Richard Chamberlain: Heartthrob king of the TV mini-series

Richard Chamberlain, a beloved actor known for his roles in popular television series such as Dr Kildare, Shogun, and The Thorn Birds, has passed away at the age of 90. He first gained fame in the 1960s when he portrayed Dr Kildare, a compassionate doctor who helped many patients. His striking good looks and charm won him a massive following, especially among female viewers, and he secured numerous roles in various television movies. However, it was in the 1980s that Chamberlain truly became the king of the TV mini-series, taking on memorable roles such as a western prisoner in Shogun and a conflicted priest in The Thorn Birds. Despite facing questions about his sexuality, he did not publicly address it until he was 70 years old. In interviews promoting his memoir, he advised other handsome actors to keep their personal lives private, stating, 'There’s still a tremendous amount of homophobia in our culture. ' Born on March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California, Chamberlain's life was not without challenges. His father struggled with alcoholism, which impacted Richard's childhood. He described himself as a shy and serious child, often feeling out of place. Although he was not the most cooperative student, he discovered a passion for athletics. It was during his time at Pomona College that he found his true calling in acting, inspired by a role in Bernard Shaw's play Arms and the Man. After college, he was drafted into the US Army, where he served for 16 months and rose to the rank of sergeant while stationed in Korea. Following his military service, he began making guest appearances on television shows, including a notable role in the Western series Gunsmoke. Chamberlain's portrayal of Dr Kildare earned him a Golden Globe Award, and he became a household name, receiving an astonishing 12,000 fan letters each week. His popularity was evident when 450,000 fans turned out to see him at a parade in Pittsburgh, and he nearly caused a riot in New York when a child recognized him. The studio capitalized on his fame by releasing novels, comics, and games featuring his character, and he even recorded a hit single titled Three Stars Will Shine Tonight, which was based on the show's theme music. However, after three successful years, the show ended, and Chamberlain struggled to break free from the shadow of Dr Kildare. In 1966, he attempted to transition to film but faced criticism for his performance in the romantic comedy Joy in the Morning. Determined to succeed, he shifted his focus to the stage, although his early attempts were met with mixed results. A musical adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany's, in which he starred alongside Mary Tyler Moore, closed after just four performances, marking it as one of Broadway's biggest flops. Nevertheless, his move to England allowed him to reinvent himself as a serious actor. In 1967, he took on leading roles in adaptations of Henry James' Portrait of a Lady and the satirical comedy The Madwoman of Chaillot, and in 1969, he became the first American to portray Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre since John Barrymore in 1925. This performance received rave reviews, and he later reprised the role for a television adaptation. Chamberlain's career continued to flourish as he took on diverse roles, including Tchaikovsky in Ken Russell's The Music Lovers, which explored the composer's complex relationship with his wife. He also starred in films like Lady Caroline Lamb and The Three Musketeers, as well as the disaster film The Towering Inferno. In 1977, the groundbreaking mini-series Roots captivated audiences and led to a resurgence of the format, bringing Chamberlain back to television. He was cast as John Blackthorn, an English navigator in 17th-century Japan, in the mini-series Shogun, which aired on NBC and attracted nearly 30 million viewers. His performance earned him a Golden Globe, and he later won another for his role as Father Ralph de Bricassart in The Thorn Birds, a series that garnered an audience share of 60% and received 16 Emmy nominations. As the 1990s approached, Chamberlain's career began to slow down, with a series of solid but unremarkable performances in made-for-TV films and guest spots on various shows. In 2003, he published his autobiography, Shattered Love, where he publicly confirmed his sexuality for the first time. He had been in a long-term relationship with actor Martin Rabbett, but they separated in 2010. In his later years, Chamberlain embraced his identity, taking on gay roles in shows like Desperate Housewives and Will & Grace. He continued to perform in musical theater, including productions of Spamalot and My Fair Lady. Reflecting on his past, he expressed that while he would have preferred to be open about his sexuality, he prioritized his career at the time. He stated, 'I would have been a happier person being out of the closet and being free. ' Richard Chamberlain will be remembered as the king of the TV mini-series, a charismatic leading man who captivated audiences with his performances, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of television.