Richard Chamberlain, ‘Thorn Birds’ star, dies at 90
LOS ANGELES—Richard Chamberlain, the handsome hero of the 1960s television series “Dr. Kildare” who found a second career as an award-winning “king of the miniseries,” has died. He was 90.
Chamberlain died on Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii, of complications following a stroke, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll.
Tall with classic good looks and romantic style, Chamberlain became an instant favorite with teenage girls as the compassionate physician on the TV series that aired from 1961 to 1966.
Not until 2003 did he acknowledge publicly that he was gay.
He scored his greatest miniseries success in 1983 with another long-form drama, “The Thorn Birds,” based on Colleen McCullough’s best-seller. He played Father Ralph de Bricassart, a priest who fell in love with beautiful Meggy Cleary (Rachel Ward).
