Richard Chamberlain – the actor famous for playing Father Ralph in ‘The Thorn Birds’ – passed away at the age of 91 on March 29.

According to CNN , Richard Chamberlain passed away at 11:15 p.m. on March 29 in Hawaii due to complications after a stroke at the age of 91, just two days before his birthday.

Actor Richard Chamberlain in 2017.

During his lifetime, the three-time Golden Globe winner took on many roles as an actor, singer, soldier, and painter. Among them, the male god image in the television series Dr. Kildare, which aired in the 1960s, was the most resounding . 

In the 1970s, Richard Chamberlain achieved many successes in the film industry, most notably his role in the Oscar-winning film The Towering Inferno . In the 1980s, he was known as the king of short films with the works Shogun and The Thorn Birds . In his later years, Richard continued to participate in art projects and guest roles on many television shows.

In Vietnam, he is widely known to audiences for his role as Father Ralph in The Thorn Birds . The film revolves around the passionate, intense but tragic love story of Meggie and Father Ralph.

Richard Chamberlain in ‘The Thorn Birds’.

Richard Chamberlain was born George Richard Chamberlain on March 31, 1934 in Los Angeles, USA, to a family of businessmen. In 1952, he graduated from Beverly Hills High School and attended Pomona College. In 1956, Richard Chamberlain joined the US Army and served for about 16 months. After being discharged, Richard went to Hollywood to pursue an acting career.

The actor won many prestigious awards such as the Golden Apple in 1962, the Golden Globe for Best Male Television Star in 1963 for the TV series Dr. Kildare (1961). In 2011, he was also awarded the Steiger Award for his contributions to the 7th art. In his private life, he was openly gay, and secretly married actor Martin Rabbett, 20 years his junior, but they broke up in 2010.