5 Things You Never Knew About ‘Dr. Kildare’ & ‘The Thorn Birds’ Star Richard Chamberlain
Richard Chamberlain was one of those actors who seemed to have it all. Born on March 31, 1934, he first won hearts as the title character in Dr. Kildare, his first major role and one that made him a household name. Over the years, he also became known as the “King of the Miniseries,” starring in ratings-smashing series like Centennial, Shōgun and The Thorn Birds — and racking up Emmy and Golden Globe nominations in the process.
But Chamberlain wasn’t just about television; he also brought literary heroes to life on the big screen, took on classic stage roles and even dabbled in music. Sadly, he passed away on March 29, 2025, just two days shy of his 91st birthday. Despite his decades of fame and acclaim, there are still plenty of surprising facts about him that many people don’t know about the star.
1 He was the first to play Jason Bourne
Warner Brothers/Everett Collection
When most people think of Jason Bourne, they picture Matt Damon in the action-packed film franchise of the 2000s. But long before Damon took on the role, Chamberlain starred as Bourne in the 1988 television miniseries The Bourne Identity, based on Robert Ludlum’s novel. His version leaned more into the story’s espionage and psychological thriller aspects, focusing on Bourne’s search for identity rather than large-scale action sequences.
2 He starred in many Musketeers films
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
Chamberlain had a strong connection to the classic Three Musketeers saga. He played Aramis in The Three Musketeers (1973) and its sequel, The Four Musketeers: Milady’s Revenge (1974). Then, he reprised the role in The Return of the Musketeers (1989). He also played Louis XIV and his twin brother Philippe in The Man in the Iron Mask (1977), another Alexandre Dumas story.
3 He recorded a hit Carpenters song first
Chamberlain had a brief but notable singing career, releasing multiple albums in the ’60s — and he got an early crack at one of the biggest hit songs of the following decade. Most people associate the song “(They Long to Be) Close to You” with The Carpenters, whose version became a massive hit in 1970. But Chamberlain actually recorded it first, all the way back in 1963, as the B-side to his single “Blue Guitar”; his version of the title was written without the parentheses. While his version didn’t take off and composer Burt Bacharach reportedly didn’t like his interpretation, the song later became a classic when The Carpenters gave it their signature sound.
4 Birthday twins
Everett Collection
March 31 was a big day for classic television! Chamberlain shared his birthday with Shirley Jones, the beloved matriarch of The Partridge Family, and William Daniels, best known for playing another famous television doc, Dr. Mark Craig on St. Elsewhere, as well as Mr. Feeny on Boy Meets World. Jones and Chamberlain both became household names in the ’60s, while Daniels’ career spanned decades, making an impact on multiple generations of viewers. Though they starred in very different types of shows, all three actors contributed significantly to television history, making March 31 a special date for classic TV fans. Jones is now 91 years old, while Daniels is 98.
5 He spent time painting in Hawaii
Everett Collection
For a long stretch of his life, Chamberlain lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he focused on his quieter passion: painting. He was mainly known for his surreal and dramatic seascapes, and even served as an honorary chair for the advisory board of the Hawaii Public Television Foundation, before moving back to Los Angeles for his acting career. However, Chamberlain often spoke about how much he loved the peacefulness of island life, and painting allowed him to explore a different kind of creativity.
Remind 
Miniseries of the 1970s & 1980s
March 2024
The 1970s and 1980s were the glory days of the TV miniseries. In this issue we ranked the most significant and beloved miniseries of those decades.
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