Richard Chamberlain, the celebrated actor known for his iconic roles in the 1960s medical drama Dr. Kildare and the epic miniseries Shogun, has died at the age of 90, his publicist confirmed.
Chamberlain, dubbed the “king of the mini-series” for his leading roles in Shogun and The Thorn Birds, passed away late Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii, from complications following a stroke, just hours before his 91st birthday, according to his publicist Harlan Boll.
Martin Rabbett, Chamberlain’s longtime partner, whom he kept hidden from the public eye for decades, remembered him as an “amazing and loving soul” in a statement. Their 30-year relationship, a carefully guarded secret, was only revealed to the public in Chamberlain’s 2003 memoir, Shattered Love, where he openly discussed his homosexuality.
In his memoir, Chamberlain detailed the immense pressure of concealing his sexuality in Hollywood, recalling the necessity of escorting glamorous actresses to premieres, all while “desperately afraid” his true self would derail his career. “I used to get chased by hot teenage girls,” he once told TV Guide. “I got 12,000 fan letters a week. And I felt somewhat besieged.” This fabricated heterosexual persona was a survival mechanism in a less tolerant era.
Rabbett and Chamberlain separated in 2010 but remained close.
Born on 31 March 1934 in Beverly Hills, California, Chamberlain’s childhood was far removed from the glamour of Hollywood. He grew up on “the wrong side of Wilshire Boulevard,” as he described it. The younger of two boys, his father, Charles, struggled with alcoholism and his mother, Elsa, was a homemaker.
Initially a painting student at Pomona College, a student theatre performance sparked his passion for acting. His early Hollywood aspirations were interrupted by his service in the US Army, where he rose to the rank of sergeant while stationed in South Korea.
Upon his return, Chamberlain pursued acting classes, landing small television roles before his breakthrough as Dr. Kildare.
Later in life, Chamberlain openly discussed the emotional toll of his childhood and the psychological abuse he endured. He described his father’s “lethal sneer” and emotionally abusive behavior as feeling like being “slashed with a machete.” He also expressed profound relief at finally being able to live openly as a gay man, free from the constraints of secrecy.
