Richard Chamberlain
Biography
Richard Chamberlain is an American actor of stage and screen. He became a teen idol in the title role of the television show Dr. Kildare from 1961 to 1966. Chamberlain has appeared in several TV mini-series, including Shōgun in 1980 and The Thorn Birds in 1983. He was the first to play Jason Bourne in the 1988 made-for-TV movie. Chamberlain has also performed classical stage roles and worked in musical theatre. He was born on March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California, and passed away on March 29, 2025, at the age of 90. Chamberlain has a total of 118 known credits, primarily in acting.
Career overview
Richard Chamberlain is an American actor known for his work in stage and screen productions. He gained popularity as a teen idol in the title role of the television show Dr. Kildare, which aired from 1961 to 1966. Chamberlain's subsequent appearances include several TV mini-series, such as Shōgun and The Thorn Birds.
He was also the first actor to play Jason Bourne in the 1988 made-for-TV movie "The Bourne Identity". Chamberlain's career extends beyond television, as he has performed classical stage roles and worked in musical theatre. His versatility as an actor has allowed him to take on a wide range of roles in various mediums.
Throughout his career, Chamberlain has accumulated a significant number of acting credits, with a total of 118 known credits. His work has spanned multiple decades, with a notable presence in the entertainment industry from the 1960s onwards. Chamberlain's contributions to the world of acting have been substantial, with a lasting impact on the industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Henry Mancini: 100 at the Hollywood Bowl (2024) as Self
- Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (2020) as Nat
- Finding Julia (2019) as Igor
- Nightmare Cinema (2018) as Dr. Mirari
- The Black Ghiandola (2017) as Creepy Oncologist
- Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015) as Highfather (voice)
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) as Self - Actor
- Three Days of Hamlet (2012) as Polonius
- We Are the Hartmans (2012) as Mr. Hartman
- Christmas Around the World with Perry Como (2012) as Self
- ThunderCats (2011) as Zigg (voice)
- The Perfect Family (2011) as Monsignor Murphy
- Leverage (2008) as Archie Leach
- Chuck (2007) as Adelbert De Smet
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) as Councilman Banks
- Strength and Honour (2007) as Denis O'Leary
- Brothers and Sisters (2006) as Jonathan Byrold
- Blackbeard (2006) as Gouverneur Charles Eden
- Desperate Housewives (2004) as Glenn
- Hustle (2004) as James Whittaker Wright III
- Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire (2004) as Narrator
- Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire (2004) as Narrator
- Nip/Tuck (2003) as Arthur Stiles
- ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2003) as Self
- The Making of Shōgun (2003)
- The Pavilion (2000) as Huddlestone
- Endangered Hawaiʻi (2000) as Narrator
- Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke (1999) as Bernard Lafferty
- Will & Grace (1998) as Clyde
- The View (1997) as Self
- Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- River Made to Drown In (1997) as Thaddeus MacKenzie
- The Lost Daughter (1997) as Andrew McCracken
- All the Winters that Have Been (1997) as Dane Corvin
- Bird of Prey (1996) as Jonathan Griffith
- The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years (1996) as Ralph de Bricassart
- The Drew Carey Show (1995) as Maggie Wick
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Jack Clay / Everett Clay
- Ordeal in the Arctic (1993) as Captain John Couch
- Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- Night of the Hunter (1991) as Harry Powell
- The Astronomers (1991) as Narrator
- Aftermath: A Test of Love (1991) as Ross Colburn
- Twin Peaks (1990) as Bill Kennedy
- Island Son (1989)
- Island Son (1989) Producer
- The Return of the Musketeers (1989) as Aramis
- The Bourne Identity (1988) as Jason Bourne
- Sacrée soirée (1987) as Self
- Casanova (1987) as Giacomo Casanova
- Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986) as Allan Quatermain
- Dream West (1986) as John Charles Fremont
- King Solomon's Mines (1985) as Allan Quatermain
- Wallenberg: A Hero's Story (1985) as Raoul Wallenberg
- The Thorn Birds (1983) as Ralph de Bricassart
- Cook & Peary: The Race to the Pole (1983) as Frederick Cook
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- Na sowas! (1982) as Self
- Murder by Phone (1982) as Nat Bridger
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Shōgun (1980) as Pilot-Major John Blackthorne / Anjin-san
- Shogun (1980) as John Blackthorne
- Musical Comedy Tonight (1979)
- Centennial (1978) as Alexander McKeag
- Challenge of the Super Friends (1978)
- The Swarm (1978) as Dr. Hubbard
- The Good Doctor (1978) as Anton Chekhov / Various Roles
- Inside 'the Swarm' (1978) as Self
- The Last Wave (1977) as David Burton
- The Man in the Iron Mask (1977) as Louis XIV / Philippe
- The Slipper and the Rose (1976) as Prince Edward
- The Count of Monte-Cristo (1975) as Edmond Dantès
- The Christmas Messenger (1975) as Christmas Messenger
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- The Towering Inferno (1974) as Simmons
- The Four Musketeers (1974) as Aramis
- F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Last of the Belles (1974) as F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Little Mermaid (1974) as Narrator
- The Lady's Not for Burning (1974) as Thomas Mendip
- The Three Musketeers (1973) as Aramis
- Lady Caroline Lamb (1972) as George Gordon, Lord Byron
- The Woman I Love (1972) as King Edward VIII
- Great Performances (1971) as Anton Chekhov
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- The Music Lovers (1971) as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Hamlet (1970) as Hamlet
- Julius Caesar (1970) as Octavius Caesar / Augustus
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as Hamlet
- The Madwoman of Chaillot (1969) as The Reverend
- Petulia (1968) as Dave Danner
- Petulia: The Uncommon Movie (1968) as Himself
- Hold On: It's The Dave Clark Five (1968) as The Director
- The Portrait of a Lady (1968) as Ralph Touchett
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest
- Joy in the Morning (1965) as Carl Brown
- Twilight of Honor (1963) as David Mitchell
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Dr. James Kildare
- A Thunder of Drums (1961) as Lt. Porter
- Thriller (1960) as Larry Carter
- The Secret of the Purple Reef (1960) as Dean Christopher
- The Deputy (1959) as Jerry Kirk
- Mr. Lucky (1959) as Alec
- Bourbon Street Beat (1959) as Dale Wellington
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host/Performer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Pete
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Clay Pine
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Today (1952) as Self
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Clarence Narrow
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Hamlet
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee / Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Winner