# Richard Chamberlain comes out of the closet. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768 "2003-05-31T13:40:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/1 "2003-05-31T13:40:06Z")
According to Sunday’s Parade magazzine: In \* Shattered Love \*, due out Teudays from Reganbooks, Chamberlian, 68, writes of his 26 years with a younger man identified only as Martin. Just think of all the girls who had a crush on Dr. Kildare. Even as Father Ralph in \* The Thorn Birds \* he was hot. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/2 "2003-05-31T13:54:19Z")
I’d heard he was gay. I remember watching _Shogun_ when it was first on. He shouts, “Do you think I’m a God-cursed Sodomite?” I remember thinking, “Yes!” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/3 "2003-05-31T14:29:45Z")
And in other breaking news, it turns out the _Earth_ orbits around the _Sun_. Ricky came out like ten years ago in an interview with some French magazine, then like a week later took it back. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/4 "2003-05-31T14:42:39Z")
I can’t say I’m completely shocked. … Actually, I can’t say I’m at all shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/5 "2003-05-31T15:18:47Z")
I even can say I am not at all shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/6 "2003-05-31T15:21:41Z")
First we find out JFK was having an affair with an intern and now this. Will the relentess hounds of the press not be satisfied until all our illusions are shattered? ---
**Author:** ![smaft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@smaft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaft)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/7 "2003-05-31T15:29:37Z")
When he was in town for a conference a year or so ago, I saw him at the reception afterwards. I didn’t see any Martin-type person hanging around him; however the man just exuded homosexuality. Of course, the makeup and dainty-ish gestures didn’t help. But the ladies were swooning anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/8 "2003-05-31T15:34:40Z")
What’s frustrating is that he was recently in a production of Pygmalion and said of his co-star who played Eliza “If I were 30 years younger or she weren’t married, she’d be having to fight me off with a stick!” I thought at the time “ooh chile, I bet your boyfriend Martin\* would slap her!!!” \*Martin Rabban is the boyfriend’s name. He’s been in the tabloids and in Chamberlain’s “Out and Back Again” incident in the French press. Thanks Dick. Maybe in your next life you can have the cajones to come out while you still have a career. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/9 "2003-05-31T15:51:33Z")
This utterly shatters my image of him just like it did when I found out that Hulk Hogan used steroids. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/10 "2003-05-31T20:11:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sampiro \* > Thanks Dick. Maybe in your next life you can have the cajones to come out while you still have a career. \*\* **Sampiro** , while I can understand your anoyance at Chamberlain not coming out sooner, look at the climate of the times in which he did “have a career,” roughly 1960-early-1980s. His coming out during those years, especially in his “young, squeaky-clean Kildare” days would have killed his career. Who today remembers the promising young actor the studios fed to the tabloid press to get the heat off Rock Hudson? Few do, his name even excapes me now. I applaud Chamberlain, even at this late date, and wish him all the best. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![jack\_ss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c77e96/32.png) [@jack\_ss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_ss)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/11 "2003-05-31T20:35:15Z")
I alson applaud him on coming out, but had figured out he was gay back in 1980. It was cowardly of him to allow a lot of other gay men to take the heat and let homosexuality become accepted before he stood up openly & publicly for who he really is. Just let the movement pass you by. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/12 "2003-05-31T20:49:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Who today remembers the promising young actor the studios fed to the tabloid press to get the heat off Rock Hudson? How can you forget [George Nader](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Nader,+George)? ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/13 "2003-05-31T20:55:26Z")
WHAT?!? Next you’ll be trying to tell me that KEVIN SPACEY is gay! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/14 "2003-05-31T21:57:43Z")
[“I love my life just the way it is. I’m proud of my relationship. I’m actually proud of myself,” Chamberlain said.](http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=123941) I suppose it’s nice of him to finally have pride (as opposed to shame) in his lifestyle, but my first thought was, “You’re proud of waiting this long to admit it?” It’s not like it was wildly inconsistent with his publicly visible behavior. Gee, Chamberlain’s gay, whaddaya know, might’ve guessed.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/15 "2003-06-01T03:21:16Z")
He’s a very good actor, though. His scenes with Rachel Ward in _The Thorn Birds_ were very compelling. I seem to remember he had a doctor show set in Hawaii some years back. This was after _The Thorn Birds_, and he insisted his (then?) partner have a part. Of course, I may have that bit wrong. But, like you guys, I wasn’t very surprised. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/16 "2003-06-01T03:31:36Z")
Spacey?- he’s no more gay/bi than Robert Wagner, HFord, Glen Campbell, Cruise, Tavolta , Gere, & uh… Liberace. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/17 "2003-06-01T03:43:40Z")
An actor’s orientation shouldn’t matter, of course, it’s a private thing. But if one is going to “come out” I prefer the way Sir John Gielgud put it “I’m an actor, of _course_ I can play a heterosexual!” ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/18 "2003-06-01T04:27:44Z")
Now we know what Richard meant when he sang,“Young Love.” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/19 "2003-06-01T04:28:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by doctordoowop \* > \*\*Spacey?- he’s no more gay/bi than Robert Wagner, HFord, Glen Campbell, Cruise, Tavolta , Gere, & uh… Liberace. \*\* Alright, Chamberlain and Travolta maybe, but when you mention Glen Campbell and gay in the same sentence you done crossed a line(man for the county). I think of all gay actors the one who most flew under my gaydar was Robert Reed. I had no idea. Grandpa Walton was also a shock. (I know that he was married and had kids- I wonder if his wife knew or if was like a surprise he saved up for their anniversary?) He was also a communist, incidentally, as well as a professional botanist when acting jobs were lean after his blacklisting. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768/20 "2003-06-01T04:36:08Z")
I’m sure, but like unlike the Star, I forget my sources. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-chamberlain-comes-out-of-the-closet/178768.md?page=2)