Richard Chamberlain, Star of ‘Dr. Kildare’ and King of the Melodramatic Miniseries, Dies at 90

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90 years young, I find myself bidding farewell to the captivating Richard Chamberlain, a gamer’s screen hero in my childhood days. Known for his heart-melting roles in Dr. Kildare and the epic sagas Shogun and The Thorn Birds, he has left us with an indelible mark on our collective memory. Rest in peace, my friend.

On Saturday evening, Chamberlain passed away in Waimanalo, Hawai’i due to complications stemming from a stroke, as reported by Harlan Boll, his publicist, to The Hollywood Reporter. Regrettably, he was just short of celebrating his 91st birthday.

Richard, our cherished one, has ascended to be with the angels now, as stated by Martin Rabbett, his long-term partner. He’s no longer tethered here but soaring towards those who preceded us. We were truly fortunate to have encountered such a remarkable and caring spirit. Love may fade in our world, but it continues to support him on his journey to another grand adventure.

On the large movie screen, Chamberlain portrayed Julie Christie’s harsh husband in Richard Lester’s 1968 film Petulia, a swashbuckling Aramis in a series of Three Musketeers movies, and a treasure seeker named Allan Quatermain alongside Sharon Stone in King Solomon’s Mines (1985) and Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986).

To begin his television career in miniseries, Chamberlain initially played the role of trapper Alexander McKeag in James Michener’s epic saga titled “Centennial,” which consisted of 12 episodes and aired for 16 hours on NBC between 1978 and 1979. He was the initial actor to bring the character Jason Bourne to life on screen, starring as this character created by Robert Ludlum in an ABC miniseries that premiered in 1988.

In his liberating 2003 autobiography Shattered Love, Chamberlain, then 69, came out as gay. 

In the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, if you were growing up as a gay person, not only was it difficult, but it felt utterly impossible, he shared with The New York Times in 2014.

As a child, Chamberlain was taught that being gay was the most abhorrent thing one could be. This belief left him thinking there was something profoundly wrong with himself. Even his subsequent fame failed to erase this conviction.

Born and brought up in Beverly Hills, Chamberlain started out as a relatively green actor when he landed the role of James Kildare, an enthusiastic intern known for his excellent bedside manners, under the tutelage of Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Raymond Massey), on the show Dr. Kildare.

The NBC television series was inspired by well-known radio and movie serials produced by MGM, with Lew Ayres playing the character in films. Women found Chamberlain particularly appealing, and he garnered over 12,000 fan letters per week, a figure that surpassed any other at MGM, even Clark Gable’s.

Deep within me, my self-confidence was extremely low due to multiple factors. Therefore, receiving such public admiration was simply delightful – it felt like a wonderful remedy. In my own words, being considered extremely attractive filled me with immense joy! (This quote is from Chamberlain’s 2010 chat for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television.)

The series ran for a total of five seasons, spanning from September 1961 to August 1966. He stated, “Throughout my life I’ve been feigning perfection which made it easier for me to portray Dr. Kildare, as he was almost flawless.

In the Australian television miniseries “The Thorn Birds,” which was broadcast on ABC across four nights in March 1983, Chamberlain assumed the role of Father Ralph. This character is a Catholic priest who becomes embroiled in a complex romantic entanglement with Meggie, a strikingly beautiful young woman portrayed by Rachel Ward. In search of comfort, Meggie turns to a ranch hand, played by Bryan Brown, who later became her real-life partner.

Chamberlain stated that it was one of the most remarkable love stories ever experienced, but with a unique twist – a divine presence interwoven within their relationship.

The Thorn Birds, adapted from Colleen McCullough’s novel, held the position of the second most-watched miniseries ever, surpassed only by 1977’s Roots. Interestingly, Chamberlain found its success unexpected as he remarked, “It was one sorrowful event after another, with no characters ultimately emerging victorious.”

The initial concept of James Clavell’s novel, “Shogun,” was intended to be a film starring Robert Redford. However, when those plans didn’t materialize, NBC acquired the rights and aimed to cast Sean Connery as the tumultuous Englishman, John Blackthorne. When it proved impossible for Connery to take on the role, NBC eventually cast Richard Chamberlain, who had already read the book and expressed interest in playing the character. Chamberlain spent six months filming the miniseries in Japan, which was broadcast over five nights in 1980, spanning a total of twelve hours.

Shogun brought Chamberlan a Best Actor nomination at the Golden Globes and an Emmy nod, while The Thorn Birds earned him another Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a television miniseries or motion picture.

George Chamberlain, born on March 31, 1934 in Los Angeles, was the youngest of two brothers. His dad, Charles, worked as a salesman for a business that supplied fixtures to supermarkets, while his mom, Elsa, stayed at home and played the piano.

Raised in the affluent area of Beverly Hills, but specifically on the less prestigious part of Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Drive, he pointed out that it was an ordinary neighborhood. He went to Beverly Hills High School, where he performed in plays such as ‘I Remember Mama’.

In my world, I found myself drawn more towards the enchantment of fantasy than the reality around me. I loved immersing myself in role-playing games and assuming different identities. Truthfully, I felt most alive when I stepped into a character, so it seems fate has led me down the path of acting.

At Pomona College, Chamberlain initially majored in art. However, it wasn’t until his final year that he truly committed to acting, earning acclaim for his portrayal of Bluntschli in George Bernard Shaw’s play, Arms & the Man.

Initially, a representative from Paramount approached him for contract discussions. However, before the conversation could continue, he was unexpectedly drafted into the U.S. Army. For the next 16 months, he served in Korea, eventually earning the rank of sergeant.

At home, he learned from Jeff Corey, a former blacklisted actor turned educator, and secured representation with the influential MCA agent Monique James. His first paid role was on the 1959 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Massey’s son. This was quite lucky for him as the seasoned actor needed to endorse him to play James Kildaire, a role he would later land.

In a subsequent move, MGM considered casting Chamberlain for the part following his appearance in the unsuccessful Western series, “Paradise Kid.” Once Massey gave his seal of approval, Chamberlain was offered a seven-year contract, one of the last such agreements during the studio era. (It’s worth noting that William Shatner stated in his memoir he declined the role.)

Despite the success of Dr. Kildare, Chamberlain expressed discomfort. He stated, “There was a significant risk of being exposed.” He added, “I was the romantic lead, after all; that’s essentially my entire career.

It was a halcyon time for TV doctors — ABC’s Ben Casey also was on the air from 1961-66. 

Following Dr. Kildare, Chamberlain co-starred with Mary Tyler Moore in the 1966 stage version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but this production only had four previews and never made it to a Broadway premiere – even with direction by Abe Burrows and a script revision by Edward Albee.

“Turned out to be the biggest flop that ever hit Broadway,” he said.

After working on “Petulia”, Chamberlain decided to travel to England in 1968 with the aim of mastering the craft of serious acting. He gained recognition for his role as Ralph Touchett in a BBC adaptation of Henry James’ novel, “The Portrait of a Lady”, and made history by playing Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, a part that hadn’t been played by an American since John Barrymore in the late 1920s.

He stated, “That was what shocked me out of the intense gravitas of Dr. Kildare,” he said. “Folks in America were exclaiming, ‘He played Hamlet? Really?’, and it altered perceptions about me.

After securing notable television movie roles, Chamberlain starred as Scott Fitzgerald in ABC’s “F. Scott Fitzgerald” and “The Last of the Belles” in 1974; as the vengeful Edmond Dantes in NBC’s “The Count of Monte Cristo” in 1975; and as Phillipe/Louis in NBC’s “The Man in the Iron Mask” in 1977.

Chamberlain went on to secure significant television film roles, including portraying Scott Fitzgerald in ABC’s “F. Scott Fitzgerald” and “The Last of the Belles” (1974), the vengeful Edmond Dantes in NBC’s “The Count of Monte Cristo” (1975), and Phillipe/Louis in NBC’s “The Man in the Iron Mask” (1977).

His filmography encompassed titles such as “Twilight of Honor” (1963), “Joy in the Morning” (1965), “The Madwoman of Chaillot” (1969), “Julius Caesar” (1970), “The Music Lovers” (1971), “The Towering Inferno” (1974), “The Slipper and the Rose: The Tale of Cinderella” (1976), Peter Weir’s “The Last Wave” (1977) and “The Swarm” (1978).

Lately, Chamberlain has made guest appearances in various shows. Notably, he played a gay millionaire who insists his younger lover undergo plastic surgery to look like him on “Nip/Tuck”. He also reappeared on “Brothers & Sisters” as a past love interest of Ron Rifkin’s character. Comically, he portrayed Maggie Wick, Craig Ferguson’s mother, on “The Drew Carey Show”. Additionally, he was seen in the revival of “Twin Peaks”.

He was the first person ever interviewed on Entertainment Tonight.

Apart from being an actor, Chamberlain was additionally a singer whose single “These Stars Will Shine Tonight,” famously known as the theme from Dr. Kildare, peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the year 1962.

According to Chamberlain’s interview for the Oral History of Television, he felt a significant sense of relief upon publishing his book about coming out.

In a blink, the waves of anxiety and self-doubt seemed to dissipate, as if a benevolent spirit gently touched my forehead whispering, ‘It’s done, all that negativity is behind you.’ Being gay, I realized, is just another aspect of who I am, nothing more extraordinary than any other trait.

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2025-03-30 16:25