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Richard Chamberlain Looks Back on His Celebrated TV Career, Including Working With Barbara Stanwyck in ‘The Thorn Birds’

He became a worldwide heartthrob 63 years ago as the star of Dr. Kildare, one of television’s first medical dramas. But it was during the heyday of the miniseries in the 1980s that Richard Chamberlain became TV royalty, earning Emmy nominations and Golden Globe Awards for two epic historical sagas as well as the title “King of the Miniseries.” In 1980’s Shogun, Chamberlain played English navigator John Blackthorne, shipwrecked in 17th-century Japan, and three years later in The Thorn Birds, he starred as hot Catholic priest Ralph de Bricassart, torn between Rachel Ward’s Meggie Cleary and his ecclesiastical vows. Three of that miniseries’ four installments remain among the Top 10 most watched TV episodes of all time. On the cusp of turning 90 on March 31, the now-retired Chamberlain spoke with TV Guide Magazine about his celebrated career.

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by Anonymousreply 55March 11, 2024 3:58 PM

What did he have to say about Mary Tyler Moore?

by Anonymousreply 1February 17, 2024 9:16 PM

Fun fact: Dick was the first person to record the eventual huge breakthrough hit for the Carpenters, "Close to You." Give it a listen and you'll realize how much a decent arrangement (and a great voice) can make or break a song.

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by Anonymousreply 2February 17, 2024 9:23 PM

Look at his cheekbones in OP’s post. The kids today are trying to look like him, but his face was just sculpted naturally that way. His facial landscape is a masterpiece.

by Anonymousreply 3February 17, 2024 9:26 PM

He's a doll.

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by Anonymousreply 4February 17, 2024 9:31 PM

[quote]What did he have to say about Mary Tyler Moore?

That she could turn the world on with her smile.

by Anonymousreply 5February 17, 2024 10:03 PM

Your little rose has nasty thorns

(or something like that)

by Anonymousreply 6February 17, 2024 10:19 PM

Whoever was looking for classic novels from 1970/1980 should read this.

by Anonymousreply 7February 17, 2024 10:21 PM

The only mini-series I ever watched was Shogun and damn he was good in it

by Anonymousreply 8February 17, 2024 10:35 PM

I read his memoir and can't remember a thing about it. But if this picture is recent he is the best looking 90 year old the world has ever seen.

Sorry for the sizing, you will have to click on it.

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by Anonymousreply 9February 17, 2024 10:57 PM

I loved him in Centennial. He was Alexander McKeag, Scottish brogue and all.

by Anonymousreply 10February 17, 2024 11:08 PM

Is he terminally ill?

by Anonymousreply 11February 17, 2024 11:20 PM

Dr. Kildare and Ben Casey. Two hot docs.

by Anonymousreply 12February 17, 2024 11:34 PM

Gorgeous and gracious. He looks very healthy for 90 years old.

by Anonymousreply 13February 18, 2024 6:07 AM

He posted on here for a while using his real name.

by Anonymousreply 14February 18, 2024 7:50 AM

Noticeably bad facelift just before TV remake of Night of the Hunter.

by Anonymousreply 15February 18, 2024 8:00 AM

"Never heard of him but we must never forget this old Queer and his birds! He is living his truth!! Trans Queer Lives Matter!!"-------------Trans TikTok.

by Anonymousreply 16February 18, 2024 8:23 AM

"I remember him. He was at the Stonewall Cabin and protested with Harvey Milken to protest the AIDS that Nixon refused to fund. Richard was also married to Elizabeth Taylor before she drowned on the boat with Robert Wagner Woods.. We must honor our Queer Forefathers. R.I.P."---Queer TikTok Historian

by Anonymousreply 17February 18, 2024 9:23 AM

He's dead. Just breaking.

by Anonymousreply 18March 10, 2024 6:39 PM

Richard Chamberlain on Desert Island Discs.

Wonderful choices: Vivaldi, Mozart, Joni Mitchell, Dylan Thomas, and Bach.

A class act

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by Anonymousreply 19March 10, 2024 6:42 PM

[quote] Look at his cheekbones in OP’s post. The kids today are trying to look like him,

Yes, my students at the college where I teach are just absolutely obsessed with looking like him. They carry around "Dr. Kildare" lunchboxes, and talk constantly about getting their faces lifted to look more like Father Ralph.

by Anonymousreply 20March 10, 2024 6:45 PM

R18 is a lying asshat.

by Anonymousreply 21March 10, 2024 7:09 PM

Handsome then and handsome now. Was he ever linked with any other closeted Hollywood gays? Wagner? Conrad? Hunter?

by Anonymousreply 22March 10, 2024 7:28 PM

Wesley Eure, R22. Back when Wesley was on Land of the Lost. He's nearly twenty years younger than Richard.

by Anonymousreply 23March 10, 2024 7:36 PM

r18 He is fine AND he sends his love. Now, let us never speak of this again. Or at least until he's actually dead.

by Anonymousreply 24March 10, 2024 7:39 PM

He was in my favorite Cinderella adaptation of all time. He look very good in period a powdered wig and frock coat.

by Anonymousreply 25March 10, 2024 7:41 PM

I did a play with Richard in the early 1980s. He was very sweet, reserved and rather modest. No surprise, very handsome and healthy.

I believe at that time he was with his long-time lover, a younger actor, preppy type, named Martin Rabett. Though they remained partnered for many years living in Hawaii, they eventually broke up. Not sure why as I'd think they'd gotten through all the difficult years presumably happy together..

by Anonymousreply 26March 10, 2024 7:48 PM

R3, I have a similar facial bone structure and yes, it’s young people who seem most impressed.

by Anonymousreply 27March 10, 2024 7:53 PM

You're so modest, r27!

by Anonymousreply 28March 10, 2024 7:57 PM

"Looked"

by Anonymousreply 29March 10, 2024 7:59 PM

Yes, R28, next to my high cheekbones & square jawline, it’s my best quality.

by Anonymousreply 30March 10, 2024 8:02 PM

Of courses r16 used this thread to shit on trans people, even though this thread has nothing to do with them!

by Anonymousreply 31March 10, 2024 10:55 PM

Pretty to look at but limited as an actor. Casey was way more interesting than Kildare and Sam Jaffee was a more distinguished sidekick than Raymond Massey.

by Anonymousreply 32March 10, 2024 11:32 PM

Dr. Kildare was NOT a homo! He was just waiting for the right girl to come along, like George Maharis, Tab Hunter, and Sal Mineo!

by Anonymousreply 33March 10, 2024 11:37 PM

Kildare was pretty but Casey was a big hunk of man.

by Anonymousreply 34March 10, 2024 11:45 PM

I think there was something about “nasty, hooky” in there, too, Rachel at R6.

by Anonymousreply 35March 11, 2024 12:36 AM

[quote] Wesley Eure, [R22]. Back when Wesley was on Land of the Lost. He's nearly twenty years younger than Richard.

I guess Richard liked 'em young and Wesley must have been into daddies. It's a documented fact that he and Wesley were bumping uglies back in the mid 70s for a year or 2.

by Anonymousreply 36March 11, 2024 12:40 AM

Wesley was quite a, shall we say, popilar lad.

by Anonymousreply 37March 11, 2024 12:41 AM

From what he's said in his own writings I get the feeling Wesley's rump was in big demand. He was quite a little vixen back then.

by Anonymousreply 38March 11, 2024 1:45 AM

I liked his robes.

by Anonymousreply 39March 11, 2024 2:15 AM

Much bigger fan of Vince ("Ben Casey") Edwards! What a hunk o' man. Someone start a thread!

by Anonymousreply 40March 11, 2024 2:53 AM

R40 I found one from 2 years ago, could post in that one.....?

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by Anonymousreply 41March 11, 2024 3:50 AM

Chamberlain was objectively attractive in Kildare, but he's never been what I would call "sexy". And I wouldn't apply the term "heartthrob", either. But a lot of people seem to feel that way. I don't mind being the odd one out on this.

by Anonymousreply 42March 11, 2024 4:49 AM

He was definitely a heartthrob. He was huge back then, girls loved him

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by Anonymousreply 43March 11, 2024 4:51 AM

He was one hot number back in the day, especially when he took his top off.

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by Anonymousreply 44March 11, 2024 10:41 AM

OP- A photo of a HOMO and a LESBO.

by Anonymousreply 45March 11, 2024 10:54 AM

R42- You are not the only one. He never had any sex appeal to me nor did Christopher Reeve or Matt Bohmer.

by Anonymousreply 46March 11, 2024 10:56 AM

[quote] Matt Bohmer.

It's BOMER, you fat whore!

by Anonymousreply 47March 11, 2024 1:14 PM

I can remember all the girls in my 7th grade class wearing Dr. Kildare smocks to school. This would have been around 1962. Chamberlain was HUGELY popular in those couple of years before the Beatles hit and completely changed the standard of male beauty for teeny-boppers.

by Anonymousreply 48March 11, 2024 1:22 PM

His greatest work is The Music Lovers!

by Anonymousreply 49March 11, 2024 3:23 PM

[quote]He posted on here for a while using his real name.

Until it occurred to him what kind of a place this really is

by Anonymousreply 50March 11, 2024 3:33 PM

Ok I’m ashamed to admit this, but I always get him mixed up with Stephen Collins. I actually opened this expecting to see lots of “that old pedo” replies. Of COURSE Richard isn’t.

I wonder why I mix them up? Maybe it’s because they both are so pretty, and have that 80s tv miniseries vibe?

by Anonymousreply 51March 11, 2024 3:37 PM

Maybe you're just not all that bright, r51?

by Anonymousreply 52March 11, 2024 3:43 PM

Yes r51, anyone who’s ever mixed up two pretty, milquetoast actors must not be very bright.

by Anonymousreply 53March 11, 2024 3:46 PM

^^^ r52

by Anonymousreply 54March 11, 2024 3:47 PM

He made me gay thru the TV. When I grew up I dated a friend of his who, knowing I'd make a fool of myself, never introduced me to him. Bastard.

by Anonymousreply 55March 11, 2024 3:58 PM
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