In 1961, Dr. Kildare became the first of TV's hit doctor shows, and its handsome 27-year-old star Richard Chamberlain became one of TV's first great heartthrobs. He would go on to become an acclaimed classical actor, film and television's go-to guy for classical and swashbuckling period fare, a musical theatre Broadway star, and TV's King of the Miniseries. In his 2003 memoir, he came out as gay.
Still stunningly handsome at 80, Chamberlain is now coming to San Francisco to appear in the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation's 20th anniversary Help is on the Way concert on Sun., Aug. 24, at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. In a recent interview, the warm and charming Chamberlain shared some memories of pivotal moments in his career, and the challenges of being a closeted star at a time when coming out was not an option.
His transition from pretty-boy heartthrob to serious actor was triggered at a party hosted by his Dr. Kildare co-star Raymond Massey. "Ray used to invite me to his house, where I'd listen to these great actors and their stories," he says. "[British actor] Cedric Hardwicke said to me, 'It's a shame you're a star before you've learned how to act.'"
After Kildare ended, Chamberlain headed to England in 1967 to get some basic training. "As soon as I got there, I was offered the BBC series The Portrait of a Lady, and then I was approached to do Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. At first I turned it down, then I woke up in the middle of the night sweating, saying, 'I've gotta do it.'"
He negotiated with director Peter Dews to get some vocal and acting training to prepare him for the most demanding role in all of drama. "Dr. Kildare was a huge hit in England, and I heard that all the London reviewers were coming to rip this interloper to pieces. But we got very good reviews."
This led to a decade's worth of classical-period roles in films, including The Music Lovers, Lady Caroline Lamb, The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Slipper and the Rose, and The Man in the Iron Mask. When the TV miniseries craze of the late 1970s and early 80s hit, Chamberlain cornered the market on starring roles in Centennial, Shogun and The Thorn Birds. In the 80s and 90s, he did numerous TV guest roles, and returned to the stage to star on Broadway in Blithe Spirit, My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music. But throughout 40 years of international stardom, Chamberlain was haunted by the constant fear that people would find out that he was gay.
"I knew I was gay at age 11 or 12, but I grew up in the 1930s and 40s, when being gay was not an option. I spent a lot of time trying to be someone else. My friends knew, but in Hollywood I was a romantic leading man, so I always lived in fear of being outed.
"When I started writing my book at age 65, I thought it would be a guide-to-life kind of thing, but my partner at the time and my publisher said, 'You've got to make it personal, and being gay is part of the story.'
"While I was writing, it was almost as if an angel walked into the room and said, 'Richard, it's over. All this fear, this self-loathing is just stupid.' The message got right into my bones, and all the fear and self-loathing vanished."
The book, Shattered Love, was published in 2003, and Chamberlain's coming out was the headline of the day. "When I was promoting the book, all the press wanted to talk about, from Larry King to Bill O'Reilly, was me being gay, and I was totally fine with it."
Chamberlain is still the best of friends with his former partner of 32 years, actor and writer Martin Rabbett. When I ask if he's dating anyone now, he replies, "Are you kidding? I'm 80, for Christ's sake!" To which I can't help but reply, "But you're Richard Chamberlain, for Christ's sake!"
He's very happy to see the changes in attitudes today, including that many gay actors are coming out. "It's great that some very well-known actors are out now, and it doesn't seem to be a hindrance. And the recent strides in gay marriage are totally fabulous."
Chamberlain raves about the new documentary The Case Against 8, which chronicles the lawsuit that led to the striking down of California's Prop. 8. "It was one of the great events of my life to see those couples, and what amazing love, bravery, and intelligence it took for them to achieve what they did."
I can't help but ask Chamberlain about a memorable scene in the 1980 miniseries Shogun, in which he played British adventurer John Blackthorne, who's stranded in 17th-century Japan. When a Japanese maiden offers herself to him and he rebuffs her, she says, "Oh, you want a boy?" This sends him into a furious tirade.
"There was a certain irony there," he admits. "But that was the character and the time. But I was chuckling inside."
Help is on the Way 20th anniversary gala and concert, Sun., Aug. 24, Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, SF. VIP reception: 5 p.m. Gala reception: 6 p.m. Performance: 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($65-$150) at (415) 282-5492 or reaf.org