Richard Chamberlain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Chamberlain
Chamberlain in 1964
Born	George Richard Chamberlain (1934-03-31)March 31, 1934 Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Died	March 29, 2025(2025-03-29) (aged 90) Waimānalo, Hawaii, U.S.
Education	Pomona College (BA, 1956)
Occupation	Actor singer
Years active	1958–2019
Partner(s)	Wesley Eure (1975–1976) Martin Rabbett (1977–2010)
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Service years	1956–1958
Rank	Sergeant

George Richard Chamberlain (born March 31, 1934 – died March 29, 2025) was an American actor and singer. He became very popular with young people as a "teen idol" when he starred in the TV show Dr. Kildare (1961–1966). He was later called the "King of the Mini-Series" because of his roles in popular TV shows like Centennial (1978), Shōgun (1980), and The Thorn Birds (1983).

Chamberlain also acted in many movies and plays. He played Aramis in The Three Musketeers (1973) and its follow-up movies. He was also Allan Quatermain in King Solomon's Mines (1985) and Lost City of Gold (1986). He was the first actor to play Jason Bourne in the 1988 TV movie The Bourne Identity.

Early Life and Education

Richard Chamberlain was born on March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California. His father, Charles, was a salesman. Richard graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1952. He then went to Pomona College, where he studied art history and painting. After college, Chamberlain joined the United States Army and served from 1956 to 1958. He reached the rank of sergeant while stationed in Korea after the war.

Acting Career Highlights

Chamberlain started his acting career by co-founding a theater group in Los Angeles called Company of Angels. He began appearing in TV shows in the early 1960s.

Becoming a Star

In 1961, Richard Chamberlain became very famous as Dr. James Kildare in the TV series Dr. Kildare. This role made him a "teen idol," meaning many young fans admired him. He also showed his singing talent, releasing hit songs like "Three Stars Will Shine Tonight" from the show's theme.

After Dr. Kildare ended in 1966, Chamberlain started performing in theater. He acted in the Broadway musical Breakfast at Tiffany's. Later, he returned to Broadway in popular shows like My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music.

Working in England

In the late 1960s, Chamberlain spent time in England. He acted in plays and in the BBC TV series Portrait of a Lady (1968). This helped him become known as a serious actor. In 1969, he played the main role in Hamlet for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He was the first American to play Hamlet there since 1925. He later played Hamlet again for a TV special in 1970.

King of the Mini-Series

The 1970s and 1980s were a very busy time for Chamberlain. He appeared in many films, including The Music Lovers (1970) and The Towering Inferno (1974). He also played Aramis in The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers (1974). In the musical film The Slipper and the Rose (1976), he showed his singing skills again.

Chamberlain became known as the "King of the Mini-Series" because of his roles in several popular TV mini-series. These included Centennial (1978–79), Shōgun (1980), and The Thorn Birds (1983). In The Thorn Birds, he played Father Ralph de Bricassart. He also played Allan Quatermain in King Solomon's Mines (1985) and Lost City of Gold (1986). In 1988, he played Jason Bourne in the TV film The Bourne Identity.

Later Career

From the 1990s until his death, Chamberlain mostly appeared in TV films, on stage, and as a guest star on shows like The Drew Carey Show and Will & Grace. He played Henry Higgins in a 1993–1994 Broadway show of My Fair Lady. In 2005, he played Ebenezer Scrooge in the musical Scrooge: The Musical. He also appeared in episodes of Hustle, Nip/Tuck, and Desperate Housewives.

In 2008 and 2009, Chamberlain toured as King Arthur in the musical Spamalot. He also had roles in TV series like Leverage and Chuck. In 2017, he appeared in Twin Peaks: The Return.

Filmography

Film

Television Films

Television Series

Discography

• "Theme from Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight)" (1962) – US #10; UK No. 12; CAN No. 4
• "Love Me Tender" (1962) – US #21; UK No. 15; CAN No. 31
• "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (1963) – US No. 14; CAN No. 6
• "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" (1963) – US #64; UK No. 20; CAN No. 6
• "I Will Love You" (1963) – US No. 65
• "True Love" (1963) – US #98; UK No. 30

• "Blue Guitar"/"They Long to Be Close to You" (1963) – US No. 42; CAN No. 30

• "Joy in the Morning" (1964)
• "Rome Will Never Leave You" (1964) – US No. 99

• "Secret Kingdom" (1976)
• "He Danced With Me/She Danced With Me" (1976)
• "What a Comforting Thing to Know" (1976)
• "Why Can't I Be Two People?" (1976)
• "Bride-Finding Ball" (1976)

• "Haleakala: How Maui Snared The Sun (Tone Poem) (1991), composed by Dan Welcher, performed with the Honolulu Symphony"

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Richard Chamberlain para niños