'Father Ralph' of 'The Thorn Birds' and a Little-Known Love Story

Richard Chamberlain, an Emmy-nominated actor who starred in hit TV series such as 'Dr. Kildare', 'Shogun', and 'The Thorn Birds', died on March 29.

The Thorn Birds star took the secret of her love life with her after her death.

Richard Chamberlain dies at 90

PHOTO: REUTERS

The actor's longtime partner, Martin Rabbett, said: "Our beloved Richard is with the angels. He is free and flying to his loved ones before us. We are so lucky to have known such a wonderful and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is always under his wings, lifting him to his next great adventure."

Chamberlain almost married three times but they ended because he refused to commit to living with another person.

When he was younger, the actor once said: "I don't like being tied down, and committing to someone for life is unrealistic for me. I like to move around, I like to feel the wind blowing. People change and things are changing. People study, become dentists, then quit and become gardeners. For me, that's great. But it makes relationships difficult. You come to someone intensely, for a while. And then when things happen too fast, you leave."

Most of his roles were romantic leads. That's why he didn't come out as gay until he was 68.

"When you grew up in the 1930s, 1940s, or 1950s, being gay was not only not easy, it was impossible, " he told The New York Times in 2014. "I thought there was something very wrong with me. And even when I became famous, all that was still there."

Richard Chamberlain said he felt "a huge sense of relief" when he came out about his sexuality in his 2003 autobiography Shattered Love: A Memoir .

In 1977, Chamberlain began a long-term relationship with film producer Martin Rabbett. They began living together in Hawaii in 1986 and held a private ceremony.

Richard Chamberlain gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

PHOTO: AFP

The couple split amicably in 2010 and the Emmy-nominated actor moved to Los Angeles.

In a 2014 interview, Chamberlain said that although he and Rabbett no longer had a close relationship, they remained close friends.

The actor was dubbed the "king of television" in the 1980s. He played Jason Bourne in the 1988 film series The Bourne Identity. Producer Susan Baerwald once said: 'What's fascinating about Richard is his wide range of acting. His ability to be different every time he appears is what makes him such a valuable asset.'

Richard Chamberlain went on to win Golden Globes for his roles in Shogun , Dr. Kildare and The Thorn Birds .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cha-ralph-cua-tieng-chim-hot-trong-bui-man-gai-va-chuyen-tinh-it-duoc-biet-den-185250401092225345.htm