Heartthrob actor Richard Chamberlain, star of 'Thorn Birds', dies aged 90

Reuters ^ | 03/30/2025 | Patricia Reaney

[BipolarBob]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Richard Chamberlain, the Emmy-nominated actor and 1960s heartthrob who rocketed to fame in the TV medical drama "Dr. Kildare" and starred in the mini-series "Shogun" and "The Thorn Birds" has died at the age of 90, publicist Harlan Boll said.

[BipolarBob]

Chamberlain died late on Saturday in Hawaii from complications from a stroke, he said in a statement on Sunday.

[T.B. Yoits]

Heartthrob?

He batted for the other team.

[Williams]

Always liked him but never watched the Thornbirds.

[Williams]

Women loved him.

[Liz]

Chamberlain was not open about his homosexuality for most of his career, to protect his privacy and his acting opportunities. He was outed by the French women’s magazine Nous Deux in December 1989, but did not confirm it until his 2003 autobiography Shattered Love: A Memoir.

Chamberlain was involved romantically with actor Wesley Eure in the 1970s.

In 1977, Chamberlain began a long-term relationship with Martin Rabbett, an actor, like Eure, 20 years his junior.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.[19] The couple split amicably in 2010, with Chamberlain moving to Los Angeles.

In a 2014 interview, Chamberlain said that while he and Rabbett were no longer intimately involved, they remained close friends.

[Racketeer]

I would not have survived after spending as much time with Rachel Ward as he did!!

[Chickensoup]

Until they discovered his proclivities

[SunkenCiv]

• Planned Parenthood Put on Notice: Trump Confirms Possible Criminal Investigation Into Baby Body Parts Scandal [03/30/2025]
  • Planned Parenthood gave sexually graphic coloring books to elementary students on field trip [03/30/2025]
  • 25 Facts About Abortion In America That Should Make You Very Sick [03/29/2025]
  • Democrat Says Killing Babies in Abortions Saves Money [03/30/2025]
  • Euthanasia for Autistic Children [03/30/2025]
• PCUSA Policy Places "Trans" Boys in Girls Cabins and Showers at Camps and Blames Girls If They Don't Like It [03/30/2025]
  • Newsom Teachers Shouldn't Have to 'Snitch', 'Turn in Kids' to Parents [03/30/2025]
  • School Board Pleads with Trump to Force State to Comply with Trans Ban [03/30/2025]
• Judge Tears Man To Shreds After Hearing His Shocking Child Porn Excuse [03/29/2025]

[God luvs America]

Yeh- but chicks loved him for some reason...even my mother was a big fan knowing he was a tutti-frutti

[FlingWingFlyer]

Dr. Kildare and Ben Casey were big on the tube when I was a kid. Yuge!

[skr]

In movies and television, he was often a romantic lead. We used to watch Dr. Kildare every week. He wasn’t as morose as Dr. Ben Casey.

[Liz]

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“...he and Rabbett were no longer intimately involved”

Ugh...that conjures up bad juju.

[Red Badger]

That’s kinda weird..........

[skr]

He was quite dashing in The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask. Apparently he was the original Jason Bourne when The Bourne Identity first showed up as a TV movie.

[Williams]

Back then there was always an ABC copy of any NBC or CBS show. ABC wasn’t usually as good. As you said, Ben Casey (ABC) was way more depressing.

[Williams]

Don’t forget his singing career.

All I Have To Do Is Dream, and Linda.

Actually two very good songs. We had the 45.

[No name given]

Rest In Peace, Richard.

[Drew68]

Allegedly bedded an epic number of women, an amazing feat seeing how he was gay.

[mairdie]

Always thought he was adorable. Yet another good actor lost to live again in video. Lucky other team. Hope he was happy.