Richard Chamberlain became the golden boy after Dr. Kildare – this is him today, at 88

Working around the clock

According to Richard Chamberlain himself, it was all about the fact that Dr. Kildare was a doctor who cared about, listened to, and helped all of his patients. That made the show attractive.

”It was hugely successful right from the beginning all over the world. It was my ultimate dream come true, everything I had ever dreamt of for my own life and creativity, it was a phenomenal stroke of excellent good fortune,” Chamberlain said.

”I think people are fascinated by medical protection, of situations in life like this. Everybody knows that someday you’ll be sick, break something or another problem, and you’ll need a doctor.”

Richard Chamberlain had a contract with MGM then, but he didn’t have time to rest. First of all, he received an ”enormous amount” of fan mail and presents, but he just wasn’t capable of answering every single one.

Richard Chamberlain as “Professor Higgins” in “My Fair Lady” (Getty Images)

Since Dr. Kildare was such a huge success, MGM saw its chance and took it. The studio decided to put him in several movies in between shooting the series.

”I never got any time off. And if their was a week or so off, they’d send me somewhere and do publicity. I took ballet classes and singing lessons after work, so I kind of escaped.”

Chamberlain wanted to do more than just be a “Prince Charming” type of actor for soap operas. He appeared in Twilight of Honor (1963) and Joy in the Morning (1965), but the viewers didn’t like them at all.

It all looked like he was destined to be a sweet and charming soap opera persona. However, Richard himself had other plans.

Turning to theater

Instead of continuing work with the cinema, Chamberlain focused on creativity on stage, as he had in college. In 1966, he starred in several theatrical productions, including The Philadelphia Story and Private Lives, and even as Tony in West Side Story.

The theater brought Richard Chamberlain to England, giving him roles in classics like Hamlet in 1969 and Richard II in 1971. Following a number of years, he returned to the US to pursue a new chapter in his Hollywood career.

In the 1980s, Chamberlain would get his so-called revenge. He starred in Shogun (1980) and The Thorn Birds (1983). The second one was also a huge success abroad, and Chamberlain finally got the recognition he much deserved.

Rachel Ward and Richard Chamberlain in the television drama ‘The Thorn Birds’ (Getty Images)

For his performance in The Thorn Birds, he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. The show itself won several Golden Globes and also several Emmys.

People seemed to want a tragedy-driven soap opera.

”It was the absolute top of the heat of a soap opera,” Richard Chamberlain says.

”I am often surprised when I think about how it remains so successful because there was one tragedy after another, after another, after another. Nobody came out on top of that show. It was so sad but had such wonderful characters.”