Richard Chamberlain

George Richard Chamberlain (March 31, 1934 – March 29, 2025) was an American actor and singer, whose career on stage and in film and television spanned over 60 years. He was the recipient of many accolades, including three Golden Globe Awards (out of 6 total nominations), four Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, two Drama Desk Award nominations, and a Grammy Award nominations.

After early stage experiences, Chamberlain became a teen idol in the title role of the popular television show Dr. Kildare (1961–66). He subsequently earned the title "King of the Mini-Series"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for his work in several high-profile TV miniseries, such as Centennial (1978), Shōgun (1980), and The Thorn Birds (1983). He also performed classical stage roles and worked in musical theater, and was twice nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In film, Chamberlain starred as Aramis in the film trilogy The Three Musketeers (1973), The Four Musketeers (1974), and The Return of the Musketeers (1989); portrayed Allan Quatermain in both King Solomon's Mines (1985) and Lost City of Gold (1986); and was the first actor to play Jason Bourne, starring in the 1988 television film The Bourne Identity. He starred in the Australian New Wave film The Last Wave (1977), directed by Peter Weir, earning him a AACTA Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He also had a brief career as a pop singer in the 1960s.

Early life

George Richard Chamberlain was born on March 31, 1934, at the now-closed Angelus Hospital on Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles,<ref>"Births". Los Angeles Times. April 5, 1934.</ref> the second son of Elsa Winnifred (née von Benzon; later Matthews) and Charles Axion "Chuck" Chamberlain, who was a shop equipment salesman from Indiana.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His mother was of part German descent. Charles worked in real estate and the supermarket business before running a refrigerator business from 1956 to 1970 and, later, authoring the book "A New Pair of Glasses". Chamberlain had a brother, William, who worked alongside their father in the family business.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chamberlain graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1952<ref name="biography">Template:Cite web</ref> and in 1956 from Pomona College with a bachelor's degree in art history and painting.<ref name="YAHOO">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> He was drafted into the United States Army and served from 1956 to 1958. He attained the rank of sergeant while stationed in post-war Korea.<ref name="biography"/><ref name="amomama">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="chamberlainsite">Richard Chamberlain, Biography www.richardchamberlain.com. Retrieved February 13, 2022.</ref>

Career

Chamberlain co-founded a Los Angeles–based theater group Company of Angels, and began appearing on television in guest roles in the early 1960s. In 1961, he gained widespread fame as the young intern Dr. James Kildare in the NBC/MGM television series of the same name, co-starring with Raymond Massey.<ref name="biography"/><ref name=":1" /> Chamberlain's singing ability also led to some hit singles in the early 1960s, including the "Theme from Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight)," which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Dr. Kildare ended in 1966, after which Chamberlain began performing on the theater circuit. In 1966, he was cast opposite Mary Tyler Moore in the ill-fated Broadway musical Breakfast at Tiffany's, co-starring Priscilla Lopez, which, after an out-of-town tryout period, closed after only four previews. Decades later, he returned to Broadway in revivals of My Fair Lady<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and The Sound of Music.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

At the end of the 1960s, Chamberlain spent a period of time in England, where he played in repertory theater and in the BBC's Portrait of a Lady (1968),<ref name="tv"/> becoming recognized as a serious actor. The following year, he starred opposite Katharine Hepburn in the film The Madwoman of Chaillot (1969).<ref name="tv"/> While in England, he took vocal coaching and in 1969 performed the title role in Hamlet for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, becoming the first American to play the role there since John Barrymore in 1925. He received excellent notices<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and reprised the role for television in 1970 for the Hallmark Hall of Fame. A recording of the presentation was released by RCA Red Seal Records and was nominated for a Grammy Award.<ref name=":2" />

In the 1970s, Chamberlain appeared in The Music Lovers (1970),<ref name="globe"/> Lady Caroline Lamb (playing Lord Byron; 1973),<ref name="globe"/> The Three Musketeers (1973) and its sequel The Four Musketeers (1974) playing Aramis,<ref name="biography"/> The Lady's Not for Burning (made for television, 1974), The Towering Inferno (1974),<ref name="biography"/> (in a villainous turn as a dishonest engineer), and The Count of Monte Cristo (1975).<ref name="emmys"/> In The Slipper and the Rose (1976),<ref name="tv"/> a musical version of the Cinderella story, co-starring Gemma Craven, he displayed his vocal talents. A television film, William Bast's The Man in the Iron Mask (1977),<ref name="biography"/> followed. The same year, he starred in Peter Weir's film The Last Wave (1977).<ref name="globe"/>

Chamberlain later appeared in several popular television mini-series (earning him a nickname of "King of the Mini-Series"),<ref name=harmetz0501>Template:Cite news</ref> including Centennial (1978–79),<ref name="globe"/> Shōgun (1980),<ref name="emmys"/> and The Thorn Birds (1983),<ref name="emmys"/> as Father Ralph de Bricassart with Rachel Ward and Barbara Stanwyck co-starring. In the 1980s, he appeared as leading man, playing Allan Quatermain in King Solomon's Mines (1985) and its sequel Lost City of Gold (1986),<ref name="globe"/> and played Jason Bourne/David Webb in the television film version of The Bourne Identity (1988),<ref name="tv">Template:Cite web</ref> and reprised the role of Aramis in the last of the trilogy The Return of the Musketeers (1989).

From the 1990s to his death in 2025, Chamberlain appeared mainly in television films, on stage, and as a guest star on such series as The Drew Carey Show and Will & Grace.<ref name="tv"/> in 1991, he appeared in a TV movie version of Davis Grubb's The Night of the Hunter that received mixed reviews. He starred as Henry Higgins in the 1993–94 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady. In 2005, Chamberlain appeared in the title role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Broadway National Tour of Scrooge: The Musical. In 2006, he guest-starred in an episode of the British drama series Hustle,<ref name="tv"/> as well as season 4 of Nip/Tuck.<ref name="tv"/> In 2007, Chamberlain guest-starred as Glen Wingfield, Lynette Scavo's stepfather in episode 80 (Season 4, Episode 8, "Distant Past") of Desperate Housewives.<ref name="tv"/>

In 2008 and 2009, Chamberlain appeared as King Arthur in the national tour of Monty Python's Spamalot. In 2010 and 2012, he appeared as Archie Leach in season 3, episode 3 and season 4, episode 18 of the series Leverage,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as well as two episodes of season 4 of Chuck where he played a villain known only as The Belgian.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chamberlain also appeared in several episodes of Brothers & Sisters, playing an old friend and love-interest of Saul's.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also appeared in the independent film We Are the Hartmans in 2011. In 2012, Chamberlain appeared on stage in the Pasadena Playhouse as Dr. Sloper in the play The Heiress.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2017, Chamberlain appeared in Twin Peaks: The Return as Bill Kennedy.<ref name="tv"/>

Personal life

Chamberlain never married and had no children. He was not open about his homosexuality for most of his career, to protect his privacy and his acting opportunities.<ref name=":0" /> He was outed as a gay man by the French women's magazine Nous Deux in 1989, but did not confirm he was gay until the publication of his 2003 autobiography Shattered Love: A Memoir.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Chamberlain was romantically involved with actor Wesley Eure in the 1970s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1977, Chamberlain began a long-term relationship with actor and producer Martin Rabbett.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Rabbett played the brother of Chamberlain's lead character in the 1986 film Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold. They began living together in Hawaii in 1986 and had a private commitment ceremony.<ref name=":0" /> The couple separated amicably (but temporarily) in 2010, with Chamberlain moving to Los Angeles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a 2014 interview, Chamberlain said that while he and Rabbett were not intimately involved, they remained close friends.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> According to Chamberlain's obituary in The New York Times, Rabbett and Chamberlain had resumed living together in Hawaii when he died. Rabbett was considered to be his "only immediate survivor".<ref name=":1" />

Death

Chamberlain died of complications from a stroke in Waimānalo, Hawaii, on March 29, 2025, at the age of 90.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1960	The Secret of the Purple Reef	Dean Christopher
1961	A Thunder of Drums	Lieutenant Porter
1963	Twilight of Honor	David Mitchell
1965	Joy in the Morning	Carl Brown
1968	Petulia	David Danner
1969	The Madwoman of Chaillot	Roderick
1970	Julius Caesar	Octavius
1971	The Music Lovers	Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
1972	Lady Caroline Lamb	Lord Byron
1973	The Three Musketeers	Aramis
1974	The Towering Inferno	Roger Simmons
	The Four Musketeers	Aramis
1975	The Christmas Messenger	Christmas Messenger	Short film
1976	The Slipper and the Rose	Prince Edward
1977	The Last Wave	David Burton
1978	The Swarm	Dr. Hubbard
1982	Murder by Phone	Nat Bridger
1985	King Solomon's Mines	Allan Quatermain
1986	Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold
1989	The Return of the Musketeers	Aramis
1995	Bird of Prey	Jonathan Griffith
1997	River Made to Drown In	Thaddeus MacKenzie	Direct-to-video
1999	The Pavilion	Huddlestone
2007	I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry	Councilman Banks
	Strength and Honour	Denis O'Leary
2011	The Perfect Family	Monsignor Murphy
	We Are the Hartmans	Hartman
2015	Justice League: Gods and Monsters	Highfather (voice)	Direct-to-video
2018	Nightmare Cinema	Dr. Mirari

Television

TV series

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1959	Alfred Hitchcock Presents	Clay Pine	Episode: "Road Hog"
1960	Rescue 8	Template:N/a	Episode: "High Explosive"
	Bourbon Street Beat	Dale Wellington	Episode: "Target of Hate"
	Gunsmoke	Pete	Episode: "The Bobsy Twins"
	Mr. Lucky	Alec	Episode: "Operation Fortuna"
	Thriller	Larry Carter	Episode: "The Watcher"
	Riverboat	Lieutenant Dave Winslow	Episode: "Chicota Landing"
1961	The Deputy	Jerry	Episode: "Edge of Doubt"
	Whispering Smith	Chris Harrington	Episode: "Stain of Justice"
1961–66	Dr. Kildare	Dr. James Kildare	Main cast
1963	The Eleventh Hour		Episode: "Four Feet in the Morning"
1968	The Portrait of a Lady	Ralph Touchett	Main cast
1989–90	Island Son	Dr. Daniel Kulani	Main cast
2000	Touched by an Angel	Everett / Jack Clay	Episode: "The Face on the Bar Room Floor"
2002	The Drew Carey Show	Maggie Wick	2 episodes
2005	Will & Grace	Clyde	Episode: "Steams Like Old Times"
2006	Hustle	James Whittaker Wright III	Episode: "Whittaker Our Way Out"
	Nip/Tuck	Arthur Stiles	Episode: "Blu Mondae"
2007	Desperate Housewives	Glen Wingfield	Episode: "Distant Past"
2010	Chuck	Adelbert De Smet	2 episodes
2010–11	Brothers & Sisters	Jonathan Byrold	Recurring role (season 5)
2010–12	Leverage	Archie Leach	2 episodes
2011	ThunderCats	Zigg (voice)	Eepisode: "Forest of Magi Oar"
2017	Twin Peaks: The Return	Bill Kennedy	Episode: "Part Four"

TV films and miniseries

Year	Title	Role
1972	The Woman I Love	King Edward VIII
1974	The Lady's Not For Burning	Thomas Mendip
	F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles'	F. Scott Fitzgerald
1978–79	Centennial	Alexander McKeag
1975	The Count of Monte Cristo	Edmond Dantès
1977	The Man in the Iron Mask	Louis XIV / Philippe
1980	Shōgun	John Blackthorne
1983	Cook and Peary: The Race to the Pole	Frederick Cook
1983	The Thorn Birds	Ralph de Bricassart
1985	Wallenberg: A Hero's Story	Raoul Wallenberg
1986	Dream West	John C. Frémont
1987	Casanova	Giacomo Casanova
1988	The Bourne Identity	Jason Bourne
1991	Aftermath: A Test of Love	Ross Colburn
	Night of the Hunter	Harry Powell
1993	Ordeal in the Arctic	Captain John Couch
1996	The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years	Ralph de Bricassart
1999	Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke	Bernard Lafferty
1997	All the Winters That Have Been	Dane Corvin
	The Lost Daughter	Andrew McCracken
2006	Blackbeard	Governor Charles Eden

Stage credits (partial)

Year	Title	Role	Venue	Notes	Ref.
1966	Breakfast at Tiffany's	Jeff Claypool	Majestic Theatre, New York		<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
1967	West Side Story	Tony	US tour		<ref name=":3" />
1969	Hamlet	Prince Hamlet	Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham		<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
1971-72	Richard II	Richard II of England	US tour		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1972	The Lady's Not for Burning	Thomas Mendip	Chichester Festival Theatre, West Sussex		<ref name=":4" />
	The Fantasticks	El Gallo	Arlington Park Theater, Arlington Heights		<ref name=":3" />
1973	Cyrano de Bergerac	Cyrano de Bergerac	Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles		<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
1975–77	The Night of the Iguana	The Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon	Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles		<ref name=":3" />
			Circle in the Square Theatre, New York		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1978	Father and Sons	Wild Bill Hickok	Public Theater, New York		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1980	Arms and the Man	Sergius	Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown
1987	Blithe Spirit	Charles Condomine	Morris A. Mechanic Theatre, Baltimore		<ref name=":3" />
			Neil Simon Theatre, New York		<ref name=":3" />
1993	My Fair Lady	Professor Henry Higgins	US tour		<ref name=":3" />
1993-94			Virginia Theatre, New York		<ref name=":3" />
1999	The Sound of Music	Georg von Trapp	Martin Beck Theater, New York	Replacement	<ref name=":3" />
1999–2000			US tour		<ref name=":3" />
2000	The Shadow of Greatness	Alan Perry	Berkshire Theatre Festival, Stockbridge		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2004–05	Scrooge	Ebenezer Scrooge	US tour		<ref name=":3" />
2009	Spamalot	King Arthur		Replacement	<ref name=":3" />
2012	The Heiress	Dr. Austin Sloper	Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena		<ref name=":3" />
	The Exorcist	Father Lankester Merrin	Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles		<ref name=":3" />
2014	Sticks and Bones	Father Donald	Pershing Square Signature Center, New York		<ref name=":3" />

Discography

From Richard Chamberlain Sings: UK No. 8,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref> US No. 5<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Year	Title	Peak chart positions
		US<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	UK<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>	CAN
1962	"Theme from Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight)"	10	12	4<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	"Love Me Tender"	21	15	31<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1963	"All I Have to Do Is Dream"	14	—	6<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	"Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo"	64	20	6<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	"I Will Love You"	65	—	—
	"True Love"	98	30	—

From Twilight of Honor

Year	Title	US	UK	CAN
1963	"Blue Guitar" / "They Long to Be Close to You"	42	—	30<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

From Richard Chamberlain (aka Joy in the Morning)

Year	Title	US
1964	"Joy in the Morning"	—
	"Rome Will Never Leave You"	99

Songs from The Slipper and the Rose (1976)

Year	Title
1976	"Secret Kingdom"
	"He Danced With Me / She Danced with Me"
	"What a Comforting Thing to Know"
	"Why Can't I Be Two People?"
	"Bride-Finding Ball"

From Haleakala: How Maui Snared The Sun/Clarinet Concerto

• "Haleakala: How Maui Snared The Sun (Tone Poem) (1991), composed by Dan Welcher, performed with the Honolulu Symphony"

Awards and nominations

Institution	Year	Category	Work	Results	Ref.
Aftonbladet TV Prize	1985	Best Foreign TV Personality – Male	Template:N/a	Template:Won
Australian Film Institute Awards	1978	Best Actor in a Leading Role	The Last Wave	Template:Nominated	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Bravo Otto	1985	Best Male TV Star	Template:N/a	Template:Won
Drama Desk Awards	1977	Outstanding Actor in a Play	The Night of the Iguana	Template:Nominated	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	1979		Fathers and Sons	Template:Nominated	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Golden Apple Awards	1962	Most Cooperative Actor	Template:N/a	Template:Won
	1963		Template:N/a	Template:Won
	1980	Male Star of the Year	Template:N/a	Template:Won
Golden Globe Awards	1962	Best Television Star – Male	Dr. Kildare	Template:Won	<ref name="globe">Template:Cite web</ref>
	1979	Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama	Centennial	Template:Nominated
	1980		Shōgun	Template:Won
	1983	Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television	The Thorn Birds	Template:Won
	1985		Wallenberg: A Hero's Story	Template:Nominated
	1988		The Bourne Identity	Template:Nominated
Grammy Awards	1971	Best Spoken Word Recording	Hamlet	Template:Nominated	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Hawaii International Film Festival	2012	EuroCinema Hawai'i Lifetime Achievement Award	Template:N/a	Template:Won
Online Film & Television Association Awards	2023	Television Hall of Fame: Actors	Template:N/a	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Primetime Emmy Awards	1975	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Special Program – Drama or Comedy	The Count of Monte Cristo	Template:Nominated	<ref name="emmys">Template:Cite web</ref>
	1981	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special	Shōgun	Template:Nominated
	1983		The Thorn Birds	Template:Nominated
	1985		Wallenberg: A Hero's Story	Template:Nominated
Sitges Film Festival	1982	Best Actor	The Last Wave	Template:Won
Steiger Awards	2011	Lifetime Achievement Award	Template:N/a	Template:Won
TV Land Awards	2003	Classic TV Doctor of the Year	Dr. Kildare	Template:Nominated

Published works

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External links

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• Richard Chamberlain's art website
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