Farewell to George Richard Chamberlain. Famous for his role as Father Ralph in the television series «The Thorn Birds» (1983) , he would have turned 91 tomorrow, Monday 31 March. His death, as reported by his family, came as a result of complications from a stroke that the actor suffered.

Already famous thanks to the television series "Dr. Kildare", in which he played the protagonist, Richard Chamberlain achieved popularity in the role of the Reverend de Bricassart and with the story of the forbidden love between him and the young Meggie Cleary.

First broadcast in Italy on Canale 5 in 1983, «Uccelli di rovo» achieved very high ratings and became a true cult.

Chamberlain also starred in several notable films , including Petulia, The Three Musketeers, The Music Lovers and Peter Weir's The Last Wave . From the 1990s onwards, he continued his career in TV films and guest appearances on hit series such as Will & Grace .

As for his private life, in 2003 he came out with his autobiography «Shattered Love» : « I was able to tell the truth only at 68 years old – he later told Vanity Fair – when I could no longer be a romantic hero on the screen». «In the 40s and 50s – he explained – being homosexual in America was much worse than being a traitor or a murderer. I was scared. The fact that I was now at a different age, and had fewer doubts about myself, made me change my mind».

(Unioneonline/vl)

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