Richard Chamberlain, the actor best known for his role in the 1960s medical drama “Dr. Kildare“ and his starring role in “Shogun“, has died at the age of 90, his publicist has confirmed to the BBC.
Chamberlain earned the title of “king of the miniseries“ with his starring roles in Shogun and Birds Die Alone.
His death was confirmed in a statement by his longtime partner Martin Rabbett. The actor died Saturday at 11:15 p.m. in Waimanalo, Hawaii, after complications from a stroke, his publicist Harlan Ball confirmed - just hours before he would have turned 91.
Chamberlain's longtime partner called him an "incredible and loving soul" in a statement.
He said: "Our beloved Richard is now with the angels. He is free and rising to his loved ones before us."
Babette added: "Love never dies. And our love is under his wings, lifting him to his next great adventure."
Chamberlain's big break came in 1961, when he became known as Dr. James Kildare in "Dr. Kildare." The series, based on a popular film series from the 1930s and 1940s, attracted millions of viewers and made him a beloved figure.
In the 1980s, he became the king of television miniseries, playing a Western convict in “Shogun“ and a Catholic priest tempted by love in “The Thorn Birds“.
The latter won 60% of the television audience in the United States and 16 Emmy nominations.
In 1989, he denied being gay when asked by a French magazine, and did not speak publicly about his homosexuality until he was 70.
Chamberlain revealed that he was gay in his 2003 biography “Broken Love“. Despite her 30-year relationship with actor and director Rabbet, the two have kept their personal lives private.
In interviews to promote the memoir, he advises other handsome leading men to keep their sexuality to themselves.
“I thought there was something very, very deeply wrong with me,“ Chamberlain admits. The couple separated in 2010.
Chamberlain was born on March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California.