Richard Chamberlain

Chamberlain in 2003, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: George Richard Chamberlain

Place of Birth: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: March 31, 1934

Ethnicity: English, some German and Irish, remote Welsh

Richard Chamberlain is an American actor of film, television, and stage, and singer. His roles include the show Dr. Kildare, the mini-series Shōgun (1980) and The Thorn Birds (1983), and the made-for-tv movie The Bourne Identity (1988).

Richard is the son of Elsa Winnifred (von Benzon; later Matthews) and Charles Axiom Chamberlain, a salesman.

Richard’s paternal grandfather was William Overman Chamberlain (the son of William Newton Chamberlain and Mary Ada Overman). Richard’s grandfather William was born in Campbellsburg, Washington, Indiana. Richard’s great-grandfather William was the son of Elisha Chamberlain and Rachel J. Reed. Mary was the daughter of Axiom Overman and Eunice Stanley.

Richard’s paternal grandmother was Cora Alice Whitworth (the daughter of Joseph William Whitworth and Clara Hardesty). Cora was born in Koleen, Jackson, Indiana. Joseph was the son of Thomas Henry Whitworth and Sally/Sarah Julia Gulick. Clara was the daughter of Joseph N. Hardesty and Jane Thompson.

Richard’s maternal grandfather was August Wilhelm von Benzon (the son of August Fischer von Benzon and Julia Henrietta Glyn-Young). Richard’s grandfather August was born in Oakland, Alameda, California, and was a dentist. Richard’s great-grandfather August was German. Julia was born in Canada, of Irish descent, and was the daughter of Jane.

Richard’s maternal grandmother was Carolyn Derby Roper (the daughter of Fordyce Roper and Julia Sophia Foote). Carolyn was born in Beatrice, Gage, Nebraska, and was a prima donna soprano singer who toured the U.S. Fordyce was born in Catskill, Greene, New York, the son of Ephraim Roper and Laura Beach. Julia was born in Granville, Licking, Ohio, the daughter of Alvan/Alban Foote and Eliza Priscilla Winchell.

Sources: Genealogies of Richard Chamberlain – http://www.geni.com
https://famouskin.com

Richard’s paternal grandparents, William Overman Chamberlain and Cora Alice Whitworth, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org