Richard Chamberlain
George Richard Chamberlain (born March 31, 1934) is an American actor and singer, who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show "Dr. Kildare" (1961–1966). He subsequently appeared in several TV mini-series, such as "Shōgun" (1980) and "The Thorn Birds" (1983) and was the first to play Jason Bourne in the 1988 made-for-TV movie "The Bourne Identity". Chamberlain has also performed classical stage roles and worked in musical theatre. Early life. Chamberlain was born in 1934 in Beverly Hills, California, the second son of Elsa Winnifred (née von Benzon; later Matthews ) and Charles Axion Chamberlain, who was a salesman. In 1952, Chamberlain graduated from Beverly Hills High School and later attended Pomona College (class of 1956). Chamberlain was drafted into the United States Army, attaining the rank of sergeant while serving in Korea. Career. Chamberlain co-founded a Los Angeles–based theatre group, Company of Angels, and began appearing in television series in the 1950s. He was cast as Lt. Dave Winslow in "Chicota Landing", a 1960 episode of the series "Riverboat". In the story, Juan Cortilla, a Mexican bandit played by Joe De Santis, is stormed from jail. Chamberlain, as  United States Army Lieutenant Winslow, asks Grey Holden (lead series character played by Darren McGavin) to transport Cortilla and his men to a military garrison. Instead, Cortilla takes over Holden's vessel and its gunpowder. Connie Hines appears with Chamberlain as Lucy Bridges, and Ted de Corsia is cast as another bandit. Less than a year later, in 1961, Chamberlain gained widespread fame as the young intern, Dr. Kildare, in the NBC/MGM television series of the same name, co-starring with Raymond Massey. Chamberlain's singing ability also led to some hit singles in the early 1960s, including the  Theme from Dr. Kildare, titled "Three Stars Will Shine Tonight", which struck No. 10 according to the "Billboard" Hot 100 Charts. "Dr. Kildare" ended in 1966, after which Chamberlain began performing on the theatre circuit. In 1966, he was cast opposite Mary Tyler Moore in the ill-fated Broadway musical "Breakfast at Tiffany's", co-starring Priscilla Lopez, which, after an out-of-town tryout period, closed after only four previews. Decades later, he returned to Broadway in revivals of "My Fair Lady" and "The Sound of Music". At the end of the 1960s, Chamberlain spent a period of time  in England, where he played in repertory theatre and in the BBC's "Portrait of a Lady" adaptation, becoming recognized as a serious actor. In 1969, he starred opposite Katharine Hepburn in the film "The Madwoman of Chaillot". While in England, he took vocal coaching and in 1969 performed the title role in "Hamlet" for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, becoming the first American to play the role there since John Barrymore in 1925. He received excellent notices and reprised the role for television in 1970 for the "Hallmark Hall of Fame". A recording of the presentation was released by RCA  Red Seal Records and was nominated for a Grammy Award. In the 1970s, Chamberlain enjoyed success as a leading man in films: "The Music Lovers" (1970), "Lady Caroline Lamb" (playing Lord Byron; 1973), "The Three Musketeers" (1973), "The Lady's Not for Burning" (made for television, 1974), "The Towering Inferno" (in a villainous turn as a dishonest engineer, 1974), and "The Count of Monte Cristo" (1975). In "The Slipper and the Rose" (1976), a musical version of the Cinderella story, co-starring Gemma Craven, he displayed his vocal talents. A television film, William Bast's "The Man in the Iron  Mask" (1977), followed. The same year, he starred in Peter Weir's film "The Last Wave". Chamberlain later appeared in several popular television mini-series (earning him a nickname of "King of the Mini-Series"), including "Centennial" (1978–79), "Shōgun" (1980), and "The Thorn Birds" (1983) as Father Ralph de Bricassart with Rachel Ward and Barbara Stanwyck co-starring. In the 1980s, he appeared as leading man with "King Solomon's Mines" (1985), and played Jason Bourne/David Webb in the television film version of "The Bourne Identity" (1988). Since 1990. Since the 1990s, Chamberlain has appeared mainly in television movies , on stage, and as a guest star on such series as "The Drew Carey Show" and "Will & Grace". He starred as Henry Higgins in the 1993–1994 Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady". In the fall of 2005, Chamberlain appeared in the title role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Broadway National Tour of "". In 2006, Chamberlain guest-starred in an episode of the British drama series "Hustle" as well as season 4 of "Nip/Tuck". In 2007, Chamberlain guest-starred in episode 80 (Season 4, Episode 8, "Distant Past") of "Desperate Housewives" as Glen Wingfield, Lynette Scavo's stepfather. In 2008  and 2009, he appeared as King Arthur in the national tour of Monty Python's "Spamalot". In 2010, he appeared as Archie Leach in season 3, episode 3 of the series "Leverage", as well as two episodes of season 4 of "Chuck" where he played a villain known only as The Belgian. Chamberlain has also appeared in several episodes of "Brothers & Sisters", playing an old friend and love-interest of Saul's. He also appeared in the independent film "We Are the Hartmans" in 2011. In 2012, Chamberlain appeared on stage in the Pasadena Playhouse as Dr. Sloper in the  play "The Heiress". In 2017 Chamberlain appeared in "Twin Peaks the Return" as Bill Kennedy. Personal life. Chamberlain was not open about his homosexuality for most of his career, to protect his privacy and his acting opportunities. He was outed by the French women's magazine "Nous Deux" in December 1989, but did not confirm it until his 2003 autobiography "Shattered Love: A Memoir". Chamberlain was involved romantically with actor Wesley Eure in the early 1970s. In 1977, Chamberlain began a long-term relationship with Martin Rabbett, an actor 20 years his junior. Rabbett played the brother of Chamberlain's  lead character in the 1986 film "Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold". They began living together in Hawaii in 1986 and had a private commitment ceremony. The couple split amicably in 2010, with Chamberlain moving to Los Angeles. In a 2014 interview, Chamberlain said Rabbett and he "don't live together anymore, and we're much better friends than we've ever been.” Awards. In 1962, Chamberlain won the Golden Apple Award for Most Co-Operative Actor. In 1963 he won a Golden Globe award for Best TV Star – Male for: "Dr. Kildare" (1961). He won the Photoplay  Award for Most Popular Male Star for three consecutive years, from 1962 to 1964. Chamberlain was nominated for a Grammy Award for a recording of his "Hamlet". In 1980, he won the Golden Apple award for Male Star of the Year. In 1981, he won a Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series – Drama for: "Shogun" (1980). In 1982, he won the Clavell de Plata award at the Sitges – Catalan International Film Festival as Best Actor for "The Last Wave" (1977). In 1984, he won a Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an  Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV for: "The Thorn Birds" (1983). In 1985, he won the Aftonbladet TV Prize (Sweden) for Best Foreign TV Personality – Male. On March 12, 2011, Chamberlain received the Steiger Award (Germany) for accomplishments in the arts. Discography. From "Richard Chamberlain Sings": UK #8