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.

[Jamestown1630]

People didn’t know that for a long time.

[telescope115]

Yeah. Same here. My mom watched both. I didn’t know he was still alive…

The Thornbirds was a good miniseries. I also remember him In Shogun and The Count of Monte Cristo. He was a good actor.

[butlerweave]

King Solomon’s Mines(1985) , I got it !

[FreeReign]

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

Yup. That's all I ever watched of his.

I was a little kid. The show made me think that most doctors were good, and that the field of medicine was honest. Perhaps back then, that was true.

Unfortunately, many years later, that notion has worn off for me.

[dforest]

He was gay but he never became a gay activist. Quietly lived his life.

[Don@VB]

I enjoyed his performance in the James Mitchner Mini-Series Centennial. The book was good too.

[skr]

Definitely haven’t forgotten that! We have the album, Richard Chamberlain Songs, which includes All I Do is Dream of You, as well as one of my favorites, Three Stars will Shine Tonight. This album is on YouTube, a mix of standards and a few like the Dr. Kildare theme.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard “Linda”.

One of my favorite Cinderella movies is The Slipper and the Rose, in which he sings and dances.

[katykelly]

I liked him in The Hunger .

[Williams]

Check out Linda, I will listen to Three Stars, thank you.

[Williams]

Shogun was good, the recent Shogun was super good.

[Karoo]

Yeah but we didn’t know that until yrs later...at least I didn’t.

[telescope115]

Yes, I saw that one too.

[enumerated]

Either he was a ‘heartthrob’ or a homo.. one or the other.

[telescope115]

He was one of the smart ones.

[Dr. Zzyzx]

I have pretty good memories of the “Dream West” mini-series where he portrayed Fremont.

[rainee]

Remember watching The Thornbirds, back in the 80’s.
Good memories of watching with my mom.
RIP

[skr]

You’re welcome. I’m looking for “Linda” right now. :)

[montag813]

He batted for the other team.

He never pushed it in our faces. RIP. "Shogun" was fantastic in the 80s.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Yeah once they threw the Hippocratic Oath in the medical waste bin, everything went to hell.

[dayglored]

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

Doesn't that make him "bisexual" rather than "homosexual"?

You know, "LGBT..."? Or is "bi-" no longer a thing?