Actor Richard Chamberlain Dies At Age 90 [VIDEO]

The New York Times reports:

Richard Chamberlain, who rose to fame as the heartthrob star of the television series “Dr. Kildare” in the early 1960s, proved his mettle by becoming a serious stage actor and went on to a new wave of acclaim as the omnipresent leading man of 1980s mini-series, died on Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. He was 90. A spokesman, Harlan Boll, said the cause was complications of a stroke.

Mr. Chamberlain received Emmy Award nominations for “The Thorn Birds” and “Shogun,” as well as for “Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story” (1985) — in which he played Raoul Wallenberg, the World War II resistance hero — and for “The Count of Monte Cristo” (1975). He won three Golden Globes during his career, for “The Thorn Birds” and “Shogun,” and as best television actor for “Dr. Kildare” in 1963.

In 2003, Mr. Chamberlain published a memoir, “Shattered Love.” It was the story of his childhood, his career and his personal struggle for enlightenment. But one subject received most of the news media coverage: the acknowledgment that he was gay.

Read the full article. Chamberlain discussed his life in the closet and coming out in the video interview below.