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.

[jocon307]

“...never watched the Thornbirds”

It’s pretty much a chick flick, but it’s very good and he’s great in it. Of course, many might find the story offensive, but even though I would generally be one of those people I did not. Very well played by both Chamberlain and Rachel Ward.

RIP Richard Chamberlain!

[jocon307]

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

Like Raymond Burr another great TV actor.

[MayflowerMadam]

I had Dr. Kildare and Ben Casey blouses. The Kildare blouse had ruffles.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili”. I had the album.

[TonyM]

All of my Japanese vocabulary came from his character in Shogun.

[Sacajaweau]

I thought he was creepy...

[Steve_Seattle]

" . . . publicist Harlan Boll said."

I've wondered what it's like to be a "publicist" for one of these actors or actresses who's been inactive for many years. Do they show up at the office every day for fifteen years waiting for their client to die? But, seriously, I assume the publicist has numerous active clients that keep him or her busy.

[Honorary Serb]

Memory Eternal!

[Williams]

Wow, I never knew that was the name of the Dr Kildare theme! Or that he sang it. I certainly used to hum the theme song.
https://youtu.be/ph3wzklCwvM?si=gKCcv0zZqjR4k3nF

[Savage Beast]

Maybe he was their heartthrob.

[Savage Beast]

Who needs Nous Deux? It was obvious at first sight!

[willk]

I used to work with a pretty black woman who had a big crush on him. She was a Republican too.

[BipolarBob]

I used to read Shogun repeatedly. After a while I knew the Japanese words but that’s years ago and I’ve lost my book.

[Bigg Red]

Did not know he was light in the loafers. I never found him handsome, but I thought Ben Casey was cute.

[FlingWingFlyer]

At that age in my life, I didn’t know any men ever had sex with other men except for maybe Liberace.

[AppyPappy]

It applies to many “gay”celebs. Elton John, Freddie Mercury

[mass55th]

"Always liked him but never watched the Thornbirds.

We watched Dr. Kildare, and the Ben Casey tv series with Vince Edwards. They ran for the same number of years on different networks. I was in high school at the time. They even began selling women's cotton blouses designed like the shirts both stars wore on the shows. They came in different colors besides white. I had one or two.

I never watched the Shogun series with Chamberlain or The Thorn Birds, but I did watch some of his movies, like The Count of Monte Cristo, The Man in the Iron Mask, and the three Musketeers movies he played Aramis in. I watched the new Shogun series and thought it was fabulous. A second and third season have been confirmed.

[mass55th]

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

George Maharis of Route 66 was gay as well, but he was also considered a heart-throb by women. He died in May of 2023.

[mass55th]

"Shogun was good, the recent Shogun was super good."

It's coming back for two more seasons.

[Rastus]

And Hock Rudson.