Award-winning 'king of the miniseries' Richard Chamberlain dies aged 90
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American actor Richard Chamberlain has died at age 90 after complications following a stroke, according to his publicist Harlan Boll.
The veteran actor passed away on Saturday night in Waimanalo in Hawaii.
Known for playing in the 1960s television series "Dr Kildare", he later earned the nickname "king of the miniseries" as he took on leading roles in "Centennial," a 24-hour-long production based on James Michener's sprawling novel, "Shōgun" and "The Thorn Birds".
Born George Richard Chamberlain in Beverly Hills on 31 March 1934, the actor initially studied painting at Pomona College. However, after returning from his military service as an infantry clerk during the Korean War, he decided to pursue a career in acting.
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His lifelong partner Martin Rabbett said in a statement: "Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us."
"How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.'
Chamberlain was known for his good looks and romantic style, becoming known as a heartthrob for teenage girls who knew him as the empathetic doctor in "Dr Kildare" which ran from 1961 to 1966.
He was named by Photoplay magazine as the most popular male star for three years in a row, from 1963 to 1966.
Richard Chamberlain, left, portraying King Edward II, and Faye Dunaway, portraying Wallis Simpson, in "For the Women I Love," Jan. 10, 1972.
AP/AP
Chamberlain also played in many films, such as "The Music Lovers" (as Tchaikovsky), "The Madwoman of Chaillot", "The Towering Inferno" as well as "The Three Musketeers" and its sequels.
Later on in life, Chamberlain turned to theatre, where he demonstrated a fine singing voice. In 1994, he played as Henry Higgins in a Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady" and as Captain von Trapp in a 1999 revival of "The Sound of Music".
In 2003, at age 69, Chamberlain came out to the public as gay in his autobiography "Shattered Love".
In the book, Chamberlain described how he had to hide his sexuality. At the request of studio executives, he would take glamorous actresses to movie premieres and other public events, and when reporters asked why he was still single, he would brush it off with his typical response: "Getting married would be great, but I'm awfully busy now."
"When I grew up, being gay, being a sissy or anything like that was
verboten
," he said in an NBC interview. "I disliked myself intensely and feared this part of myself intensely and had to hide it."
Chamberlain won Golden Globes for his work in 'Shōgun" and 'The Thorn Birds", as well as 'Dr Kildare".
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