Richard Chamberlain, the lead actor who portrayed Father Ralph in the film The Thorn Birds, has passed away at the age of 90 after suffering a stroke.
The world of cinema has lost a legendary figure who was associated with many renowned television productions of the 1980s.
In a statement on March 30, journalist Harlan Boll announced that Chamberlain passed away on the night of March 29 in Hawaii (USA), local time.
Early Life and Career
George Richard Chamberlain was born on March 31, 1934, in Los Angeles, USA. He was the son of a businessman.
In 1952, he graduated from Beverly Hills High School and continued his studies at Pomona College.
In 1956, Chamberlain joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea for about 16 months.
After being discharged, he moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. His breakthrough came with the television series Dr. Kildare, in which he played a handsome, kind, and compassionate doctor.
This role earned him a massive fan base, particularly among female audiences. At the time, he received an average of 12,000 fan letters per week, breaking the previous record held by legendary actor Clark Gable from the classic film Gone With the Wind.
Following this success, Chamberlain continued to star in several miniseries, including Shogun (1980) and The Thorn Birds (1983), along with many other successful productions.
Awards and Legacy
Throughout his acting career, Chamberlain won numerous awards and honors, including the Golden Apple Award in 1962 and the Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star in 1963 for his role in Dr. Kildare (1961).
In 2011, he was also honored with the Steiger Award for his contributions to the art of cinema.