| Richard Chamberlain
" I swallow a few pills and go to the water
"
Translated by: Barbara Baumann Germany
Why does a man like you think of suicide? Richard Chamberlain: There are several reasons which I tell you with pleasure. Here in America the inheritance tax is put out in three years for the duration of twelve onths. Indeed, I have lived together happily with my lifelong companion Martin Rabbett (53) for 30 years, however, without marriage certificate. If I die before Martin, the treasury will require 55 percent of him what our house and property are worth. This goes to the millions and Martin must give in the house we love in such a way. You choose the suicide to save 55 percent of inheritance tax?! Yes, of course. I am firmly decided - If I live till then - what I assume -, actually – then I will take the consequences: I will swallow a handful of pills, swim in the sea at sunset, lose the consciousness at some time and drown. This is not your seriousness! This is my full seriousness! Because I am 76 years old, I have lived long enough. In three years I’m commiting suicide! Then I am in On the other side after for which I have been longing so much. The good about it: The tax office is the loser and Martin can keep our house and is free from debt. How does one come on such a thought? Already since a fairly long time I feel a big, deep curiosity after the "experience" of the death and what comes afterwards. I never had fear to die and now long more and more, finally, to find out how it is to be dead. Whether there is another life, and how it is real then thus in On the other side. Where I and my soul are walking then. This is macabre! Do you think? It’s a fact that I feel more and more uneasy with myself. I find it terribly tiresome to see the same face in the mirror every morning anew, to clean the same teeth, to experience the day routine. I am bored with myself, just to this George Richard Chamberlain who I know now during 73 years from the inside and outside. I yawn me in, in the most true sense of the word. Let us speak about something else than the death... Can you tell us, as one can look so without wrinkles with 73. Could you be lifted? (laughs) Honestly: Look to me behind the ears. Do you see some scars? There is nothing. There you have the proof that I did not have a face lift. The fact that I have relatively few wrinkles, I owe yoga exercises. I do daily facial gymnastics before the mirror and thus keep me in good shape. Thus you are conceited. But of course! This I am guilty to me and my reputation. To your reputation as ...? As an actor and man who loves the women. I admire, reveres and in certain sense I love the women. But I never wanted to marry one, or live together really with her. Was it not especially difficult for you to play love scenes? Oh, on the contrary! I remember often and with pleasure the hot kiss scenes in the TV serial " the thorn birds " with my partner Rachel Ward (at that time 28)! We did not leave of each other! It was wonderful. Rachel has a marvelous, thrilling mouth. Our kisses were absolutely real, because I kiss women really with pleasure. In all modesty: I am a good ‘Küsser’! (that is a man who gives many and good kisses to another one) Says who? All women say this who I have kissed, and these were many. Today, nevertheless, also the hip-swing of a woman can irritate me absolutely for looking - however not to more. Did it ever happen, actually that you have seen behind to another man than your Martin? But of course. Nevertheless, I was not blind. And what happened? Nothing happened because my life partner Martin and I to us were in agreement already at the beginning of our partnership about the fact that there is only one for us: To be loyal - or to finish our relation before a possible escapade. Many couples make the same promise and then something still happens - even if secretly. Martin and me had and have no secrecy one in front of the other. We took and take seriously our loyal promise absolutely. How do you resist skillful seduction? Today I need the strength in addition no more. Unfortunately, nobody tries to entice me. I am maybe no more at the age for such a thing. Were there in the living together with you problems because you were a star and showed off accordingly? You can say this loudly. I had all those airs and awful habits which I despise today in other stars. I felt as a center on which everything had to turn. Looking back of course not at all so astonishingly: Did you know that I got 12000 fan letters in the week, more than Clark Gable ever got? There it was not surprising that I had to go crazy. The fact that Martin stood so long with me, I do not understand even today. But you changed? Almost too late. One day sometime in 1991 Martin packed his suitcases, ordered a taxi to the airport, and said: " As well as you behave, one day you will be quite alone. In any case, I leave you finally ". You promised to become a better person? By no means, I let him go. But every day to which we were separated longer of each other made to me clear as important to me Martin was. When I called him and asked for the last chance, he came back to me. We expressed ourselves and have never again separated since that time... A final question: Who is Richard Chamberlain? A man who is seriously tired to think about himself: Whether he is happy or unhappy, hunger has or thirst, to act a lot or has nothing to do... Who is Richard Chamberlain at the moment? a man who wants, actually, nothing else than his everlasting rest. --------------------------------------- Richard and interviewer Jörg Babsin (
Goldene Blatt ) in his Hawaiian home.
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