Emmy-nominated actor Richard Chamberlain, best known for Dr. Kildare, Shogun, and The Thorn Birds, has passed away at 90. According to his publicist Harlan Boll, he died in Hawaii on Saturday due to stroke complications.
His longtime companion, Martin Rabbett, told Variety, “Our beloved Richard is with the angels now… Love never dies.”
Chamberlain rose to fame as the heartthrob Dr. James Kildare in the 1960s. Dubbed the “king of miniseries,” he also starred in The Bourne Identity (1988), The Count of Monte Cristo (1975), and several Shakespearean plays. His Golden Globe-winning performances in Shogun and The Thorn Birds cemented his legacy.
Born in Beverly Hills in 1934, Chamberlain initially studied painting before turning to acting after serving in the Korean War. Though he played romantic leads, he publicly came out as gay at 68, calling it a “huge relief.”
He continued acting well into the 21st century, appearing in Touched by an Angel, Will & Grace, and more.
