Richard Chamberlain dies aged 90 as partner issues touching tribute
Richard Chamberlain, the actor who rose to fame as the star of 1960s medical drama Dr. Kildare, has died at the age of 90.
The veteran performer, who appeared in such classics as The Towering Inferno, passed away on Saturday evening in Hawaii from complications following a stroke.
Chamberlain died at 11:15 p.m. Hawaii time in Waimanalo, with his death confirmed by publicist Harlan Boll.
“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now,” said Martin Rabbett, Chamberlain’s longtime partner, in a statement. “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,” Rabbett added.
Born in Beverly Hills on March 31, 1934, Chamberlain shot to fame as the title character in NBC’s “Dr. Kildare”, which ran from 1961 to 1966.
The medical drama made him an overnight sensation at age 27, drawing millions of viewers and turning him into a teen idol.
His portrayal of an English seaman shipwrecked in Japan in Shogun (1980) was watched by 120 million viewers, becoming one of the biggest television audiences ever.
But it was his role as Father Ralph de Bricassart in “The Thorn Birds” (1983) that truly cemented his legacy, playing a Catholic priest torn between his vows and his love for Rachel Ward’s character.
Both performances earned him Emmy Award nominations.
Chamberlain also enjoyed success on the big screen, notably playing Aramis in “The Three Musketeers” (1973) and its sequels.
He was the first actor to portray Jason Bourne in the 1988 TV film “The Bourne Identity”, long before Matt Damon took on the role.
His film credits included Petulia, The Towering Inferno, and the adventure films King Solomon’s Mines and Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold.
In his later years, Chamberlain made guest appearances on television shows including “Will and Grace”, “Desperate Housewives” and “Brothers and Sisters”.
His final television role came in 2017 when he appeared in an episode of the “Twin Peaks” revival.
Chamberlain spent decades in a relationship with Rabbett, who was described by his publicist as his “lifelong partner and best friend”.
The actor kept his homosexuality private for most of his career, fearing it might damage his prospects.
“I used to get chased by hot teenage girls,” he once said. “I got 12,000 fan letters a week. And all the fan magazines would ask me about my love life.”
He finally came out publicly in his 2003 memoir, “Shattered Love”, ahead of his 70th birthday.