Actor Richard Chamberlain, who starred Father Ralph in The Thorn Birds, dies
(VOVWORLD) -Richard Chamberlain, the American actor, who scored success in 1983 long-form drama The Thorn Birds, passed away of complications following a stroke, on Saturday, in Hawaii, at the age of 90.
The actor was dubbed as “king of the TV miniseries” after starring several TV dramas in the 1980s.
Born George Richard Chamberlain in Los Angeles on March 31, 1934, Chamberlain joined the US Army in 1956 and served in Korea for about 16 months.
After being discharged from the army, Chamberlain pursued an acting career in Hollywood and became known from the 1961 TV series Dr. Kildare when he played a handsome, kind and thoughtful medical doctor. The role helped Chamberlain gain a large female fan base. His acting in Shogun, 1980, also earned him huge popularity.
The heartthrob actor won the Golden Apple Award in 1962 and the Golden Globe Award for Best Male Television Star in 1963 for Dr. Kildare. In 2011, he received the Steiger Award for Lifetime Achievement.