Richard Chamberlain

Richard Chamberlain was an American actor known as the "King of the Miniseries" for his landmark television work in Shogun (1980) and The Thorn Birds (1983, two Emmy nominations, Golden Globe wins for both), and for Dr. Kildare (1961). He came out as gay in his memoir Shattered Love (2003), at age 69 -- one of the most prominent American television stars to come out -- after decades of carefully maintained heterosexual public image. He spoke about years of therapy, self-denial, and the cost of living in the closet, and urged younger gay actors not to follow his example of concealment. He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000. Chamberlain died on March 29, 2025, in Waimanalo, Hawaii, of complications following a stroke, at age 90; he was survived by his longtime partner, Martin Rabbett.