Richard Chamberlain, Legendary Actor of Shogun and Dr. Kildare, Passes Away at 90

Beloved for his roles in several landmark TV mini-series, Chamberlain's passing marks the end of an era in television history, as he is remembered for breaking barriers and defining genres.

Richard Chamberlain, renowned for his roles in both classic television series "Dr. Kildare" and the acclaimed mini-series "Shogun," has passed away at the age of 90, as confirmed by his publicist to the BBC. His death occurred late Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii, due to complications following a stroke, just hours before he would have celebrated his 91st birthday.

Chamberlain garnered the moniker "king of the mini-series" throughout the 1980s, thanks to his compelling performances in "Shogun" and "The Thorn Birds," the latter of which captured an astonishing 60% of the US viewing audience and earned him 16 Emmy nominations. His partner of many years, Martin Rabbett, described him as an "amazing and loving soul" following his passing, expressing that "Our beloved Richard is with the angels now" and noting the everlasting nature of their love.

Chamberlain's rise to fame commenced in 1961 when he starred as Dr. James Kildare, a role that propelled him to stardom and made him a household name. Despite navigating his sexuality privately for decades, he eventually revealed he was gay in his 2003 memoir "Shattered Love." Throughout his life, he had advised fellow actors to maintain discretion about their private lives, reflecting on the internal struggles he faced regarding societal acceptance.

Born on March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California, Chamberlain's remarkable career set a benchmark in television, and his influence will be felt for generations to come. His parting leaves a void in the entertainment world that will be hard to fill.