I was the leading TV heartthrob of the early 60s. As Dr. Kildare, the slim butter-haired hunk with the near-perfect Ivy-League good looks and charming demeanor I became a huge celebrity and had the girls all fawning over me. Born George Richard Chamberlain in Beverly Hills on March 31, 1934, I excelled in track as a student, later developing an interest in acting while attending Pomona College. I lost an initial chance to sign with Paramount, who became interested in me right after graduation, as I was obliged to serve in Korea for 16 months. I headed for Hollywood soon after my discharge and within a couple of years had worked up a decent resumé with a number of visible guest spots. With "Dr. Kildare" (1961), however, I became an "overnight" sensation and huge pin-up fan. The attention was phenomenal. I advanced into the usual soapy film leads befitting such a star but Twilight of Honor (1963) with Joey Heatherton and Joy in the Morning (1965) opposite Yvette Mimieux did not score screen fame for me. I was considered a TV commodity only. More interested in a reputation as a serious actor than the trivial adulation of youthful fans, I turned my back on Hollywood and devoted myself to the stage. An important role in director Richard Lester's Petulia (1968) led me to England where I tested my mettle as a classical stage performer. My bravura performances as "Hamlet" (1969) and "Richard II" (1972) won over the not-so-easy-to-impress British audiences. With my new image in tact, I felt ready to return to America. I won renewed respect and a huge TV following once again, but this time as the "King of 80s Mini-movies". The monumental success of such challenging productions as "The Thorn Birds" (1983) (mini) and "Shogun" (1980/II) (mini) put me right back on top.
Enormously private, I moved to Hawaii quite some time ago and at age 69 decided to "come out" with a tell-all biography entitled "Shattered Love," in which I candidly discuss the anguish of hiding my homosexuality to protect my image throughout my long career. I hope you enjoy my music. It means alot to me.