An idol to millions of female audiences around the world, but the heart of 'Father Ralph' Richard Chamberlain is given to his boyfriend of the past 5 decades.
Behind his brilliant career, Richard Chamberlain has kept his love life private for many years. The American actor's love story with film producer Martin Rabbett began in the 1980s, quietly but deeply connected, overcoming many challenges and prejudices of society.
The couple began their relationship in 1977 in Hawaii, when Richard Chamberlain, 43, was already a famous male star - one of the most desirable men in Hollywood - after his role in the TV series Dr. Kildare. Meanwhile, Martin Rabbett, 20, was finding his footing in the entertainment industry. They were never formally married but reportedly held a private engagement ceremony and lived together in a house in Oahu, Hawaii.
Richard and his boyfriend shared a passion for the arts and supported each other in their careers. They collaborated on projects such as Allan Quatermain and Lost City of Gold (1986). Their secretive but warm relationship was well known and admired by many friends in the industry.
After decades of keeping his sexual orientation private from the public, Richard Chamberlain finally came out in 2003 in his memoir Shattered Love. He said the reason he didn't want to share his personal story was because of the heavy discrimination against homosexuals in previous decades. "When I was growing up, being gay, being weak, or anything like that was forbidden. I hated myself so much and was afraid of this part of myself," Richard wrote in his memoir. The pressure was so heavy that the teenager promised himself that he would never reveal this secret. In the years that followed, he participated in therapy and other activities to help him define his identity and accept himself.
Martin Rabbett helped Richard edit his memoirs and the two sat down together as a couple for the first time for an interview with the New York Times ahead of the book's release.
The pair were said to have split in 2010 when Richard Chamberlain moved to Los Angeles. However, according to the New York Times, in an obituary published on March 30, the actor's representative revealed that Martin remained Richard's "partner and closest friend" until his death. Richard moved back to Hawaii and lived with Martin in his final years.
Martin Rabbett shared his grief over Richard's passing at the age of 90 and paid tribute to their everlasting love for each other: "Our dear Richard is now with the angels. He is free and flying to meet his loved ones first. We are so lucky to have known such a wonderful and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is lifting him up to his next great adventure."
Richard Chamberlain was born on March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California. He became famous in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with films such as Dr. Kildare, Shogun, The Thorn Birds, etc. The actor was known as the "King of Miniseries" and "Hollywood's Charming Icon". Throughout his career, Richard won three Golden Globe Awards and is considered one of the most prominent television actors of the 20th century.