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

Richard Chamberlain – coming out

Richard Chamberlain eventually returned to the theater, starring in several Broadway shows. He later decided to move away from the Hollywood spotlight altogether, relocating to Hawaii.

In 2003, he released his memoir Shattered Love, in which he came out as a gay man at age 69.

In Chamberlain’s career, he’d set young hearts on fire as Dr. Kildare and as Father Ralph in The Thorn Birds. He said his job was to be a ”hetero heartthrob,” but his friends and almost everyone in the business knew he was homosexual.

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”When you grow up in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s being gay, it not only ain’t easy, it’s just impossible,” Chamberlain told the New York Times.

“You cannot do it, that being gay was the worst thing you can possibly be. I assumed there was something terribly wrong with me. And even becoming famous and all that, it was still there.”

Richard Chamberlain had years of therapy, going through various spiritual-raising experiences as well, to help him find his identity.

No matter what, he was brave and showed great courage in coming out, especially at the age of almost 70 years old.

Richard Chamberlain – today

Richard Chamberlain lived together with his partner, producer Martin Rabbett, for several years, but they then elected to live separately.

”We don’t live together anymore, and we’re much better friends than we’ve ever been,” Chamberlain said. ”So I’m in the business of advising people who are married, etc., to get another house.”

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Richard Chamberlain was the golden boy of the 1960s, ranked at No. 7 in TV Guide’s list of “TV’s 25 Greatest Teen Idols”.

In 2000, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But despite now being 88 years old, he still shines bright and continues to star in productions.

As recently as last year, he played a part in the drama film Finding Julia. Also, he’s set to feature in the fictional drama Echoes of the Past, which as of November last year, was in post-production, according to its Facebook page.

On Facebook, a newly taken picture also was posted of Richard Chamberlain working on set – and wow, does he look wonderful!

“Just be yourself”

In 2013, Chamberlain’s collection of poems, My Life in Haiku, was published. And the well-respected actor has proven himself to be a wise man following a life full of ups and downs, telling the world that you should always follow your dreams and be who you are.

”I’m discovering in my later days what it’s like to just be myself. I came from a family where we were all pretending to be perfect. We played into each others’ game of perfection,” Chamberlain told Palm Springs Life in October 2019.

”But just in the last couple of years, I’ve felt this wonderful freedom to really … just be myself.”

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We will always treasure Richard Chamberlain for his wonderful roles and performances on stage. Hopefully, we’ll get to see him in many more productions in the years to come.

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