‘Dr. Kildare’ Star Richard Chamberlain Dies At 90
Richard Chamberlain, the actor who first gained fame as a TV heartthrob in ‘Dr. Kildare’ and later became known as the "king of the miniseries," has died aged 90. His publicist, Harlan Boll, confirmed he passed away in Hawaii due to complications from a stroke. Chamberlain would have turned 91 on March 31. A three-time Golden Globe winner, Chamberlain first rose to stardom in ‘Dr. Kildare’ (1961-1966), earning a Golden Globe in 1963. Reflecting on the show’s success in 2021, he called it a “dream come true.” His career flourished beyond television, with notable roles in ‘Julius Caesar’ (1970), ‘The Three Musketeers’ (1973), and ‘The Towering Inferno’ (1974). In the 1980s, Chamberlain cemented his legacy in television, winning Golden Globes for ‘Shōgun' (1980) and ‘The Thorn Birds’ (1983). He also played Jason Bourne in the 1988 TV adaptation of 'The Bourne Identity' and continued acting into the 2000s, appearing in ‘Will & Grace,’ ‘Desperate Housewives,’ and ‘Finding Julia’ (2019). Beyond acting, he had a brief music career, performed on stage in ‘My Fair Lady,’ and also served in the US Army in Korea. Chamberlain is survived by his longtime partner, Martin Rabbett. “Our beloved Richard is with the angels now,” Rabbett said in a statement.
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Richard Chamberlain, the handsome hero of the 1960s television series “Dr. Kildare” who found a second career as “king of the miniseries,” has died at age 90.
