Actor Richard Chamberlain dies at 90; His cause of death

Richard Chamberlain, the legendary actor known for his role in Dr. Kildare and his dominance in TV miniseries, passed away on Saturday at the age of 90.

His publicist, Harlan Boll, confirmed that Chamberlain died in Hawaii due to complications following a stroke. The actor would have celebrated his 91st birthday on Monday.

A Career That Spanned Decades

Chamberlain rose to stardom in the 1960s as the dashing Dr. Kildare, a role that made him a global heartthrob. The NBC medical drama, which aired from 1961 to 1966, earned him a Golden Globe for Best Male TV Star in 1963. Reflecting on his early fame in a 2021 interview, he recalled, “It was my absolute, total dream come true. I was so happy with it.”

Hollywood and the ‘King of Miniseries’ Era

Beyond television, Chamberlain had a thriving film career, with notable roles in:

• Julius Caesar (1970), alongside Charlton Heston and Jason Robards

• The Three Musketeers (1973), starring with Raquel Welch and Oliver Reed

• The Towering Inferno (1974), an Oscar-winning disaster film

By the 1980s, he earned the title “King of the Miniseries”, starring in two landmark productions:

• Shōgun (1980) – a historical drama that captivated audiences

• The Thorn Birds (1983) – an emotional romance that won him another Golden Globe

He later reprised his role as Father Ralph de Bricassart in the 1996 TV movie The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years.

The First Jason Bourne and Later Career

In 1988, Chamberlain portrayed Jason Bourne in the original TV miniseries The Bourne Identity, long before the franchise’s blockbuster adaptation. Through the 1990s and 2000s, he guest-starred in modern sitcoms like Will & Grace, The Drew Carey Show, and Desperate Housewives. His final acting credit was in the 2019 drama-mystery Finding Julia.

A Life Beyond Acting

Chamberlain’s talents extended beyond the screen. He had a brief career as a singer and took on memorable stage roles, including:

• Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady

• A Broadway run opposite Mary Tyler Moore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Born in Los Angeles, he grew up in Beverly Hills and later earned a bachelor’s degree in arts from Pomona College. After college, he served in the U.S. Army for 16 months in Korea, achieving the rank of sergeant.

Cause of Death: Complications from a Stroke