Richard Chamberlain Stars in "Dr. Kildare" (September 28, 1961)

The medical drama Dr Kildare debuted on NBC's primetime schedule on September 28, 1961.  Starring 27-year old heartthrob Richard Chamberlain, the show aired on Wednesdays at 8:30 and lasted for five seasons.  It was followed at 9:30 by another new show, the sitcom Hazel.  (And at 10:00, Sing Along with Mitch.)  Kildare was a hit and finished the season as the 9th most popular show (Hazel was #4). 

 

 

Although Chamberlain was certainly a handsome young man, I was more drawn to actor Vince Edwards who also played a doctor, on Ben Casey, a competing medical drama on ABC which aired on Mondays (but not as popular).  Edwards was more swarthy and brooding while Chamberlain was a cool WASP.  (The attraction to Edwards' type would continue through adulthood.)  However, at the time I was just five and had no conception about what a same-sex attraction suggested.  (I wrote about other same-sex attractions of my youth in the post Boyhood Crushes on Male TV Stars of the 1960's).   

 

It was years before I heard any mention about Chamberlain being gay.  I first heard some talk about his orientation when he starred in the popular 1982 TV mini-series Shogun.  Chamberlain caused a bit of a stir last year when he made a comment in an interview that he wouldn't advise TV actors to come out.  Chamberlain is now 78.  Vince Edwards died in 1996 at the age of 67.

 

Here's a cheesy tribute to Chamberlain from his Dr. Kildare years that I found on You Tube: 

 

 

Comments

[tg]

I'm with you on this one Rob. I'd take (literally) Vince Edwards over Richard Chamberlain any day!