Richard Chamberlain secretly married a gay man, died, leaving behind a huge fortune

Recently, the news of the deat.h of the star of the movie "The Thorn Birds" has attracted public attention. The actor passed away after 90 years of dedication to art, leaving behind a huge fortune that everyone regrets.

Heartthrob actor Richard Chamberlain, who rose to fame on the 1960s medical series "Dr. Kildare" and later became the king of miniseries with ratings hits like "Shogun" and "The Thorn Birds," has died. He was 90. According to his representative, the actor died on Saturday, March 29 (local time) in Waimanalo, Hawai'i, from complications following a stroke.

"Our beloved Richard is now with the angels," Martin Rabbett, Chamberlain's longtime partner, said in a statement. "He is free and soaring to be with his loved ones before us. We are so lucky to have known such a wonderful and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings, lifting him to his next great adventure."

Richard Chamberlain's idol-like looks hampered his acting career during his lifetime until he proved himself on stage in a critically acclaimed production of Hamlet and other Shakespearean roles. However, that wasn't enough to propel Richard to a big-screen career. He starred in several notable films, including Petulia, The Three Musketeers, The Music Lovers, and Peter Weir's The Last Wave. But Richard's forte remained on the small screen.

During his years as Dr. Kildare, Chamberlain also enjoyed brief success as a recording artist, mostly singing romantic ballads. He also used his vocal skills in television variety shows and on stage, most notably in the 1993 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady. Richard's defining role, however, was as an ambitious Australian priest in the television adaptation of Colleen McCullough's heavyweight romance novel The Thorn Birds.

Richard's name is also associated with "Shogun" - a film based on the novel by James Clavell. This is a famous TV series of Chamberlain in 1980.

Richard Chamberlain's tall, trim appearance and easygoing demeanor made him an instant idol. He used his status to launch a minor recording career with the 1962 release of "Richard Chamberlain Sings" and later "The Theme From Dr. Kildare." He also appeared on the soundtracks of "Twilight of Honor" and "Joy in the Morning," two MGM television series in which he starred in the early 1960s.

Immediately after "Dr. Kildare" ended, Chamberlain went in different directions. He continued to study acting and won the lead role in the Broadway musical "Holly Golightly," based on Truman Capote's "Breakfast at Tiffany's," but the play closed before it opened.

Despite being active in the arts for many years, Chamberlain rarely talked about her life and sexuality to protect her privacy and acting opportunities. Chamberlain had a short relationship with actor Wesley Eure from 1975 to 1976.

The couple lived together secretly, knowing that their careers would be ruined if they were discovered. Wesley Eure later said that Chamberlain was like a mentor and a father to him. He confessed that he was heartbroken and depressed for a long time after breaking up with Richard.

In 1977, while participating in the film project Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold, Richard worked with actor Martin Rabbett, 20 years his junior. The two fell in love, dated, lived together in Hawaii and secretly married.

In 2003, the couple went public in their autobiography Shattered Love: A Memoir. In it, Chamberlain shared about her life, her anxiety when people found out about her sexual orientation, as well as the companionship, encouragement, and spirit of her partner Martin during the writing process.

Coming out as gay did not affect Chamberlain's career. On the contrary, he became an inspiration to other stars. At that time, Richard and Martin appeared together in The Advocate magazine, talking about their intimate and difficult childhoods. The actor said: "I feel happy now to be true to myself and proud of who I am."

In 2010, the couple officially ended their relationship of more than 3 decades. Despite the breakup, the couple still considered each other as friends. Before his deat.h, Richard Chamberlain lived alone in Los Angeles with an estimated fortune of about 20 million USD. He still participated in acting, often went for walks, met friends... On April 20, Richard and Martin had a reunion in Hawaii.

Letitia Wright: Hollywood's Talented and Energetic Actress Khang Trần16:13:36 08/02/2025Letitia Wright, a talented Guyana-British actress, stands out for her role as Shuri in Black Panther. She is not only loved through Marvel blockbuster movies but also a model of energy, making a positive contribution to diversity in the film industry.