Richard Chamberlain, star of Shogun and many other hot hits, dies at 90

Popular actor and singer Richard Chamberlain, who starred in the hit 1980 mini-series Shogun, passed away on March 29, 2025, two days before his 91st birthday.

His publicist, Harlan Boll, shared that the beloved actor passed away late at night on Saturday in Waimānalo, Hawaii, due to complications after a stroke.

The veteran actor left behind a legacy of more than half a century in the entertainment industry, including hit TV shows, films, and Broadway plays.

More on this in our story.

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Richard Chamberlain had a long Hollywood career

After the news of his death came, his long-time partner, Martin Rabbett, shared a statement, saying:

"Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us. How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul."

He continued:

"Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure."

Born in Beverly Hills, California, on March 31, 1934, Richard wanted to become an artist, and graduated with a degree in art history and painting from Pomono College.

He began his career with a guest role in the anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. However, it was his role as Dr. James Kildare in Dr. Kildare that earned him much love in the U.S. and earned him a Golden Globe Award. That was just the start of a well-defined TV career, as he went on to be a part of many acclaimed TV shows and miniseries such as Shogun, Twin Peaks, and Centennial.

Other than shows, Chamberlain was also a part of numerous films such as The Last Wave, The Three Musketeers, and Nightmare Cinema. His work in television films gained him fame, too, in the 1970s and 1980s. In The Count Of Monte Cristo, Chamberlain played the character of Edmond Dantes.

His role as Ralph de Bricassart in the miniseries The Thorn Birds was loved by the audience and went on to become one of the most popular roles he played, earning him another Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination.

According to the Associated Press, his work in the TV industry earned him the title of ‘king of the mini-series’.

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More about Richard Chamberlain

Initially, Richard hid his homose*uality thinking it might impact his career at the time. Later, in 2003, he revealed about his s*xuality in his memoir, Shattered Love: A Memoir.

According to CBS News, he stated in a Dateline NBC interview:

"I'm not a romantic leading man anymore so I don't need to nurture that public image anymore. I can talk about it now because I'm not afraid anymore."

Other than films and TV shows, Richard Chamberlain also appeared in Broadway plays such as My Fair Lady and Monty Python's Spamalot.

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