Martin Rabbett, Richard Chamberlain’s Partner of Many Years, Breaks Silence After His Passing

Martin Rabbett, Richard Chamberlain’s longtime partner, has spoken out following the beloved actor’s passing — sharing a moving tribute that has touched hearts around the world.

Richard Chamberlain speaks onstage during the 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on February 22, 2004 | Source: Getty Images

Known for his unforgettable roles in Shogun and The Thorn Birds, Richard Chamberlain was more than just a Hollywood icon — he was a man who faced immense personal struggles and still chose to live with grace, dignity, and quiet courage. He passed away on March 29 in Waimanalo, Hawai‘i, at the age of 90 due to complications from a stroke.

Richard Chamberlain, Neil Patrick Harris, and Martin Rabbett pose backstage at “Hedwig and The Angry Inch” on Broadway at The Belasco Theater, in New York City, on May 27, 2014

In an emotional statement, Martin Rabbett shared:
“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us. How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.”

Richard Chamberlain posing with his partner Martin Rabbett and the journalists of the magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni Canzoni, Antonella Giola, Fiorenza Botta, Rosanna Mani, Simona Morini and with the editor Gigi Vesigna in Milan in 1983 | Source | Getty Images

Richard publicly came out as gay in 2003 through his memoir Shattered Love, writing,
“I can talk about it now because I’m not afraid anymore.”

Richard Chamberlain, Helen Hunt, Shep Gordon, Renee Loux, Martin Rabbett, Mike Myers, and Robin Ruzan at the Maui Film Festival on June 17, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

Reflecting on his upbringing, he once shared:
“When I grew up, being gay — being a ‘sissy’ or anything like that — was forbidden. I disliked myself intensely and feared this part of myself and had to hide it.”

Chamberlain was 69 and Rabbett 50 when they first spoke publicly as a couple in an interview with The New York Times. Rabbett acknowledged the emotional toll of years spent in hiding:
“We paid a high price for Richard’s fame.”

Richard Chamberlain, circa 1970 | Source: Getty Images

Once the truth was out, Richard embraced it fully.
“I played a cat-and-mouse game with the press. Game over,” he said.
“I have no image to defend anymore.”

Martin noticed the change immediately.
“You’re lighter, freer now. You’ve lifted many, many veils,” he told Richard.

Richard Chamberlain as Ralph de Bricassart for the television movie “The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years,” which aired on February 11, 1996 | Source: Getty Images

Rabbett was instrumental in helping Chamberlain shape his memoir — encouraging him to speak his truth, unfiltered. After the book’s release, Martin was especially moved by a message from a lifelong fan:
“We always knew you were there.”
“That really touched me,” Rabbett recalled.

Chamberlain shared how freeing it was to finally live openly:
“No one has tried to run me down in the street.”

Richard Chamberlain, circa 1963 | Source: Getty Images

Born March 31, 1934, in Beverly Hills, California, Chamberlain attended Beverly Hills High School and later studied art at Pomona College. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, including time in Korea, he made his television debut on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, launching what would become an extraordinary career.

He went on to deliver standout performances in films like Petulia, The Three Musketeers, The Music Lovers, and The Last Wave. He remained a familiar face on television through appearances in The Drew Carey Show, Nip/Tuck, Brothers & Sisters, and We Are the Hartmans.

George C Scott confronts Richard Chamberlain and Julie Christie in a scene from the film “Petulia” in 1968 | Source: Getty Images

Dubbed “The King of the Miniseries,” Chamberlain reigned on television with roles in Centennial, Shogun, and The Thorn Birds. He portrayed historical figures such as King Edward VIII, Octavius Caesar, and F. Scott Fitzgerald with remarkable depth.

In addition to acting, he pursued a brief music career, earning a Grammy nomination for his romantic ballads. On stage, he portrayed Hamlet in England’s Birmingham Repertory Theatre and starred in Broadway productions of My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music. He also took on the role of King Arthur in the national tour of Spamalot.

Richard Chamberlain sings on the “Peter Alexander” show on November 25, 1994 | Source: Getty Images

Chamberlain was also a passionate advocate for the environment. His efforts played a major role in protecting California’s Tuolumne River as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System — ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Beyond the spotlight, his relationship with Martin Rabbett was the anchor of his life. Though rumors circulated in the 2010s that they had separated, Chamberlain clarified:
“Well, we haven’t really split. We’re still very, very close. The essence of our relationship has remained the same — we just don’t happen to be living together.”

Richard Chamberlain attends the opening night performance of “The Madwoman in the Volvo” at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California, on June 5, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

Richard had moved to Los Angeles to continue working, while Martin, who preferred a quieter life, stayed in Hawai‘i. But the two remained deeply connected — spending holidays together and maintaining regular contact.
“I went home for Thanksgiving and had the most wonderful time,” Richard once shared. “And we’ll be spending Christmas together with friends in New York.”

Richard Chamberlain at an in-store event to sign copies of the newly released “Shogun” DVD at the Virgin Megastore on Sunset Boulevard, on September 23, 2003 | Source: Getty Images

In his later years, Chamberlain gradually stepped back from the spotlight. Though he officially retired in 2019 at the age of 85, he made quiet, meaningful appearances — including at the Manoa Valley Theatre in Honolulu in 2023, where he was photographed smiling, signing autographs, and enjoying time with fans.

Later that year, a photo captured him at a small private gathering in Honolulu, wearing a relaxed shirt and glasses, standing beside Chef Lillian Cumic. Calm, kind, and radiant — just as fans had always remembered him.

Richard Chamberlain attends the Off-Broadway opening night after-party for the New Group production of “Sticks and Bones” on November 6, 2014, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Even in retirement, he remained active in spirit. In 2019, he appeared in a public service announcement supporting Hawai‘i’s Our Care, Our Choice Act, showing his continued dedication to human dignity and compassion.

In a 2024 interview, Chamberlain named The Thorn Birds as the role he was most proud of — not because of the fame, but because of the emotional depth and global connection it brought. He spoke fondly of working with Barbara Stanwyck and Rachel Ward, calling the experience “amazing.”

Through it all, Chamberlain stayed grounded, thoughtful, and deeply human. He chose to age with grace and to live his final years on his own terms — surrounded by beauty, love, and a partner who never stopped believing in him.

As the entertainment world mourns a true legend, his greatest legacy may not be the roles he played, but the quiet strength and authenticity with which he lived — and the love he shared with Martin Rabbett, which endured across decades.

Richard Chamberlain may have left this world, but his spirit — and his story — live on.