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Richard Chamberlain RIP.

(52 Posts)
Calendargirl Sun 30-Mar-25 15:58:02

Just seen he’s died, aged 90, just hours before his 91st birthday.

Doctor Kildare and The Thorn Birds.

So handsome back in the day.

RIP.

Chardy Mon 31-Mar-25 10:29:33

He was the double-crosser (spoiler alert) in an episode of Hustle a few years ago in his 70s - as ever he was superb. And yes, I think Dr Kildare was my first heartthrob too - pre-Beatles!

Daddima Mon 31-Mar-25 11:38:18

My friend didn’t have a television, so came to my house every Friday night to watch Dr. Kildare!
He was extremely handsome, wasn’t he? Mind you, I think he was like Robert Redford in that he didn’t age particularly well.

Irismarle Mon 31-Mar-25 14:01:48

Does anyone remember how brilliant he was in Portrait of a Lady, a miniseries based on a Henry James novel? Richard played Ralph Touchett, who was dying of TB, who tried to protect his wealthy cousin Isabel Archer from an evil European fortune hunter. I know this was about 50 years ago!!

Moonwatcher1904 Mon 31-Mar-25 14:44:27

I loved him in the Thorn Birds. RIP Richard. xx

Cateq Mon 31-Mar-25 15:29:28

Richard chamberlain was my grans favourite actor she watched him in any programme he was on. She used to say he was the only man she’d have left my grandfather for😂😂. She was in her 70’s and 80 when she said that.

Cabbie21 Mon 31-Mar-25 16:04:16

He was gay! sorry Cateq’s Gran.

Mauduit24 Mon 31-Mar-25 16:19:50

I believe that he spent quite some time in the uk post dr Kildare . He was also in the towering inferno as well.
RIP Richard Chamberlain

Roswell Mon 31-Mar-25 17:39:24

Irismarle
I remember Portrait of a Lady. I must have been about 17.I sobbed when his character Ralph died at the end.
I was lucky to see him in a Sunningdale church when he was filming Slipper and the Rose. Unbelievably handsome.

crissy Mon 31-Mar-25 17:42:49

I had pictures of him on my bedroom wall from magazines like Valentine. I also remember he made a record of the theme tune called 'Three Stars will Shine tonight'. Just listened to it - have a google. I was obsessed with him.

wibblywobblywobblebottom Mon 31-Mar-25 17:43:05

Who?

love0c Mon 31-Mar-25 17:44:24

Foe me, 'The Thorn Birds'. Remember it so well!

Twopence Mon 31-Mar-25 19:47:39

I had a big crush on him in my late teens when he played Dr Kildare!

pinkprincess Mon 31-Mar-25 19:53:11

Dr Kildare and The Thornbirds, I love you Richard Chamberlain.May you RIP.Amen.

Mt61 Fri 04-Apr-25 00:20:02

I loved him in The Thornbirds & man in the iron mask. . I do actually get him mixed up with Michael Yorke. . Whatever happened to him?

Georgesgran Fri 04-Apr-25 02:14:06

Really Wibbly?

Apparently you haven’t heard of Val Kilmer either?

Athrawes Fri 04-Apr-25 10:05:18

I too had pictures of Richard Chamberlain plastered on my bedroom walls. His LP was the first one I'd ever bought and I've still got it - which is surprising because I played it ad nauseam as a teenager. My parents were very long suffering! It's only fairly recently that I learned he was gay but he acted so well, so who cares.

Cossy Fri 04-Apr-25 10:40:28

RIP - a good long life well lived flowers

Daddima Fri 04-Apr-25 14:34:16

I have just watched the Thorn Birds, and was amazed by how bad an actress Rachel Ward was!
Also, I had forgotten how dim must Ralph have been to have been bonking Meggie’s brains out, and never did the maths when Dane was born!

traveller61 Fri 04-Apr-25 14:35:46

I had a crush on him in the Thorn birds

Freya5 Fri 04-Apr-25 17:23:30

RIP Richard Chamberlain, enjoyed watching all you appeared in.

LadyGaGa Sat 05-Apr-25 03:28:24

I read The Thorn Birds after seeing the series, and I couldn’t picture anyone else playing his part. I loved both. I agree about Rachel Ward though, although her character in the book was a bit like that too. I always remember the colour of that dress - ashes of roses.

flappergirl Sat 05-Apr-25 08:24:40

I used to love Dr Kildare. I was always puzzled by the fact that Richard Chamberlain wasn't more famous, in that he never really broke into films in the way one would expect. He certainly had the looks, charisma and the acting skills. Maybe he didn't want to. RIP Richard.

Calendargirl Sat 05-Apr-25 10:26:44

Yes, Rachel Ward’s acting wasn’t very good, but she was extremely pretty.

She married Bryan Brown who played her husband in the Thorn Birds.

They seem to be grandees of Australian acting.

Catterygirl Sun 06-Apr-25 00:02:07

I used to pay Bryan Browns wages when he worked for the Moving Picture Company. A lovely memory for me.
As for Richard Chamberlain, I fell in love at first sight. What a shame he was gay but so many actors are.

Catterygirl Sun 06-Apr-25 00:05:11

Just adding that growing up, I was obsessed with Montgomery Clift and he was gay. I was devastated, like he was going to show any interest in me!