When I heard the news of Richard Chamberlain’s passing at the age of 90, as it is with the passing of most of those from another era, my first response was, “It’s too bad no one knows who he is anymore.” If you are a man of a certain age, you no doubt had a crush on Chamberlain. He was incredibly good-looking, with that rich baritone voice.
I think it was because of that “manly” voice, and the fact that so many women had a crush on Chamberlain that never in a million years did I think that he could be gay. So, having that infatuation on him seemed metaphorically like an unrequited love.
My earliest memories of Chamberlain are tied to his mesmerizing portrayal of Father Ralph de Bricassart in The Thorn Birds, a landmark television miniseries that premiered on ABC in 1983. After confirming the year, I read that the miniseries was the second highest rated up to that time, behind the wildly successful Roots, which was on ABC in 1977. As a side note, also in The Thorn Birds was another handsome gay actor, Earl Holliman, who died last November at the age of 95.
I vaguely remember watching The Thorn Birds, and I do especially recall all the buzz the hunky Chamberlain created at that time due to the show’s success — and not coincidentally, his good looks. He was seemingly on every magazine cover. He was arguably the hottest guy in Hollywood.
For those uninformed, the Thorn Birds was a story of forbidden love set against the sweeping landscapes of Australia. Chamberlain’s performance brought depth to the conflicted priest, making the choice between a priest’s calling and a man’s love for a woman. He eventually chose to stay with the church, although not for purely religious purposes.
I do remember the show being steamy, at least for that time. and Chamberlain’s performance firmly cemented him as a leading heartthrob of the 1980s.
Then there was his role as John Blackthorne in the Shōgun miniseries of 1980, where he portrayed an English navigator thrust into the complex world of feudal Japan. Chamberlain’s ability to embody Blackthorne’s transformation from outsider to samurai showcased his versatility and solidified his status as a leading man in television dramas. Shōgun was when I first noticed Chamberlain as a sexy dude!
In 1988, Chamberlain did The Bourne Identity miniseries, before there was The Bourne Identity movie of 2002 with Matt Damon. Why this one stands out to me is that he starred in the miniseries with my friend Jaclyn Smith, who was coming off her enormous fame as one of the original Charlie’s Angels. Again, it was the steamy romance between Chamberlain’s and Smith’s characters that made headlines.
For a gay man coming of age during a time when representation was scarce, Chamberlain’s decision to come out in his 2003 autobiography, Shattered Love: A Memoir, was profoundly meaningful. He was the iconic dreamboat, the quintessential leading man, handsome, charismatic, and seemingly unattainable. At least that’s what we all thought.
His revelation echoed the experiences of other Hollywood icons like Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter, who navigated their careers under the shadow of secrecy, and who, like Chamberlain, were considered the epitome of masculinity.
It’s important to remember that Chamberlain’s coming-out was a courageous act that challenged the industry’s norms and provided visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals, even in 2003. He was in his late 60s, so for a man of that age, and from that generation, I’m sure it wasn’t an easy thing for him to do.
That was sort of at the beginning of establishing the importance of authenticity for an actor, and it most definitely paved the way for greater acceptance within the entertainment community. Chamberlain was a pretty big deal, so his openness about his sexuality, especially considering the era he hailed from, was a beacon of hope and validation for many, including myself. I’ll never forget thinking, Wow, the priest from The Thorn Birds is gay!
In later years, Chamberlain embraced roles that reflected his true self, guest-starring as a gay man in popular series like Will & Grace and Desperate Housewives. His continued presence on the screen, coupled with his participation in touring productions of musicals such as Spamalot, My Fair Lady, and The Sound of Music, showcased his acting chops. He wasn’t just a pretty face..
Like Hudson and Hunter before him, who all felt there was a necessity of concealing their sexuality during the peak of their careers to protect professional opportunities. To his credit, Chamberlain expressed no regrets about his journey.
When someone from your past like Chamberlain dies, it just makes you realize that not only are you getting older, but those crushes of your past — forbidden, and especially if it was on a “priest” — are disappearing. For a man my age, it’s hard to juxtapose the images of Chamberlain as a young, dashing male with the ones of him as elderly. In my mind, Chamberlain will always look like Father Bricassart.
While I was Googling The Thorn Birds and reading about the history of miniseries and the Chamberlain of my youth, I came across this line that his character spoke during the series, and it seemed fitting of Chamberlain’s own journey through life:
“There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree and does not rest until it has found one.”
Let’s hope that during his 90 years, Chamberlain found his thorn tree.Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.
