Cinema has long been an integral part of the lives of many people around the world. It has been developing rapidly for more than a hundred years. The Americans achieved the greatest success in this regard. Back in the distant twentieth century, when cinema was just taking on its familiar shape, they were able to become a leading power and create Hollywood, which to this day is considered the greatest place for all artists. Every actor dreams of getting there and getting the main role. However, only real professionals with incredible talent can do this.
But we should also not forget about television, which also plays an important role. In this article we will talk about an actor who managed to fully express himself both on the small and big screen. Richard Chamberlain is a man of incredible talent. During his more than fifty-year career, he managed to try his hand at many types of art, thanks to which he became the owner of a huge number of prestigious awards.
Biography of Richard Chamberlain
Richard Chamberlain, whose photo you see in the article, was born on March 31, 1934 in a city called Los Angeles. He became the second child in the family. The father of the future movie star worked in trade and owned his own company, which supplied various goods. He received quite a respectable salary, thanks to which he could provide his sons with a decent future. Just two years after Richard's birth, his father purchased a luxurious house in Hollywood, which had all possible amenities.
In addition to trade, the father of the hero of our article today was engaged in social activities. In particular, he often visited the Alcoholics Anonymous society, in which he acted as a speaker. According to those who visited the club, Richard’s father simply saved their lives.
Childhood and youth
The future star was born in the spring of 1934 in Los Angeles. At baptism, the second son - the 6-year-old first-born Bill was growing up in the family - was given the name George Richard. Richard's parents had nothing to do with art. The head of the family worked as a sales agent in a company that supplied goods to a chain of stores.
Richard Chamberlain in his youth
In 1936, when Richard was 2 years old, his parents bought a small mansion in Beverly Hills, in close proximity to the “dream factory,” which could not but affect the boy’s character and hobbies.
At first, Richard dreamed of drawing pictures and, after receiving his school certificate, he entered the college in the town of Claremont near Beverly Hills, where he studied applied painting techniques. But in college, the young man became interested in theater - there was a drama club at the educational institution.
Richard Chamberlain
In 1956, Chamberlain graduated from college, but put his brushes and paints aside: Richard dreamed of becoming an artist. The young man was drafted into the army, and career plans had to be postponed for 2 years, but after serving in Korea and returning to Beverly Hills with the rank of sergeant, Richard Chamberlain returned to his dream of the stage.
Education
At about seven years old, Richard went to school, from which he graduated with honors. He was famous for his good manners and was always ready to help. His father managed to raise Richard as a man of conscience, who never lied and had many other good qualities. Among other things, even then Richard felt that he wanted to devote his whole life to art. He had obvious talent and an incredible desire for his goal.
Passion for painting
After graduating from school, Richard Chamberlain, whose biography is full of interesting facts and events, decided to enroll in a local Hollywood college, where he began to study drawing. He had the opportunity to work with fairly well-known masters and achieve serious results in creative activity. It was then that Richard began to attend the local theater group. He quickly becomes a prominent figure there. Teachers noticed his incredible acting skills. And this despite the fact that Richard never trained in this professionally. Gradually, he began to perform on stage more and more often, collecting full houses.
Movies
In search of roles, the future actor went to agencies and studios in Los Angeles. Going through castings and auditions, Richard Chamberlain realized that the ability and desire to act was not enough, a professional base was needed, so he took acting lessons from private teachers and absorbed the basics like a sponge.
Richard Chamberlain in Alfred Hitchcock Presents
The cinematic biography began a year later. 25-year-old Chamberlain was offered episodes in the films Gunsmoke and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. The projects did not bring fame, but Richard learned to behave in front of the camera and gained his first filming experience.
The American felt the taste of fame in 1961: the MGM film studio, after successful auditions, invited the little-known artist to play a key character in the series “Doctor Kildare.” After the release of the first episodes of the TV movie and the hype that followed, the producers were convinced that the project would become a sensation. Filming lasted 5 years, until 1966.
Richard Chamberlain in the TV series Dr. Kildare
In 1963, the actor was awarded a Golden Globe for his work in the project, and worldwide popularity fell upon him. Viewers flooded the star with enthusiastic letters. Their number - 12 thousand per week - exceeded the number of messages to Clark Gable after the release of Gone with the Wind.
While acting in films, Richard Chamberlain remembered his youthful passion for music. The actor took vocal lessons from private teachers and soon released 5 albums. The artist connected the compositions of one of the albums with the best-selling movie “Doctor Kielder”. The song of the same name became a hit and reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.
His creative biography continued with work on the theater stage. In 1968, Chamberlain played Hamlet
on the British stage, where Shakespeare's play had not been performed for 40 years. Richard again “introduced fashion” to the performance. Enthusiastic reviews of the skill of the American star were heard on both sides of the ocean: Hamlet performed by Chamberlain was applauded in Europe and America.
At the age of 45, the American played a key role - skipper John Blackthorne - in Jerry London's series "Shogun" and received a well-deserved award - the Golden Globe. The image of Skipper Blackthorn brought the actor a new wave of fame: the American took third place in the popularity rating - the first went to Sean Connery and Albert Finney, and the series became the event of the year.
Richard Chamberlain in the movie Shogun
It seemed that the actor's star was at the zenith of his popularity. Chamberlain played Aramis
and
Dantes
in film adaptations of novels by Alexandre Dumas, Russian classic Anton Chekhov and British poet Byron, Giacomo Casanova and the monarch Louis XIV, but the role of Father Ralph de Bricassart in the film adaptation of Colleen McCullough's bestseller took him to new heights.
The hit movie was released in 1983 and became a Golden Globe winner. Chamberlain received the same award. The artist’s popularity was such that Richard could not go out without sunglasses covering half his face.
Richard Chamberlain in the film The Thorn Birds
The subsequent roles in full-length films - Roger Young's thriller The Bourne Identity, the drama The Road to the West and the joint American-Yugoslav war film Wallenberg - the Story of a Hero - destroyed the title of "king of TV series" that had stuck to Chamberlain.
Richard Chamberlain in the movie King Solomon's Mines
Viewers of the USSR remembered Richard Chamberlain for his roles in films about Quatermain (“King Solomon’s Mines”, “In Search of the Mysterious Lost City”). In the films, Chamberlain appeared in the company of Sharon Stone.
In 2011, Richard Chamberlain reminded himself. With his participation, the dramedy “The Ideal Family” and the multi-episode family drama “Brothers and Sisters” were released.
Military service
After graduating from art college, he had no doubt that he wanted to become an actor. But his plans were disrupted by an unexpected draft into the army, which forced him to shelve his plans. He was sent to distant Korea, where he had to stay for two whole years. Over the years of service, Richard rose to the rank of sergeant.
The beginning of an acting career
Returning to his homeland, Richard almost immediately began to try his hand at acting. However, due to the fact that he did not have the appropriate education, he could not get leading roles and was forced to appear only in episodes. And in order not to waste time, Richard enrolls in local acting courses, in the hope of thereby improving his skills. He doesn’t even realize that very soon he will be able to play his biggest role, which will make him a star.
Excerpt characterizing Chamberlain, Richard
Suddenly, another picture appeared right in front of me... In the same small stone “cell”, where the bloody body of Magdalene still lay on the floor, around her, kneeling, stood the Knights of her Temple... All of them were unusually dressed in white - snow-white long robes . They stood around Magdalene, bowing their proud heads, and tears ran in streams down their stern, petrified faces... The first to rise was the Magus, whose friend John had once been. He carefully, as if afraid of harm, lowered his fingers into the wound, and with a bloody hand drew on his chest something similar to a bloody cross... The second did the same. So they rose one by one, reverently plunging their hands into the holy blood, drawing red crosses on their snow-white clothes... I felt my hair begin to stand on end. It was reminiscent of some kind of terrible sacred ritual, which I still could not understand... - Why are they doing this, North?.. - I asked quietly, as if afraid of being heard, in a whisper. - This is an oath, Isidora. An oath of eternal vengeance... They swore by the blood of Magdalene - the most sacred blood for them - to avenge her death. It was from then on that the Knights of the Temple wore white cloaks with red crosses. Only almost none of the outsiders ever knew their true meaning... And for some reason everyone very quickly “forgot” that the Knights of the Temple before the death of Magdalene dressed in simple dark brown robes, not “decorated” with any crosses. The Knights Templar, like the Cathars, hated the cross in the sense in which the Christian Church “venerates” it. They considered him a vile and evil murder weapon, an instrument of death. And what they painted on their chests with Magdalene’s blood had a completely different meaning. It’s just that the church “reshaped” completely the meaning of the Knights Templar to suit its needs, like everything else concerning Radomir and Magdalene…. In the same way, after her death, she publicly declared the deceased Magdalene a street woman... - she also denied the children of Christ and his marriage to Magdalene... - she also destroyed them both “in the name of the faith of Christ,” with which they both fiercely fought all their lives ... - she also destroyed Cathar, using the name of Christ ... the name of the man whose Faith and Knowledge they taught ... - she also destroyed the Templars (Knights of the Temple), declaring them minions of the devil, slandering and slandering their actions, and vulgarizing the Master himself, who was a direct descendant of Radomir and Magdalene... Having gotten rid of everyone who could somehow point out the baseness and meanness of the “holiest” devils of Rome, the Christian Church created a legend, which was reliably confirmed by “indisputable evidence”, which no one had ever verified for some reason, and It never occurred to anyone to even think about what was happening. – Why wasn’t this mentioned anywhere, Sever? Why isn’t anything like this said anywhere at all?!.. He didn’t answer me, apparently believing that everything was already very clear. That there's nothing more to talk about here. And a bitter human resentment rose in my soul for those who left so undeservedly... For those who are yet to leave. And for him, for the North, who lived and did not understand that people should have known all this! Know in order to change. In order not to kill those who came to help. To finally understand how precious and beautiful our LIFE is. And I knew for sure that I would never stop fighting for anything!.. Even for people like the North. – It’s time for me to leave, unfortunately... But I thank you for your story. I think you helped me survive, North... Can I ask you one more question, no longer related to religion? – He nodded. -What kind of beauty is this standing next to you? She is similar, and at the same time completely different, than the one I saw on my first visit to Meteora. – This is the Crystal of Life, Isidora. One of seven located on Earth. Usually no one ever sees him - he himself protects himself from those who come... But, oddly enough, he showed up to you. Apparently, you are ready for more, Isidora... That’s why I asked you to stay with us. You could achieve a lot if you wanted to. Think about it before it's too late. I can't help you any other way. Think, Isidora... - Thank you, Sever. But you know my answer very well. So let's not start all over again. Perhaps I will come back to you... And if not, happiness to you and your charges! Perhaps they will be able to change our Earth for the better... Good luck to you, North... - May peace be with you, Isidora... I still hope that I will see you again in this life. Well, if not, I ask you, do not hold a grudge against us there, in another world... Someday you, perhaps, will understand our truth... Perhaps it will not seem so evil to you... Farewell, child of Light. May there be Peace in your Soul... Smiling sadly at him one last time and closing my eyes, I went back “home”... Returning straight to “my” Venetian room, I stared in shock at the sight that opened there!.. Bristling, like a young animal caught in a trap, An enraged Anna stood in front of Karaffa. Her eyes flashed lightning, and it seemed that just a little more and my belligerent daughter would lose control of herself. My heart almost stopped, unable to believe what was happening!.. It seemed that all my melancholy, which had been accumulating for many months, would immediately burst out and drown my sweet girl completely!.. Only now, seeing her in front of me, I finally I realized how boundlessly and painfully I missed her!.. Anna had matured a lot and looked even more beautiful than I could remember her. Her soft, childish features were now marked with the harsh imprint of life's losses, and this made her sweet face seem even more attractive and refined. But what struck me most of all was that Anna was not at all afraid of Caraffa!.. What was the matter? Did she really manage to find something that could save us from him?!.. - Ah! Madonna Isidora! Very helpful!.. Please explain to your stubborn daughter that at the moment you are not in danger. She has become truly impossible!.. I think Meteora only spoiled her soft character. But we'll fix it. She won't have to go back there anymore. – What do you mean by this, Your Holiness? Did you want to make her a witch “from God”, or did your plans change? I was shaking with excitement and fear for Anna, but I knew that under no circumstances should I show this to Karaffa. As soon as he realized that his plan turned out to be correct, and then for sure - Hell will seem like a vacation to Anna and me... compared to the basements of Caraffa. Therefore, trying with all my might to look calm, at the same time I did not take my eyes off my wonderful girl. Anna behaved so confidently that I could only wonder what they had time to teach her there, in Meteora?... Anna threw herself into my arms, completely ignoring Caraffa’s displeasure. Her huge eyes shone like two bright stars in the Italian night sky! – Mom, honey, I’m so glad – they lied to me!!! There's nothing wrong with you, right? They didn't torture you? Did they harm you?.. She grabbed me by the hands, quickly felt my shoulders, peered carefully into my face, as if wanting to make sure that everything was really fine with me... At least for now... - Mommy, I was so afraid for you!.. I was so afraid that I wouldn’t find you alive!.. - But I called you! I wanted to warn you not to go. Why didn’t you talk to me, honey?.. – I quietly whispered, hugging my brave girl. “He deceived you, my joy!..” Anna only smiled happily, squeezing me in her strong embrace, and I had no choice but to do the same - she clearly was not going to listen to me, firmly believing that she was right... - Well, I think that's enough hugs for today! – Karaffa croaked displeasedly. – Don’t you think, Isidora, that now you will have to become a little more accommodating?... Anna has become a wonderful girl that any mother could be proud of. Her life must be very dear to you, right?.. - and, after a deliberate pause, he added: - She now depends only on you, my dear Isidora... From now on, everything depends only on you. And rubbing his hands contentedly, Caraffa stood up to leave. – I spoke with my father, Your Holiness... He told me about that other, distant life. I think you would be horrified if you heard what is prepared there for people like you... For criminals. Come to your senses, Holiness, perhaps you still have time to begin to repent... Perhaps you can still somehow save your nasty, worthless life! Caraffa seemed to be speechless... He looked at me in such surprise, as if he suddenly saw the ghost of my father instead of me... - Do you want to say that you spoke with your dead father, Isidora?.. - he asked in a whisper. – Oh yes, Your Holiness, he comes to me almost every day. You were sorely mistaken if you thought that you could separate us in this way. I’m a Witch, you know, and he’s a Sorcerer. So, by killing him, you only did us a favor - I can now hear him everywhere. I can talk to him... And you cannot hurt him anymore. He is beyond your reach. – What did he tell you, Isidora? – Karaffa asked with some morbid interest. – Oh, he talked about a lot of things, Holiness. I'll tell you sometime if you're interested. And now, with your permission, I would like to talk to my daughter. If, of course, you don’t mind... She has changed a lot over these two years... And I would like to get to know her... - You’ll have time, Isidora! You will still have time for this. And a lot will depend on how you behave, my dear. In the meantime, your daughter will come with me. I will soon return to you, and I really hope that you will speak differently... The icy horror of death crept into my tired Soul... - Where are you taking Anna?! “What do you want from her, Your Holiness?” I asked, afraid to hear the answer. – Oh, calm down, my dear, Anna is not heading to the basement yet, if that’s what you’re thinking. Before deciding anything, I first need to hear your answer... As I already said, everything depends on you, Isidora. Sweet dreams! And letting Anna go ahead, the crazy Caraffa left... After waiting several very long minutes for me, I tried to mentally reach Anna. Nothing worked - my girl didn’t answer! I tried again and again - the result was the same... Anna did not respond. This simply couldn't happen! I knew she would definitely want to talk to me. We had to know what we would do next. But Anna did not answer... Hours passed in terrible excitement. I was literally falling off my feet... still trying to call my sweet girl. And then the North appeared... - You are trying in vain, Isidora. He put his protection on Anna. I don’t know how to help you - she is unknown to me. As I already told you, it was given to Karaffa by our “guest” who came to Meteora. Sorry, I can't help you with this... - Well, thank you for the warning. And for coming, North. He gently put his hand on my head... - Rest, Isidora. Today you won't change anything. And tomorrow you may need a lot of strength. Rest, Child of Light... my thoughts will be with you... I almost didn’t hear the last words of the North, easily slipping into the ghostly world of dreams... where everything was gentle and calm... where my father and Girolamo lived... and where almost always everything was right and good ... almost... Stella and I were stunned into silence, deeply shocked by Isidora’s story... Of course, we were probably still too young to comprehend the full depth of meanness, pain and lies that surrounded Isidora at that time. And probably our children's hearts were still too kind and naive to understand the horror of the test ahead of her and Anna... But something was becoming clear even to us, so small and inexperienced. I already understood that what was presented to people as the truth did not mean at all that it was true, and could in fact turn out to be the most ordinary lie, for which, oddly enough, no one was going to punish those who invented it, and For some reason no one had to answer for her. People took everything for granted, for some reason everyone was completely happy with it, and nothing in our world was turned “upside down” by indignation. No one was going to look for the culprits, no one wanted to prove the truth, everything was calm and “calm”, as if there was a complete “calm” of contentment in our souls, not disturbed by crazy “seekers of truth”, and not disturbed by our fallen asleep, forgotten by all, human conscience ... Isidora's sincere, deeply sad story deadened our children's hearts with pain, without even giving time to wake up... It seemed that there was no limit to the inhuman torment inflicted by the callous souls of the ugly executioners on this amazing and courageous woman!.. I was sincerely afraid and anxious, only thinking about what awaited us at the end of her amazing story!..
"Doctor Kielder"
Around the same year, a major American studio conceived the idea of filming its most ambitious serial film, entitled “Doctor Kielder.” When everything was ready, all that was left was to find the leading actor. But doing this turned out to be quite difficult. Many young actors who dreamed of making a name for themselves auditioned. Among them was also Richard Chamberlain. He became only the twenty-sixth actor to be cast. And who would have thought that the choice of producers and director would fall on him.
Richard was overjoyed, as previously he could not even dream of getting the leading male role in such a major television production. After many months of hard work, the project was completed. It was a resounding success with audiences around the world. Richard Chamberlain overnight became a major television star and received several thousand letters a day. There was simply no end to fans and admirers.
Films, TV series and theater productions with Richard Chamberlain
For his role as a priest in the film “The Thorn Birds,” the actor was called “the king of small television series.” But this is a superficial definition. The actor worked persistently and incessantly on film sets in feature films. Yes, it was television that brought him fame. His work in such films as “The Bourne Mystery,” “Casanova,” “Dream West” (in the Russian box office “The Road to the West”), “Centennial” and “Wallenberg - the Story of a Hero” created his name. But we should not forget about roles in feature films. Domestic audiences remember him for his films “The Man in the Iron Mask” and several stories about Allan Quartermain (“King Solomon’s Mines”, “In Search of the Lost City”). Now the actor is in his ninth decade. Is Richard Chamberlain filming anywhere else? The films with his participation are quite famous. True, he plays only episodic roles in them. These are “Virtuosi”, “Nip/Tuck”, “Desperate Housewives”, “Chuck” and “Impact”. In recent years, the actor has been participating in Broadway musicals. These are “My Fair Lady”, “The Sound of Music”, “Scrooge: The Musical”.
View gallery
Beginning of a musical career
As you have probably already noticed, actor Richard Chamberlain is an extremely versatile person who tries his hand at a variety of creative directions. Being the owner of an extremely pleasant voice, he decided to try his hand at singing. After completing training courses, he acquired the necessary qualities for performing on stage. In the sixties, he managed to release several music albums at once, which became major hits.
Singing career
At the very beginning of the sixties, the already famous actor Richard Chamberlain decided to try himself in the musical field and began taking vocal lessons. And he was successful too! His albums became hits in the first half of the sixties. Naturally, it would be a sin not to take advantage of acting fame. One of the albums, “Three Stars Will Shine Tonight,” was directly related to the TV series “Doctor Kildare.” The hit entered the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. But, despite his success in his singing career, Richard Chamberlain was attracted to the stage. In 1968, he became the first American actor to play Hamlet on the British stage after a forty-year hiatus. This role brought him fame overseas, in Europe. Moreover, which happens rarely, his performance delighted both theater critics and audiences.
Further activities in film and television
Despite the peak of his popularity, Richard Chamberlain's next moment of fame came only when he was already forty-five years old. He received one of the main roles in the new film “Shogun”, consisting of several episodes. As a result, as one would expect, “Shogun” became a new peak in Richard’s career, thanks to which a new generation of viewers learned about him. It seemed that the actor had again become in demand and decided to continue his creative path. A few years later, another television project, “The Thorn Birds,” was released, in which the actor played the role of a priest. His work was highly praised by critics. After this, Richard Chamberlain finally gained the title of “king of mini-series.” Of course, Chamberlain also appeared on the big screen. However, these were much less outstanding works.
At the end of the twentieth century, the actor also repeatedly appeared in successful roles, among which “Wallenberg - the Story of a Hero” and “The Bourne Mystery” are especially worth highlighting. For his last work, he was again nominated for a Golden Globe. However, he failed to win this prize for the fourth time.
Richard also did not leave the theater. In those years, he could often be found in such popular Broadway musicals as “My Fair Lady” and “The Sound of Music,” which to this day are wildly popular with audiences from all over the world.
Biography
American film and television actor, singer. Richard Chamberlain's credits include roles in the acclaimed films Shogun, Casanova, and The Bourne Identity.
Actor Richard Chamberlain
The actor was awarded a Golden Globe for his work in the television series “Doctor Kildare,” and after the release of the melodrama “The Thorn Birds” based on the bestseller of the same name, where Chamberlain appeared in the image of the priest Ralph de Bricassart, he had to hide from a crowd of fans.
Our days
With the advent of the twenty-first century, Chamberlain continued to enjoy success, even though he appeared on screen much less frequently. These were mainly episodic roles in TV series (Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters), or minor appearances in major films. For example, in 2007, Richard can be found in a film called “Strength and Honor.” In addition to him, many other stars also starred there, among whom it is worth highlighting Michael Madsen and Vinnie Jones. Despite its modest budget and failure at the box office, the film received fairly positive reviews, which allowed it to gain cult status in narrow circles. In the same year, the actor appeared in the film Chuck and Larry: Wedding on Fire, in which Adam Sandler played the main role. The comedy was a resounding success in America.
On the theater stage, Richard is still doing great. Even despite his age, he tours regularly. He is invited to take part in various productions.
Over the past ten years, Richard Chamberlain, whose films have been a huge success, has begun painting again. He devotes most of his free time to her. In his paintings he tries to reflect his views on life.
Filmography
- 1961 - "Doctor Kildare"
- 1970 — “Music Lovers”
- 1973 — “The Three Musketeers: The Queen’s Pendants”
- 1977 — “The Man in the Iron Mask”
- 1975 — “The Count of Monte Cristo”
- 1980 — “Shogun”
- 1983 — “The Thorn Birds”
- 1985 — “Wallenberg: The Story of a Hero”
- 1985 — “King Solomon’s Mines”
- 1987 — “Casanova”
- 1987 - “Allan Quartermain: In Search of the Lost Mysterious City”
- 1988 — “The Bourne Identity”
- 1989 — “Return of the Musketeers”
- 2011 — “Ideal Family”
- 2010-2011 — “Brothers and Sisters”
- 2017 — “Twin Peaks”
Personal life of the actor
Richard Chamberlain, a biography whose personal life has always been of interest to his fans, has never hidden the fact that he is a representative of a non-traditional sexual orientation. Nevertheless, this did not in the least prevent him from building a career, even despite the prejudices that persist in the world to this day. Already in the seventies he managed to find his first partner. It was an actor named Wesley Huar. However, that relationship did not last long enough.
However, already in the same decade, Richard Chamberlain, whose personal life has always aroused the curiosity of fans, meets Martin Rabbett, who is also involved in cinematic activities. After some time, they began to live in a civil marriage, after which they moved to Hawaii. Only years later they managed to formalize their relationship so that Martin would have rights to their common property. Richard Chamberlain and his “wife” lived together for a long time and separated only in the twenty-first century. During this period, they managed to star together in several films at once.
Biography[edit | edit code]
Childhood[edit | edit code]
George Richard Chamberlain was born on March 31, 1934 to Charles and Elsa Chamberlain in Los Angeles. He is 6 years younger than his older brother Bill. Their father worked in a trading company that supplied goods to a chain of branded stores, so the family, not being rich, did not experience need. Two years after Richard's birth, the family bought a seven-room house in Beverly Hills (Hollywood). Chamberlain's father was known as a talented speaker for the Society of Alcoholics Anonymous, whose speeches, according to many people, saved their lives. From the age of 6, Richard attended Beverly Vista Grammer School, then Beverly Hills High School, from which he graduated in 1952. In his graduating classes he was considered the boy with the best manners. The future actor wanted to become an artist and after graduating from school he studied painting at the famous Pomona College in Claremont, 40 km from Hollywood. He specialized in applied painting and gradually became more and more interested in acting in the student theater. After graduating from college in 1956, he had to briefly put aside his dreams of an acting career - he was called up for military service in Korea, where in two years he rose to the rank of sergeant.
Career[edit | edit code]
Richard Chamberlain as Dr. Kielder (left) in 1964
Returning to Los Angeles, Richard Chamberlain visited studios and met agents in search of acting work. At the same time, he starred in episodic roles: he played the role of Pete in Gunsmoke, Clay Pine in Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Having no special education, in his free time he took acting lessons.
At this time, the MGM studio was preparing a multi-episode television version of “Dr. Kildare” (English “Dr. Kildare”, 1961-1966) [4] - one of the studio’s most successful works - and was looking for a young promising artist to play the main role. Richard Chamberlain was listed as the 36th actor in the casting. In just one evening, his role in Doctor Kildare brought Chamberlain worldwide popularity. They sent him 12 thousand letters a week - more than Clark Gable at the peak of his fame. The series brought Chamberlain his first Golden Globe and several other awards.
During these years, Richard also seriously worked on his diction and took singing lessons. His albums, released in the early 60s, became hits[5]. One of them, “Three Stars Will Shine Tonight,” based on the theme from Dr. Kielder, reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1968, Chamberlain performed the role of Hamlet on the British theater stage for the first time in 40 years since John Barrymore, which brought him rave reviews from audiences and critics. At the age of 45, Richard Chamberlain played skipper John Blackthorne in the mini-series “Shogun” and again repeated his success. He was considered the third most important actor after Sean Connery and Albert Finney.
A few years later, in 1982, Chamberlain starred alongside Rachel Ward in the miniseries The Thorn Birds as a priest. After subsequent work in the mini-series “Wallenberg: The Story of a Hero,” “The Bourne Identity,” “Centennial,” and “Dream West,” Chamberlain received the unofficial title of “ the king of miniseries."
After the 1990s[edit | edit code]
Chamberlain on the set of King Solomon's Mines in 1985.
In the 90s, he was the star of the highly successful theatrical productions My Fair Lady[6] and The Sound of Music. In the fall of 2005, Chamberlain returned to the Broadway stage in the musical Scrooge: The Musical
».
In 2006, Chamberlain appeared in an episode of the television series Virtuosi and in the fourth season of Nip/Tuck, and a year later in an episode of Desperate Housewives. In 2008 and 2009 he performed in the regional tour of the musical Spamalot, and in 2010 he appeared in episodes of the series Impact and Chuck. In 2010-2011, Chamberlain played a supporting role in the TV series Brothers and Sisters. He also starred in the low budget film We are the Hartmans
»[7].
Personal life[edit | edit code]
In the early 1970s, Chamberlain was in a love relationship with actor Wesley Eure. After meeting actor, producer and writer Martin Rabbett in 1977, they began to live in a de facto marriage in Hawaii, where after some time Chamberlain managed to register Rabbett as his partner so that he would have the right to their real estate in the future. In 1985 they played brothers in the film «
Allan Quartermaine and the Lost City of Gold
"
. In the spring of 2010, the actor temporarily left Hawaii and Rabbett to focus on his career in Los Angeles.[8]
In 2003, Chamberlain wrote a biographical book, Shattered Love, in which he spoke about his many years of experiences with homosexual orientation. The book describes the stages of his spiritual formation. The main idea of the book is love and happiness, which exist inside a person living with an open heart.
Richard Chamberlain resumed his painting studies. In his paintings “Age and Wisdom”[9] (“Age and Wisdom”), “Somewhere Within” (“Somewhere Inside Us”) and others, he reflected his philosophical views.
