Richard Chamberlain, actor in ‘Shogun’ and ‘Dr. Kildare, ‘dies at 90

Mr. Chamberlain gave his film debut in “The Secret of the Purple Reef” (1960), a crime drama in the Caribbean. He agreed to use his Kildare image by playing a young doctor in “Joy in the Morning” (1965), a slight drama about young forwound. This did not require a particularly complex characterization. But he continued to give some memorials – and surprisingly – at that time.

They included Julie Christie’s Dangerous Husband in “Petulia” (1968), Octavius ​​in “Julius Caesar” (1970), Tchaikovsky in “The Music Lovers” (1971), Aramis in “The Three Musketeers” (1973) and Its Sequel, The Cowardly Electrical Engineer in The Disaster Film “The Towering Inferno ”(1974) and an Australian Lawyer Transformed by an Encounter with the Aboriginal culture in Peter Weir’s drama” The Last Wave “(1977).

His stage career had an unfortunate start with the catastrophic musical adaptation of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” from 1966 with Mary Tyler Moore, which was closed in the preview. Later he later received admiring reviews for classic roles in “Richard II” and “Cyrano de Bergerac” and in “Hamlet”. In the 1970s he was nominated twice for drama Desk Awards, for his portrayal of a fallen minister in Tennessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana (1976) on the circle on the square and by Wild Bill Hickok in “Vater and Sons” (1978). He called Hickok his favorite role.

He returned to Broadway in “Blith Spirit” (1987) and “My Fair Lady” (1993) and as a replacement in “The Sound of Music” (1999), if not. (The musicals reminded the long -time fans that he had a hit record in the 1960s and the topic “Dr. Kildare” sang.)

In addition to the mini series, he appeared in numerous films for televisions and played the title roles in “F. Scott Fitzgerald and ‘The Last of the Belles” (1974) and “The Man in the Iron Mask” (1977). He played in a different series in 1989, “Island Son”, with another doctor, but he was dissatisfied with his direction and only lasted one season.

After his formal come, Mr. Chamberlain seemed to be pleased to portray characters who were gay or played with gender -specific stereotypes. He had already performed as a female character in the sitcom “The Drew Carey Show” in full drag. Later he was a guest star at “Will & Grace” and entered Cameo’s appearance in the film “I Now Prausoca You Chuck & Larry” (2007).