Richard Chamberlain’s portrayal of Ralph Touchett in Henry James’s
novel “The Portrait of a Lady” (1968) was brilliant and decisive for his career.
The Richard Chamberlain’s scenes in the series can now be watched
on the Webbiography - the synopsis featured on the page can be useful
in order to better enjoy the video clips.
After an outpour of kind and gracious comments about “The Thorn Birds”
in general and about him in particular, on the Facebook page of this
Webbiography, Richard Chamberlain has dedicated this photo of
Father Ralph to the authors of the messages in deep appreciation
of their loyalty over all these years!
Video of one of the chapters of "The Good Doctor",
"The Arrangement"
"The Arrangement" is one of the chapters of "The Good Doctor"
by Neil Simon. The famous playwright was inspired by Anton Chekhov's
short stories which capture the comic and serious sides of the
19th century Russian Bourgeoisie. In this chapter, Richard Chamberlain
plays the father opposite Gary Dontzig and Marsha Mason.
Richard Chamberlain also plays other parts in several chapters
of “The Good Doctor”, as well as the part of the Writer,
thus weaving together the seven short stories. Ed Asner,
Lee Grant and Bob Dishy are the other actors featured
in the movie.
Since the turn of the century, a dynamic Richard Chamberlain
has either starred or guest-starred in five films, a television
movie, ten televisionseries, four plays and three musicals.
He has also been involved in several events and documentaries
either as a narrator or as himself. Moreover, he has written two
books, a memoir titled “Shattered Love” and a volume of haiku published four months ago under the title “My Life in Haiku”, not to speak of the several paintings he has added to his art work.
Four new slideshows, “21st Century”, highlight this bustling period
of Richard Chamberlain’s career.
To watch the slideshows, click the link below and
scroll down to the bottom of the page
The DVD of Dr. Kildare, first season (33 episodes plus the never-aired
original backpilot filmed for "The Eleventh Hour"),
has been released by Warner Archive Collection.
To access the Warner Archive Collection order page (only for US residents)
If you do not reside in the US, the DVD can be bought
on ebay.comor at amazon.com
Roundtable discussion hosted by Warner Archive Collection
George Feltenstein about, i.a., Dr. Kildare, its historical context
and other aspects of the show.
“Dream West”, a miniseries that involves exploration, adventure,
politics, power struggle, intrigue, civil war and romance
was a highly demanding project for an actor. Who better
than Richard Chamberlain could pull it off with flying colors?
The new presentation of the “Dream West” dedicated page
captures, in an extensive photo gallery, Richard Chamberlain’s
wide range and his capacity to become the character he portrays
- Richard Chamberlain IS John Charles Fremont!
His outstanding performance is a must-see despite being
somewhat tarnished by deficient editing. The miniseries
also depicts a piece of American history, it is quite informative
about how Fremont opened the first trails over the mountains to
Oregon and California.
The show can be watched on the Webbiography and a regionfree
DVD is now available on amazon.comwith good image and
sound quality; it includes the saloon scene that was cut out
of the version aired on American television.
Richard Chamberlain was instrumental in having Alice Krige
hired to play his wife, Jessie Benton, with whom he admits
he had very good chemistry.
To watch “Dream West” and see the photo gallery click here
"Dr. Kildare" alert!
There has been an upload of "Dr. Kildare" episodes on the net.
"Dr. Kildare" that ran from 1961 to 1966 was Richard Chamberlain's spectacular break and an astounding
overnight success. The engaging interaction between the young intern
(Richard Chamberlain) learning the ropes and his mentor, Dr. Gillespie (Raymond Massey), was a
provocative underpinning of most of the storylines.
The list of downloaded episodes is to be found here but notice that the episodes do not follow the order in which they were aired.
It is advisable to take advantage of this opportunity to watch without delay the recently uploaded "Dr. Kildare" episodes.
To whet the appetites right away, here are two episodes:
"Horn of Plenty" (season 1, episode 28)
Dr. Kildare falls for a young heiress whose father
would like to help him open a practice instead of him becoming
a resident at Blair General Hospital where his salary will
remain very low for a few more years. Dr. Kildare has to solve
a dilemma, marry a wealthy woman and open a practice
or deepen his craft.
"Guest Appearance" (season 2, episode 38)
Dr. Kildare, on an emergency call on the set of a talk show, gives first aid treatment to the son of the talk show’s host, Ted Galahad. The boy later dies in the hospital and Ted Galahad not only blames Dr. Kildare for his death but also humiliates him during his live show.
To watch other "Dr. Kildare" episodes recently
uploaded click
With this autographed photo, Richard Chamberlain thanks all those who, through this Webbiography,
have sent him birthday wishes and good thoughts!
To fete Richard Chamberlain's birthday, five new slideshows have been added to cover the years 1973-1979 and the 80s featuring photos of an
outstanding period of his brilliantcareer.
1973 - 1979
The 80s
Today, March 27, marks the 30th anniversary of the premiere of
"The Thorn Birds"!
In the United States, "The Thorn Birds" became the second
highest rated mini-series of all time behind "Roots".
It is still watched today all over the world and its compelling
love story continues to attract new generations of viewers.
The extraordinary chemistry between Richard Chamberlain and
Rachel Ward, the superb acting of the entire cast and the
talent of its director Daryl Duke won "The Thorn Birds"
a special place in the history of television mini-series.
During the years he lived in the UK, Richard Chamberlain’s
career evolved between theatre, television and film,
his portrayal of Hamlet being a high point on stage as well
as on screen. Enjoy this new version of the slideshow
“The UK Years”
featuring a Richard Chamberlain with a hundred faces!
For more slideshows about Richard Chamberlain's career
"From Kildare to Petulia" is the title of this re-edited slideshow
that mainly covers transition years during which Richard Chamberlain
started to distance himself from the powerful image he had
become hugely famous for, Dr. James Kildare.
During this period, he starred in three films, “Twilight of Honor”,
“Joy in the Morning” (still during the Kildare show) and “Petulia”,
two plays “Private Lives” and “Philadelphia Story” and two
musicals “West Side Story” and “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”.
Enjoy the new version of the slideshow!
For more slideshows about Richard Chamberlain's career
Richard Chamberlain and Hal Holbrook in "All the Winters that Have Been"(1997)
Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey
Documentary
Richard Chamberlain is among the actors cast in the feature-length
documentary "Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey",
authored by Hal Holbrook and directed by Scott Teems.
Hal Holbrook (87) has performed as Twain in a one-man show
since 1954 to sold out crowds and won a Tony award for his
performance in 1966.
The documentary is in post-production and will be
released later this year.
Richard Chamberlain and Sebastian Siegel
Love Sex God
"Awakening World" (first installment) "Awakening World" is the first part of the documentary titled "Love Sex God" created and filmed by Sebastian Siegel.
Richard Chamberlain
explains what is his purpose of life
in an extract of "Awakening World".
(second installment)
Richard Chamberlain will participate in Sebastian Siegel's documentary titled "Spirit of Evolution".
The documentary follows "Awakening World", an in-depth study
of the human condition that Sebastian Siegel directed, filmed and edited
based on one hundred hours of interviews of and discussions
with "acclaimed artists, best selling authors, globally
recognized leaders and extraordinary personalities."
"Many people were very touched by Richard Chamberlain's grace, strength and compassion in the documentary's first part
"Awakening World,"" Sebastian Siegel told The
Richard Chamberlain Webbiography. In "Awakening World", the questions dealt with were those
"at the very core of human fulfillment:
Love, Intimacy, Heaven, Hell, God, Religions, and the Purpose of Life."
"Awakening World" premiered at Hawai'i International Film Festival last
October and will be available on DVD next summer.
"Spirit of Evolution" will "explore the gifts of religion, the limitations
of its dogma, the many beliefs that make up our ideas of God,
and the emerging path of evolutionary spirituality."
Listen to Sebastian Siegel
More information on the documentary and how to make a difference here
Photo Gallery
"The Kildare Years"
To watch the new version of the three slideshows,
go to the Photo Gallery and scroll down to "The Kildare Years"
The central conflict in the story is Father Ralph’s torn soul
between his passion for Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward) and
his devotion to God and the church. In the screenplay,
the character is portrayed as an opportunist but Chamberlain
saw Father Ralph differently and altered the role.
“I thought he would be much more interesting if he really
did have a true vocation in the church, if he really did want
the power, and if he really did love Meggie with all his heart,”
Chamberlain explained.
Two joint interviews granted by Richard Chamberlain,
Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown,
"The Thorn Birds 30 Years Later" and "A Return to Drogheda".
Rachel Ward to Richard Chamberlain:
“Of course I trusted you.
I was absolutely in your hands. Obviously,
you were just so protective of me.” here
A photo gallery of the panel who took part in the PBS
presentation of "Pioneers of Television", episode 4, called
"Miniseries", an event that allowed Richard Chamberlain
and Rachel Ward to meet for the first time
since "The Thorn Birds".
In the interview he granted this Webbiography in 2011,
Richard Chamberlain mentioned that he had been writing
haiku and that he intended to make them into a self-published
volume that he might give to friends.
The volume, titled "My Life in Haiku" and illustrated with some
photos and reproductions of Richard Chamberlain's paintings,
has now been published and it is most considerate
and generous of Richard Chamberlain to share his verse
with his friends on this site.
In the preface Richard Chamberlain writes: "One hundred and fifty three haiku poems aren't exactly
an autobiography, even if you throw in a few of your
paintings, but these brief musings do feel quite personal,
and they've been fun to write."
"The challenge of haiku is to say something that has a meaning
in an extremely limited form," said Richard Chamberlain
in the 2011 interview.
Here are two haiku from "My Life in Haiku" with a reproduction of a painting
by Richard Chamberlain called "Joy"
"My Life in Haiku" can only be ordered at amazon.com
Young Richard
Within the process of editing the slideshows of the Photo Gallery
after gaining some more knowhow and applying a different software,
here is the first ‘edited’ slideshow
“Young Richard”
Richard Chamberlain, Singer
Two slideshows, created by the Webbiography, have been added
to the "Singer" page featuring two songs "Close To You" and "Blue Guitar".
Both songs were written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David
and Richard Chamberlain was the first to record them (1963).
"Close To You" was also recorded a few months later by Dionne Warwick and it was a breakthrough hit for The Carpenters in 1970.
The Webbiography has added, to the chapter “Specials”,
a new link to commemorate the release, thirty years ago,
of the miniseries “The Thorn Birds”, a massive hit all over the
world and, in the United States, the highest rated miniseries in
television history behind “Roots”.
For a great number of visitors to this site, it is also one
of their favored miniseries.
Richard Chamberlain has kindly autographed several photos
of him as “Father Ralph” for this Special.
During 2013, the Photo Gallery will feature each month a new
“Thorn Birds” photo.
This photo has been autographed by Richard Chamberlain,
in exclusivity, to thank the “Richard Chamberlain Webbiography”
visitors and friends for their kind messages and comments
congratulating him for having been granted the EuroCinema
Hawaii Lifetime Achievement Award.
He also wishes you to know how highly he appreciates
your interest in his career and all your good wishes.
More on Richard Chamberlain's Hawaii Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward
met again
in Beverly Hills, July 22, 2012 Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward met again on the stage of a discussion panel on miniseries, the topic that will be explored
by PBS in "Pioneers of Television", season 3, episode 4, and broadcast February 5, 2013.
An unusual admission by Rachel Ward
“I was very green and Richard was less green and incredibly supportive and darling to me.”
“I’d been in love with Richard actually for years.”
"It feels like I'm still in 'The Thorn Birds,' because I was always waiting for Richard," Rachel laughed.
"I'm absolutely thrilled [to be together again] and it just seems like not much has changed. You look more beautiful than ever, by the way," Richard said.
1. Richard Chamberlain talks about his two
recent high tech and science fiction projects
'Chuck' and 'Leverage'
2. Richard Chamberlain underlines the
importance of all kinds of 'masks' for
an actor: in the 'Man in the Iron Mask'
the iron mask was totally terrifying!
3. Richard Chamberlain reminisces about
'Shogun': 'Shogun' was a wonderful experience,
I was not about to screw it up despite
cultural clashes between the Japanese
and American crew.
4. Richard Chamberlain on 'The Thorn Birds':
chemistry is impossible to define.
5. Richard Chamberlain commends the series
'Brothers & Sisters' for treating gay characters
just like people.
6. Richard Chamberlain: in all my projects
I learn about myself, in comedy I learn
a little more.
7. Richard Chamberlain about his artwork:
sometimes my paintings have a certain meaning
like 'Celestial Ardor' that expresses total
commitment of oneself to life.
For a man total commitment to life
is in part phallic.
Recent Projects including appearances at premieres
