The Once Secret Gay Life of Actor Richard Chamberlain ('Dr. Kildare'): 21 Years After He Came Out

Richard Chamberlain in the 1960s days of TV's "Dr. Kildare."Photo byimdb.com

As the star of TV's Dr. Kildare (NBC, 1961-1966), Richard Chamberlain was a heartthrob for millions of female fans in America and the world. Decades later, the actor transformed into the charismatic king of TV-mini-series with acclaimed productions like the original Shogun (NBC, 1980), and The Thorn Birds (ABC, 1983, in which he played a sexually repressed priest).

Chamberlain's perceived persona, however, drastically changed in 2003. That's when he turned 70 and released a compelling memoir, Shattered Love. In that book, the actor made what was then considered a shocking revelation: he was gay.

The actor officially came out on NBC's Dateline series and called it the "happiest day of my life."

With his life today, Chamberlain, now 90, continues that contentment, but back in the days of Dr. Kildare, it was a different story. Revealing the truth of his life then would have been, as he once observed, "a disaster" and "awful" for his career. "I had to be very careful and very circumspect," he said.

During the initial rein of Dr. Kildare, Chamberlain granted several interviews to the press who, he believed "sort of suspected" the reality of his sexuality. He heard questions like, "When are you going to get married and have children?"

To which the handsome actor would reply, "Well, not quite yet. I’m awfully busy."

Chamberlain concluded, "I had to be careful for a long time."

Richard Chamberlain in more recent days.Photo byPinterest.com