Richard Chamberlain from ‘The Thorn Birds’ Dies at 90: Who Is Still Alive From the Classic Miniseries?

Richard Chamberlain, who first gained fame as the titular character in the television series Dr. Kildare (1961-66), has died at age 90, from complications following a stroke. Chamberlain, born on March 31, 1934, was cast on Kildare as his first major role, in his late 20s. During that time, he also tried his hand at a singing career, releasing several hits including the theme song for Dr. Kildare. He further solidified his status as the “King of the Miniseries” with notable roles in Shōgun (1980) and The Thorn Birds (1983). Chamberlain’s career also includes portraying Aramis in The Three Musketeers and Allan Quatermain in King Solomon’s Mines (1985) and its sequel. In later years, he continued to showcase his versatility with appearances in television series such as Desperate Housewives, Chuck and Brothers & Sisters. More recently, Chamberlain took on the role of Bill Kennedy in an episode of Twin Peaks (2017) and played Dr. Leener in the horror film Nightmare Cinema (2018).

​As we honor Chamberlain’s passing, you may wonder what happened to the other stars of The Thorn Birds, an American television miniseries broadcast on ABC from March 27 -30, 1983, captivated audiences with its epic narrative spanning several decades.