Thorn Birds star Richard Chamberlain dies aged 90

Actor Richard Chamberlain, star of the Australian set hit miniseries The Thorn Birds and the film The Last Wave, has died at 90.

One time teen idol and king of the miniseries Richard Chamberlain has died aged 90, after a stroke.

The award-winning star would have turned 91 on Monday.

The veteran performer, who appeared in such hits as The Towering Inferno, passed away on Saturday evening in Hawaii from complications following a stroke.

“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now,” said the actor’s former longtime partner Martin Rabbett, in a statement. “He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us.”

Chamberlain was a very familiar face to Australian audiences as the lead in the landmark miniseries The Thorn Birds (1983) and its sequel, The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years (1996), which were filmed entirely in Australia and based on Colleen McCullough’s bestselling novels.

Actor Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward in scene from the minieries The Thorn Birds, filmed on location in Australia. Picture: Supplied

Richard Chamberlain and Amanda Donohoe in the Thornbirds sequel. Picture: Supplied

The miniseries followed the story of a forbidden love between a priest (Chamberlain) and a woman (Rachel Ward) in the Australian outback.

Also filmed in Australia and starring Chamberlain was the 1977 mystery drama The Last Wave opposite David Gulpilil, directed by Peter Weir.

In this film, Chamberlain played a Sydney lawyer who defends five indigenous people in a murder case and begins to experience onimous premonitions.

Chamberlain was serious about his chosen profession and over the years won three Golden Globes for his work.

He is one of the first of the Hollywood stars to have considered television movies as a legitimate art form.

“I was proudest of my work in The Thorn Birds,” he once said. “Working with Barbara Stanwyck was just brilliant. It was the highlight of my career.”

Actors Richard Chamberlain and Barbara Stanwyck in The Thorn Birds. Picture: Supplied

Actor Richard Chamberlain (R) with Nandjiwarra in scene from film Peter Weir’s The Last Wave. Picture: Supplied

Chamberlain was born on March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California.

After graduating from Beverly Hills High School he was drafted into the United States Army, serving in Korea and attaining the rank of sergeant.

Returning to Los Angeles he co-founded the theatre group, Company of Angels, and landed small parts on TV throughout the 1960s until his breakthrough role as the young intern Dr Kildare in the show of the same name.

The role won him legions of female fans around the world.

Actor Richard Chamberlain as Dr Kildare, his breakthrough role. Picture: Supplied

Following the success of that series Chamberlain acted in theatre and for a time relocated to England where he took voice lessons and performed the role in Hamlet for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, becoming the first American to play the role there since John Barrymore in 1925.

He also appeared opposite Katharine Hepburn in the film The Madwoman of Chaillot and began a stint of costume epics and period films mostly based on literary sources.

Chamberlain worked steadily throughout the 1970s often playing romantic leads such as Lord Byron, Aramis, one of the Three Musketeers, and the Count of Monte Cristo.

Chamberlain branched into TV movies such as The Man in the Iron Mask, and hit TV historical miniseries Shogun, and the Thorn Birds, which were hugely popular at the time (and earned him a nickname “king of the miniseries”).

He also originated the role of Jason Bourne in the television film version of The Bourne Identity (1988).

Richard Chamberlain in the 2006 TV series Blackbeard. Picture: Supplied

Later films included King Solomon’s Mines (1985) and its sequel Lost City of Gold (1986).

Chamberlain was gay but never came out over concerns for his privacy and access to leading man roles.

Chamberlain continued acting for many years into his 80s. His last role was in the film Finding Julia.

He was outed by a French women’s magazine in 1989, but did not personally confirm his orientation until 14 years later in his autobiography, Shattered Love: A Memoir.

Chamberlain’s romantic partners included Days of Our Lives actor Wesley Eure, and Lost City of Gold co-star Martin Rabbett.

Chamberlain and Rabbett split amicably in 2010 after three decades together, and remained close friends.

“How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure,” Rabbett added to his statement.

Tributes are pouring in.

Condolences to the family of Richard Chamberlain. He was such a dedicated and wonderful actor. 😔 pic.twitter.com/o4MdSE28MC

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) March 30, 2025

Chamberlain’s Dr Kildare co-star William Shatner posted to X calling his colleague “dedicated and wonderful.”

Friend and fellow actor David Havasi wrote: “He was the original Shōgun. He was the original Jason Bourne. He was the quintessential heartthrob of a generation. He was a star.”

Services have yet to be announced but in lieu of flowers, Rabbett is asking that donations be made in Chamberlain’s name to either NPR or the Hawaii Humane Society, according to People Magazine.

Originally published as Thorn Birds star Richard Chamberlain dies aged 90