Young actor Richard Chamberlain was dubbed a Hollywood ‘sex symbol’ after playing Father Ralph in ‘The Thorn Birds’ and many other glamorous roles.
Richard Chamberlain, the actor who recently passed away at the age of 90 in Hawaii, had a brilliant film career and was admired by millions of audiences around the world for his handsome, romantic looks and captivating acting.
The star was born in Beverly Hills, California, and has a masculine, rugged American beauty.
Richard studied art history and painting at Pomona College in Claremont, California. During his freshman year, the film enthusiast joined a student theater group and after graduating, Richard decided to pursue an acting career.
In 1961, Richard Chamberlain rose to fame when he played a doctor intern in the NBC television series ‘Dr Kildare’. His portrayal of the charming Dr Kildare in the five-year hit series made Richard the idol of thousands of young girls at the time. ‘The show’s influence spread all over the world. I got a lot of attention and it was a dream come true. I was very happy about it,’ Richard said in an interview in 2021.
He received around 12,000 fan letters a week since his appearance on ‘Dr Kildare’. Richard recalls his appeal back then: ‘I used to be chased around supermarkets. When I was driving a convertible, girls would chase me up the hill, but I would often escape. Even when I was in Switzerland on a mountain trip, people would come up to me and ask for my autograph. My dad said: ‘Now I know you can really do it’.’
Richard Chamberlain was not only attractive in appearance, he was also recognized for his acting ability with a Golden Globe Award for Outstanding Television Star for this role.
Chamberlain at a fan meeting in New York in 1962.
In 1965, the teen idol was cast alongside actress Yvette Mimieux in the film ‘Joy in the Morning’ – a romance based on the novel of the same name about a young couple who overcome their families’ objections to be together.
After completing his American television career, Richard moved to England, determined to shed his ‘pretty boy’ image by training to become a professional actor. In 1969, he played Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and surprised British critics, who called him confident, charming and courageous. ‘Anyone who comes to this production to mock the famous American television actor, Richard Chamberlain, as Hamlet will be sorely disappointed,’ wrote a reviewer in The Times of London .
In 1983, Richard continued to win the hearts of audiences with his role as Father Ralph in the TV series ‘The Thorn Birds’ based on the famous novel of the same name. He impressively portrayed the image of a priest torn between his love for Meggie and his own ambitions. The actor was dubbed a ‘sex symbol’ at the age of 49 after this role.
The success of ‘The Thorn Birds’ and the 1980 film ‘Shogun’ also helped Richard become known as the ‘King of Miniseries’. He attracted fans from across generations.
In middle age, when filming ‘The Bourne Identity’ in 1988, the actor still maintained his handsome and attractive appearance.
Richard Chamberlain at age U60 in 1990.
The actor retired in 2018 due to old age after 6 decades in the film industry. He passed away on March 29, mourned by fans around the world.
