Richard Chamberlain, the beloved star of television’s Dr. Kildare, as well as iconic roles in ‘Shogun’ and ‘The Thorn Birds’, has passed away at the age of 90.

Handsome leading man Richard Chamberlain, who rose to fame in the 1960s medical series “Dr. Kildare” and subsequently dominated the miniseries landscape with such ratings juggernauts as “Shogun” and “The Thorn Birds”, has passed away. He had reached the age of 90.

The passing of Chamberlain has been officially reported to Variety by the publicist Harlan Boll. The actor passed away on Saturday, March 29, at 11:15 p.m. In Waimanalo, Hawai’i, complications arising from a stroke have been reported, as stated by Boll.

“Our cherished Richard has joined the angels,” remarked Martin Rabbett, Chamberlain’s devoted partner, in a statement. “He is liberated and ascending to those cherished souls who have gone before us.” How fortunate we were to have encountered such a remarkable and affectionate spirit. Love is eternal. Our love envelops him, propelling him towards his next grand adventure.

Chamberlain’s quintessentially American matinee idol appearance occasionally hindered his acting career until he demonstrated his prowess on stage in a critically acclaimed production of “Hamlet” and various other Shakespearean roles. Yet, it fell short of launching him into a significant career on the big screen.

He featured in a number of distinguished films such as “Petulia,” “The Three Musketeers,” “The Music Lovers,” and Peter Weir’s “The Last Wave.” However, his true strength remained in television, where he portrayed a range of characters including England’s Edward VIII, novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, and World War II hero Raoul Wallenberg.

In his tenure as Dr. Kildare, Chamberlain also experienced a fleeting triumph as a recording artist, primarily focussing on romantic ballads. He showcased his vocal talents on television variety shows and in live performances, particularly in the 1993 Broadway revival of “My Fair Lady.”

He is most notably recalled for his portrayal of the ambitious Australian priest in the highly acclaimed television miniseries adaptation of Colleen McCullough’s substantial romance novel “The Thorn Birds.”

“Shogun,” adapted from James Clavell’s novel, served as a compelling miniseries platform for Chamberlain in 1980. Following these achievements, he commanded a premium for his television services right up until the 1996 sequel to “The Thorn Birds,” which was named “The Missing Years.” Regrettably, the latter proved to be both a critical and audience letdown.