People from around the world know Richard Chamberlain, and they have been watching him both when he was young and old on television shows and in the movies. As a heartthrob, he was well known and today, he is practically a household name.
If you were someone who had an opportunity to watch TV in the 1960s, you would probably remember Richard Chamberlain playing the role of Dr. Kildare. He was perfect for the part, and it got him started on a very well-known career.
Of course, he played a number of characters and appreciated the ability to be in the spotlight but there was something in the background that many people didn’t know. He may have been a heartthrob, but he was also a homosexual.
Richard Chamberlain was born in 1934 in Beverly Hills, California. He loved drama when he was younger, but he didn’t appreciate going to school. He also doubted that he would be an actor, but it wasn’t long before he came to realize his calling.
After he attended college, he began working in theatrical productions and was praised for his efforts. He went to Paramount Pictures and they showed interest in him, but he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War.
After returning to the United States, he went to Hollywood and started his life as an actor. After getting in several productions, he finally was able to score it big with Dr. Kildare in 1961.
Through it all, he had problems with his self-esteem. It was good to be famous, however, as it helped him to continue on, despite feeling as if he was limited. He also was living a life where he would often be chased around by women, regardless of whether he was driving in his convertible Stingray or walking around the local supermarket.
Over the years, he was able to be in many different movies. He also continued to work in the theater, which was his first love. He stared in plays such as West Side Story and the Philadelphia Story.
Chamberlain came back with a vengeance in the 1980s, starring in Shogun and The Thorn Birds. Finally, he was beginning to come out of his shell and even won a Golden Globe award.
In 2003, a memoir was released known as Shattered Love. He was 69 years old at the time and finally revealed that he was a homosexual.
He said that it was not easy growing up gay in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. He admitted that being gay was the worst thing you could possibly be and thought that there was something horribly wrong with him.
You went through therapy and found his identity.
These days, Richard Chamberlain is living the best life he possibly can. He is 88 years old and continues to star in various productions. We look forward to seeing him in many more movies.