‘Shogun’ Star Passes Away At 90

Richard Chamberlain, the svelte and sardonic actor who played the heartthrob lead in the 1960s medical series “Dr. Kildaire” and later enjoyed a resurgence in fame with his role in the hit series “Shogun,” passed away this week.

Chamberlain, 90, died on Saturday in Waimanalo, Hawai’i, of complications following a stroke, his longtime partner Martin Rabbett confirmed.

“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now,” Rabbett said in a statement. “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.”

The all-American actor’s rugged good looks garnered him a widespread female following beginning with “Dr. Kildaire,” but talent scouts at first discounted him, Chamberlain revealed in past interviews. It wasn’t until he proved himself on stage in Shakespeare plays like “Hamlet” and others that he was cast for minor roles in “Petulia,” “The Three Musketeers,” “The Music Lovers” and Peter Weir’s “The Last Wave.”

However, it was the small screen where Chamberlain came to shine. He played everyone from England’s Edward VIII and novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald to World War II hero Raoul Wallenberg, according to Variety.

Following “Dr. Kildaire,” Chamberlain stayed in the limelight with his role as an ambitious Australian priest in the acclaimed TV miniseries “The Thorn Birds.”

The 1980s series “Shogun,” adapted from James Clavell’s novel, propelled Chamberlain into the upper echelon of top TV talent. He won a Golden Globe for Best Actor based on his role and helped make the series one of NBC’s highest-rated shows in history.

He commanded top dollar for subsequent roles, including 1996’s sequel to “The Thorn Birds,” titled “The Missing Years.”

Born March 31st, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California, Chamberlain was the second son of Elsa Winnifred and Charles Axion “Chuck” Chamberlain, a shop equipment salesman from Indiana. After studying art history at Pomona College, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served in postwar Korea from 1956 to 1958.

After moving to Los Angeles, he co-founded the theater group Company of Angels before landing his breakout role on “Dr. Kildaire.” He parlayed his clean-cut image as a Hollywood lead man into a minor singing career, and in 1962, released two albums, “Richard Chamberlain Sings” and later “The Theme From Dr. Kildare.”

He also appeared on the albums for “Twilight of Honor” and “Joy in the Morning,” two MGM soap operas he starred in in the 1960s.

In the 1970s, Chamberlain resumed his passion for theater, moving back to London and taking roles in plays such as Richard II, Cyrano de Bergerac, Tennessee Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana” and Thomas Babe’s “Fathers and Sons.” Other roles credited to his name include Ken Russell’s romance biography “The Music Lovers” and Lord Byron in the 1973 feature production of “Lady Caroline Lamb.”

Speaking with TV Insider about his legacy, Chamberlain said he’d like to be remembered “as a reasonably nice guy with a sense of humor.”