America mourns the loss of TV icon Richard Chamberlain, who captured hearts as Dr. Kildare in a medical drama and later in epic miniseries as he is with angels now, having passed away at the age of 90.
Chamberlain died over the weekend in Waimanalo, Hawaii, from complications from a stroke. Born in Beverly Hills on March 31, 1934, he represented an era when television focused on storytelling rather than pushing political messages.
Martin Rabbett shared a heartfelt message: “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,” he added.
Before launching his acting career, Chamberlain served his country honorably in the Army in Korea, attaining the rank of sergeant.
His breakthrough role came as Dr. James Kildare in NBC’s medical drama, which aired from 1961 to 1966.
At the height of the show’s popularity, Chamberlain received over 12,000 fan letters weekly and earned a Golden Globe in 1963.
This success propelled him to international fame, making him television’s first young, handsome medical doctor character.
During the 1980s, Chamberlain became known as the “King of the Miniseries,” starring in productions like “Shogun,” “The Thorn Birds,” and “Centennial.”
His role in “The Thorn Birds” was particularly significant, contributing to one of the highest-rated miniseries in television history.
He won Golden Globe awards for “Shogun” and “The Thorn Birds,” and he was nominated for the latter for an Emmy.
“I was aware this was the answer to all my dreams. Then the show became a huge success, and that was just mesmerizing,” Chamberlain once said about his role in “Dr. Kildare.”
Beyond television, Chamberlain’s diverse career included roles in films like “The Three Musketeers,” “King Solomon’s Mines,” and even portraying Jason Bourne in a 1988 ABC miniseries – long before Matt Damon took on the role.
He also maintained a successful stage career, earning acclaim for his performances as Hamlet at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and in “The Portrait of a Lady” in England.
Interestingly, Chamberlain was the first person ever interviewed on “Entertainment Tonight” – another milestone in a career that spanned decades of entertaining Americans with quality programming.
He was also a talented singer, with his song “These Stars Will Shine Tonight” reaching No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962.
Chamberlain’s passing represents the end of an era when television celebrated traditional values and focused on entertainment rather than indoctrination.
In his later years, he remained active in ecological causes, showing that one can care for the environment without embracing radical climate activism.
His final television appearance was in the 2017 “Twin Peaks” revival, capping a remarkable career that spanned decades of American entertainment history.
Funeral services have not been announced, but donations in Chamberlain’s name are requested to NPR or the Hawaiian Humane Society.
He once expressed a simple wish to be remembered as “a nice person with a sense of humor” – a refreshingly humble sentiment in today’s celebrity culture of virtue-signaling and political grandstanding.
