Richard Chamberlain, the beloved ‘Dr. Kildare,’ is gone. The actor, who captivated audiences for decades, passed away at the age of 90 on March 29.
Now, new revelations about his final days are coming to light — and they’re more emotional than anyone could have imagined.
Despised himself as a child
People all around the world, both young and old, fell in love with Richard Chamberlain when he rose as a popular actor in the 1960s.
In my mind, he was the single biggest heartthrob on television at the time, and had roles in numerous popular shows and movies. He portrayed several eminent characters but, at the same time, led a tough life. He loved the fame, but it was also something he couldn’t escape from.
Chamberlain’s life was also marked by self-loathing — he despised himself as a child and carried the burden of hiding a major secret for many, many years.
Throughout his glorious career, Richard set young hearts on fire as Dr. Kildare and as Father Ralph in The Thorn Birds.
As the king of the TV mini-series, his job was to be a “hetero heartthrob,” but in reality, his friends and nearly everyone in the industry knew he was gay. In 2003, he released his memoir Shattered Love, in which he came out as a gay man at age 69.
”When you grow up in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s being gay, it not only ain’t easy, it’s just impossible,” Chamberlain told the New York Times.
“You cannot do it, that being gay was the worst thing you can possibly be. I assumed there was something terribly wrong with me. And even becoming famous and all that, it was still there.”
Richard Chamberlain had years of therapy, going through various spiritual-raising experiences as well, to help him find his identity. No matter what, he was brave and showed great courage in coming out, especially at the age of almost 70 years old.
Made a decision before his death
Chamberlain never regretted hiding his sexuality to protect his career.
”I would have been a happier person being out of the closet and being free,” he admitted in one of his final interviews with El Pais in 2024. ”But I had other motives that made me happy. I was a working actor and for me, that was most important.”
However, Hollywood’s relative tolerance allowed Chamberlain to date men openly. In the 1970s, he was romantically involved with actor Wesley Eure.
In 1977, Chamberlain began a long-term relationship with actor and producer Martin Rabbett, who, like Eure, was 20 years his junior. Rabbett played the brother of Chamberlain’s lead character in the 1986 film Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold. The couple moved in together in Hawaii in 1986, where they held a private commitment ceremony. They remained together until 2010, when they separated amicably, with Chamberlain relocating to Los Angeles.
In a 2014 interview, Chamberlain shared that while he and Rabbett were no longer romantically involved, they remained close friends. “We don’t live together anymore, and we’re much better friends than we’ve ever been,” Chamberlain explained. “So I’m in the business of advising people who are married, etc., to get another house.”
But according to his New York Times obituary, Chamberlain and Rabbett had resumed living together in Hawaii before his death. Rabbett was considered to be his ”only immediate survivor.”
In a statement, Rabbett, said: “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 added, “Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.”
Last photo of Richard Chamberlain
Richard Chamberlain passed away in Waimānalo, Hawaii, due to complications following a stroke. He was just days away from celebrating his 91st birthday on March 31.
In the final years of his life, Richard Chamberlain chose to keep a relatively low profile. His last on-screen appearance came in the 2018 horror film Nightmare Cinema, where he portrayed the character Dr. Mirari.
Richard Chamberlain’s last Instagram post was an interview he recorded in early December. Before that, he hadn’t posted anything since 2022, when he shared a striking photo of himself from a shoot for a luxury magazine.
He occasionally revisited his past work by posting stills from his iconic movie and TV roles and his Instagram served as a nostalgic glimpse into his storied career, offering fans a chance to relive moments from his time as the heartthrob Dr. Kildare and other beloved roles.
On March 19, 2023, music educator Ira Wong shared two Facebook photos of himself with Richard Chamberlain at the Manoa Valley Theatre in Honolulu, Hawaii. In the pictures, the Echoes of The Past actor was dressed casually in a black sweatsuit and gray sneakers.
At 89 years old, Chamberlain looked both happy and healthy as he smiled and signed an autograph for Wong. Just a few days later, on March 22, 2023, Wong posted another photo featuring the actor backstage during an intermission, still looking vibrant.
Wong described Chamberlain as a “very nice man” who was “totally unpretentious.” Also appearing in the same post was Martin Rabbett, who looked just as happy and healthy.
Fans responded with enthusiasm, with one commenting on how “lucky” Wong was to meet the star. Others praised the actor’s generosity, with one fan recalling their experience working for Chamberlain’s lawyer and remembering how he was “always gracious and courteous.”
Many fans also expressed excitement to see Chamberlain, with one calling him a “legend,” and another commenting on how nice it was to see him “finally, all dressed up.”
The last pictures of Richard Chamberlain capture exactly what many of us suspected all along — that he lived his life with laughter, charm, and an infectious joy that never faded. Despite the ups and downs, the struggles with his identity, and the challenges of the Hollywood spotlight, Chamberlain’s warmth and spirit were undeniable.
Those final images remind us that even in his later years, he was the same charismatic and unpretentious star who won our hearts decades ago. His legacy is not just in his iconic roles but in the kindness and humor he shared with the world until the very end.
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