The US actor Richard Chamberlain is dead. Chamberlain, who celebrated success with the TV four-part “Die Dorsvögel” worldwide, died at the age of 90 after complications of a stroke in Hawaii, said his spokesman for the German press agency. US media had previously reported. Chamberlain would have celebrated his 91st birthday on Monday.
Born in Beverly Hills in 1934, Chamberlain initially became known from 1961 through his leading role in the doctor series “Dr. Kildare”. Chamberlain celebrated his greatest successes with elaborate TV multi-part, especially as a Father Ralph de Bricassart in the series “The Dorns Birds” (1983). For this he was awarded a Golden Globe. More than 200 million viewers followed the series worldwide. In “Shogun” (1980) he shone as an English seafarer in Japan. Both series were one of the TV events of their time and made it an international star. In addition, Chamberlain also played in literary adaptations such as “Die Drei Musketiere” (1973) or “The Count of Monte Christo” (1975).
Chamberlain, who had made his homosexuality in an autobiography at almost 70, also stood on the theater stage. A few years ago, he had recently stood in front of the camera for some smaller film and television projects.