According to publicist Harlan Boll, Emmy-nominated actor Richard Chamberlain, who rose to fame in the 1960s for his role in the medical drama Dr. Kildare and later starred in the miniseries Shogun and The Thorn Birds, has passed away at the age of 90.
Boll confirmed that Chamberlain passed away late Saturday in Hawaii due to complications following a stroke.
His longtime partner, Martin Rabbett, told Variety: “Our beloved Richard is with the angels now.”
“He is free and soaring toward those who have gone before us. How blessed we were 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.”
Chamberlain’s breakthrough role as Dr. James Kildare in the 1961–1966 television series made him a teenage heartthrob.
At the time, when he was 27 years old, The Guardian described him as an actor who “looked like he had been sculpted by a loving god out of butter, honey, and grace.”
Born George Richard Chamberlain in Beverly Hills on March 31, 1934, he initially studied painting at Pomona College. After serving as an Army clerk during the Korean War, he decided to pursue a career in acting.
Known as the “king of the miniseries,” Chamberlain also gained recognition in theater for his performances in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Richard II, as well as for playing Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music and Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady.
In the 1988 miniseries The Bourne Identity, he portrayed Jason Bourne.
“What’s fascinating about Richard is that his range is enormous. His ability to be different each time is what makes him such a valuable talent,” producer Susan Baerwald told The New York Times in 1988.
Chamberlain won Golden Globe awards for his roles in Shogun and The Thorn Birds, having previously won one for Dr. Kildare.
Throughout his career, he received four Emmy nominations for his performances in Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story (1985), Shogun (1981), The Thorn Birds (1983), and The Count of Monte Cristo (1975).
As miniseries began to decline in popularity, Chamberlain transitioned to theater, playing Captain von Trapp in a 1999 revival of The Sound of Music and Professor Henry Higgins in a 1994 Broadway production of My Fair Lady.
He reprised his role as de Bricassart in the 1996 television film The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years and appeared in several films, including The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Towering Inferno, The Music Lovers (as Tchaikovsky), The Three Musketeers, and its sequels.
Chamberlain continued acting well into the 21st century, making guest appearances on shows such as Touched by an Angel, The Drew Carey Show, and Will & Grace.
Due to his many romantic leading roles, he did not publicly come out as gay until he was 68.
In a 2014 interview with The New York Times, he said: “Growing up in the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s as a gay man wasn’t just difficult—it was impossible. I assumed there was something terribly wrong with me. Even after becoming famous, that feeling never went away.”
After acknowledging his sexuality in his 2003 autobiography, Shattered Love: A Memoir, Chamberlain said it was a huge relief.
In a 2019 interview, he stated, “I had no fear left. It was a wonderful experience. People were open, friendly, and kind.”