1934–2025
Latest News: Richard Chamberlain Dies at Age 90
Actor Richard Chamberlain, former star of the TV drama Dr. Kildare and the popular miniseries Shōgun and The Thorn Birds, died March 29 in Waimanalo, Hawaii, of complications from a stroke, according to his publicist. He was 90 years old.
In a statement, Chamberlain’s longtime partner Martin Rabbett said: “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.”
A veteran screen and stage performer, The New York Times dubbed Chamberlain the “king of the miniseries” for his prominent roles in 1980’s Shōgun—an adaptation of the James Clavell novel about the friendship between an English sailor and Japanese daimyo—and The Thorn Birds three years later.
Who Was Richard Chamberlain?
Actor Richard Chamberlain starred as the title character in the popular medical drama Dr. Kildare, which aired from 1961 to 1966. He later moved to England, where he played serious roles in various British stage productions, including Hamlet. Upon his return to the United States, Chamberlain assumed the role of romantic leading man in a number of TV films and miniseries, including Shōgun (1980), The Thorn Birds (1983) and The Bourne Identity (1988). In his 2003 memoir, Chamberlain revealed he was gay and had kept his sexual orientation a secret throughout his career to protect his roles. He died on March 29, 2025, due to complications from a stroke.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: George Richard Chamberlain
BORN: March 31, 1934
DIED: March 29, 2025
BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles, California
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aries
Early Life
Born on March 31, 1934, in Los Angeles, George Richard Chamberlain starred in the popular 1960s medical series Dr. Kildare and several hit miniseries, including Shogun and The Thorn Birds. He grew up in Beverly Hills with his parents Chuck and Elsa and his older brother Bill. An actress and singer, his mother had many creative talents. His father’s battle with alcoholism, however, cast a shadow over Chamberlain’s childhood.
After graduating from Beverly Hills High, Chamberlain attended Pomona College in Claremont, California. There he studied painting and art history and got involved in student dramatic productions. During his senior year, Chamberlain had “a life-changing breakthrough as a neophyte actor,” he wrote in his 2003 memoir Shattered Love. He realized after performing in George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man that “maybe I could embrace my first love and actually become an actor!”
Unfortunately, fate forced Chamberlain to delay his acting dreams. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. “I hated being in the Army... I don’t like being ordered around. I don’t like ordering people around. I came out a sergeant. It was all just another role for me,” Chamberlain later told The Advocate.
Movies and TV: Dr. Kildare and The Thorn Birds
In 1961, Chamberlain began his run on Dr. Kildare. His starring role as a kind, caring physician made him a household name and won him a Golden Globe Award in 1963. His leading-man good looks also opened the door to other parts. Chamberlain starred in the 1963 dramatic film Twilight of Honor and the 1965 relationship drama Joy in the Morning. Not long after Dr. Kildare ended in 1966, he moved to England, where he delved into theatrical work.
In the 1970s, Chamberlain starred in such films as The Three Musketeers (1973) with Michael York, Oliver Reed and Raquel Welch and The Towering Inferno (1974) with Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. He also worked steadily in television, appearing the 1977 adaptation of The Man in the Iron Mask and the miniseries Centennial. In 1980, Chamberlain starred in the popular miniseries Shogun, playing an English navigator in Japan during the 1600s. Shōgun, based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, became a huge hit with American audiences. For his work on the miniseries, Chamberlain won another Golden Globe and received an Emmy Award nomination.
Chamberlain again won over viewers with his next big TV project. He starred in the 1980 miniseries The Thorn Birds, playing a priest who struggles to keep his vows because of his love for a young woman (played by Rachel Ward). Considered quite risqué for its time, the drama had viewers glued to their television sets for several nights. The Thorn Birds also earned numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe win and an Emmy Award nomination for Chamberlain. He later played Jason Bourne in the 1988 TV adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Identity.
Personal Life
In his 2003 autobiography, Shattered Love, Chamberlain went public with his sexual orientation. He had hidden the fact that he was gay for most of his career, believing the revelation would have negatively impacted his professional life. Chamberlain finally felt unafraid to tell his truth, saying in a 2003 Dateline interview, “I’m not a romantic leading man anymore, so I don’t need to nurture that public image anymore.”
Chamberlain said at the time he and partner Martin Rabbett had been in a relationship for almost three decades and were building a beach house in O‘ahu, Hawaii. In 2014, Chamberlain revealed he and Rabbett were living separately but remained good friends.
Later Life and Death
Later in his career, Chamberlain participated in an interesting mix of projects. He appeared in a touring production of the musical comedy Spamalot as King Arthur in 2009, a Los Angeles stage adaptation of The Exorcist in 2012 with Brooke Shields and an off-Broadway revival of David Rabe’s Sticks and Bones with Holly Hunter and Bill Pullman in 2014. Chamberlain also landed a role in the 2017 reboot of David Lynch's cult classic TV series Twin Peaks as well.
In addition to his memoir, Chamberlain also penned a collection of haiku poems, My Life in Haiku, which was published in 2013.
On March 29, 2025, Chamberlain’s publicist, Harlan Boll, confirmed the actor died at age 90 in Waimanalo, Hawaii, due to complications from a stroke. The New York Times reported Chamberlain and his longtime partner Rabbett had resumed living together shortly before his death.
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