain was also known as the "King of the Miniseries," the Associated Press reported. It's clear how he earned the title. He starred in the hit 1980 miniseries "Shogun" and 1983's "The Thorn Birds," each earning him a Golden Globe. In 1996, he reprised his role as Father Ralph de Bricassart from "The Thorn Birds" in the television film "The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years."
Chamberlain also played Jason Bourne in a 1988 television miniseries, the first screen version of "The Bourne Identity" franchise. Later, he appeared in several films and television movies in the 1990s, including "Bird of Prey" and "Lost Daughter."
In the early 2000s, Chamberlain appeared as a guest star in a number of modern sitcoms and television comedies, including "Will & Grace," "The Drew Carey Show," and "Desperate Housewives." His last credit on his IMDb page is the 2019 drama mystery film "Finding Julia."
In addition to a brief recording artist career, Chamberlain also played several memorable roles on stage over the years, including Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady" and a short-lived Broadway run with Mary Tyler Moore in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," which closed during previews.
Boll's statement noted that Chamberlain was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Beverly Hills with his parents and older brother, Bill, before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pomona College.
After graduation, Chamberlain joined the United States Army, serving 16 months in Korea and earning the rank of sergeant.
Chamberlain is survived by his longtime partner, Martin Rabbett.
“Our beloved Richard has gone now to be with the angels,” Rabbett said in a statement to CNN on Sunday. “He flies free now to join those loved ones who have gone before us. How lucky we were to have known such an amazing and loving soul.”
