Richard Chamberlain, ‘Dr. Kildare’ and ‘The Thorn Birds’ Star, Dies at 90

TV star Richard Chamberlain has died. He was 90.

Publicist Harlan Boll confirmed to Variety that Richard Chamberlain died on Saturday in Waimanalo, Hawaii, due to complications from a stroke.

Martin Rabbett, Chamberlain’s longtime partner, expressed in a statement, “Our beloved Richard is with the angels now.” „Er ist frei und schwebt zu den geliebten Menschen, die uns vorausgingen.“

“What a blessing it was to have known such an incredible and caring person,” the statement continued. „Liebe ist unsterblich. He cradles our love beneath his wings, elevating him toward his next grand adventure.

Richard Chamberlain, who was born on March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, co-founded a theater group in Los Angeles and started appearing in film and television in 1960.

His most famous role was in the NBC medical drama series “Dr. Kildare,” which aired nearly 200 episodes from 1961 to 1966.

In a TV Insider interview last year, Chamberlain reflected on the show and stated, “I was aware the series was the answer to all my dreams. The show turned into a massive success, which was simply mesmerizing.

By the 1980s, Chamberlain had earned the title of “King of the Miniseries” for his performances in “Shogun,” “The Thorn Birds,” and “Centennial.”” The 1975 novel by James Clavell served as the source material for the adaptation of “Shogun.” Last year, it was remade into another miniseries that garnered an unprecedented 18 Emmy Awards.

Chamberlain portrayed a priest in “The Thorn Birds” who engages in an affair with a beautiful woman. He reprised his role in the 1996 sequel miniseries “The Thorn Birds: The Missing Year.”

Last year, Chamberlain told TV Insider that he considered “The Thorn Birds” to be the highlight of his career.

“Its impact on the world was astonishing, as it had a sort of international effect. He mentioned the show, saying, “And working with Barbara Stanwyck was just brilliant, as well as with Rachel [Ward] and all those fabulous people.”

Chamberlain, although primarily recognized for his television work, also took pleasure in acting in films such as the “Three Musketeers” trilogy and “King Solomon’s Mines,” along with its sequel “Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold.” He was the first actor to portray Jason Bourne in the television movie “The Bourne Identity.”

Chamberlain also appeared in stage productions like “Blithe Spirit,” “My Fair Lady,” “The Sound of Music,” and “Scrooge: The Musical.” He had a short career as a recording artist, contributing to soundtracks for his acting projects.

In the later years of his career, Chamberlain appeared in a recurring role on the ABC series “Brothers & Sisters” and took on a supporting role in the film “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.”

Chamberlain’s last television performance was in the 2017 revival of “Twin Peaks.”

The deceased celebrity was involved with Rabbett, aged 71, for many years. They collaborated on “Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold.”

In an interview with TV Insider, Chamberlain expressed a desire to be remembered as “a reasonably nice guy with a sense of humor.”