Kildare

Richard Chamberlain, who won fame as ‘Dr. Kildare’ and high praise for the miniseries ‘Shogun’ and ‘The Thorn Birds,’ has died at age 90.

Chamberlain was a virtual unknown with a limited number of TV guest shots and a low-budget movie to his credit when he was cast by MGM as Dr. Kildare in the hour-long medical drama.

“The series may be among the solid hits of the season,” predicted Cecil Smith, The Times’ late TV columnist, shortly after “Dr. Kildare” made its debut in 1961.

“Dr. Kildare,” which premiered on NBC the same season as another popular medical drama on ABC, “Ben Casey,” starring Vince Edwards, ran for five years.

But his role as the noble TV doctor remained his greatest claim to fame at the time, his popularity generating comic books, trading cards, a board game, a doll and other merchandise bearing his white-coated “Kildare” likeness.