The ‘Shōgun’ And ‘Thorn Birds’ Star Was 90

Richard Chamberlain, who rose to early fame on television in the 1960s medical drama Dr. Kildare, died on March 29 in Waimanalo, Hawaii of complications following a stroke. He was two days shy of turning 91.

Born March 31, 1934 in Beverly Hills, California, Richard Chamberlain initially aspired to become an artist but made the move to acting after appearing in drama productions at Pomona College. He debuted on the small screen in a guest role on the anthology Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1959 and on the big screen in the low budget Secret of the Purple Reef in 1960.

Following guest appearances in Rescue 8, Bourbon Street Beat, Gunsmoke, Mr. Lucky, among other dramas, Chamberlain bowed as Dr. James Kildare in ABC’s Dr. Kildare in 1961. Dr. Kildare was an immediate top 10 hit, finishing No. 9 in its first season. It ran for five years and resulted in a Golden Globe for Best Male TV Star in 1963.

Along with the success of his acting career, Chamberlain became a singer, scoring a top 10 hit in 1962 with a vocal version of the theme song for Dr. Kildare, Three Stars Will Shine Tonight. After Dr. Kildare, Chamberlain decided to have a go with acting in plays at the American Stock Repertory.

In 1966, he appeared opposite Mary Tyler Moore in the Broadway musical Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which closed after only four previews in New York. In early 1968, he segued to England as Ralph Touchett in the BBC’s TV adaptation of Henry James’ Portrait of a Lady.

After that, Chamberlain on the big screen Petulia opposite Julie Christie as her abusive husband. He was next cast as the romantic Frenchman with Katherine Hepburn in the film adaptation of The Madwoman of Chaillot. Then, in 1969, Chamberlain performed the title role in Hamlet for the Birmingham Repertory. One year later, he reprised the character in the 1970 television production for Hallmark Hall of Fame and appeared in the TV film The Lady’s Not for Burning in 1972.

Chamberlain also portrayed the cunning Octavius Caesar opposite Charlton Heston’s Mark Anthony and Jason Robard’s Brutus in Julius Caesar in 1970. He then played composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky alongside Glenda Jackson in Ken Russell’s biopic The Music Lovers in 1971 and Lord Byron alongside Sarah Miles in Lady Caroline Lamb in 1972.

Following his performance as Aramis in The Three Musketeers in 1973 and The Four Musketeers: Milady’s Revenge in 1974, Chamberlain was part of the acting ensemble in the Irwin Allen action/adventure blockbuster The Towering Inferno in 1974. Four years later he reunited with Allen for the disaster film The Swarm, which followed a deadly African bee invasion in the United States.

Additional roles for Chamberlain at the time included F. Scott Fitzgerald in the Last of the Belles in 1974, his Emmy-nominated role as Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo in 1975, and the miniseries Centennial in 1978.

On stage, Chamberlain appeared as Rev. Shannon in the 1976 Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana and as Wild Bill Hillcock in the New York premier of Joseph Papp’s production of Thomas Babe’s Fathers and Sons at the Public Theatre.

Then, in the early 1980s, Chamberlain two huge hits in the miniseries category: Pilot/Major John Blackthorne in Shōgun in 1980 and as the ambitious Australian priest Ralph de Bricassart in The Thorn Birds in 1983. Both parts resulted in Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special. And, in 1996, he returned as Ralph in sequel The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years.

In 1989, Chanberlain tacked his second regularly scheduled TV medical drama, Island Son. But it aired for only one season.

Later in his career, Chamberlain was active making television guest appearances, including on series Touched by an Angel, The Drew Carey Show, Will & Grace, Nip/Tuck, Desperate Housewives and the revival of Twin Peaks. He had a recurring role on Brothers & Sisters. And he appeared in the independent film We Are the Hartmans in 2011.

Chamberlain is survived by Martin Rabbett, his life-long partner. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either NPR or the Hawaiian Humane Society.

“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,” wrote Martin Rabbett in a statement.