Impossibly handsome. Impossibly British. In-the-closet gay? Absolutely.
Richard Chamberlain, actor in the highly-acclaimed (in certain circles) "The Thorn Birds" as Father Ralph,TV's Dr. James Kildare from 1961-1966 and the Shogun miniseries, is now 69.
And he's got nothing to lose, he says and isn't, now, afraid to tell everybody he's gay.
OK. Seems kind of staged that his fear disappears, he appears in Advocate magazine (gay orientated issue) and does a Dateline interview as his book is released. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he told it before but no one was paying attention.
He tells Dateline: "When I grew up, being gay, being a sissy or anything like that, was verboten," said Chamberlain, who lives in Hawaii. "I disliked myself intensely and feared this part of myself intensely and had to hide it."
But the book? Apparently it doesn't dwell on his homosexuality. Is it a good read?
San Francisco Chronicle - The Doctor is Out
"I'm 69 frigging years old and I've just come to this!" Chamberlain says in a voice that's giddy and incredulous. "Can you imagine all those years of fear? Not that I never had a good time, of course. I have good friends and I loved my career and all. But there was always this undercurrent of grngg- grngg" — he makes a low, grinding noise — "like something was wrong."Before he wrote the book, Chamberlain says, "if somebody gave me a sideways glance I would think it was my problem. And now! Somebody does that, I go, 'What's in your head that you're cringing at, that you're sneering about? It can't be me, 'cause you don't even know me. I'm happy!'
LA Times - Richard reconciled
Why now? And does he think anyone really cares?Just ask, and he'll answer. After decades of eluding questions and fudging replies when interviewers inquired about his private life, Chamberlain now seems eager, in fact elated, at the prospect of talking. His answers are sometimes surprising — especially for those who think that "coming out" is no problem for actors nowadays, and that the kiss between two men on this week's Tony telecast signifies some sort of end to industry homophobia. Not to Chamberlain.
...
Writing the book turned out to be "the biggest learning experience of my life," he says. "I suddenly realized that being straight or gay is a total nonevent. If you tell me you're straight, what does that say about you? Nothing but the general category of people you choose to sleep with. Period. Nothing about whether you are good, bad, smart, dumb, entertaining, boring. I suddenly realized that saying I'm gay is no big deal. Who cares? The only people who care are the ones who have the same wrong ideas in their head that I've always had. That being gay is a terrible, dirty, horrible thing to be."
Article comments
1 - RC
More info at the Tribute to Richard Chamberlain website
2 - Rose Kingsley
I have been an avid fan of Richard
Chamberlain since Dr. Kildare !
I feel he is one of our most distinguished Actors of our time !
I put him in a class with Olivier !
I wish you continued successes !!!!!!!
Rose Kingsley,
Artistic Director of The Opera
Institute of California.
3 - Crystal
I really love to read this bilography. MR. Chamberlain has been my most favorite star of all times. Wish him all the best.
4 - Donald Moore
AN AMAZING MAN........
5 - Anne
I wonder if he (Mr. Chamberlain) knows just how HOT he really is. Even at 72 the man still makes my blood rush! He is such an incredible actor and a wonderful humanitarian. I don't care if he's gay, straight, purple, green, polka dotted, or striped. He's a man with great conviction and appeal, and he will always be my "fantasy lover".
6 - Ann Marie clow
I find Richard Chamberlain art work wonderful and as a fellow artist I can appreciated each and every brush stroke
I was wondering if I could send him personal note to let him know how much I like his art. His mailing address would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Ann Marie clow
7 - zhang
I like his perform very much,and from the thorn birds I recognized him,and sometimes from his eyes outpour the blue ..now he outopen his secret.I'm so happy for this..no wonder he is gay.the funs will love him forever..
cheers Richard
8 - ruth
I have been in love with Richard since i was a child and i still am!!!
9 - Iben, Europe
I completely and totally adore this wonderful actor! Both his artistic and acting skills are amazing!
I fell in love with this man as a child, and I still am in love with him. He is my favorite actor among men. There will be hard to find someone to move him down to second place...
Iben
10 - wang
He is an good actor.I admiration him.
11 - claris
Even now, 2008, I still want to know about this fascinating actor. I plan to put his book on my list of vacation reads. Sometimes it just takes longer to learn about the people you admire over the course of a lifetime.
12 - Rosa Brown
Richard is an outstanding actor and I'm so happy to hear that he continues to grow as a person and an artist. What beautiful paintings that must give him great joy. He deserves all the happiness this world can offer....
13 - Sally Walker
Not only is this man a talented actor he is an inspiration to other people. He is one of those men that I would just love to meet, have a coffee with and just chat away. If only..........