How 'Thorn Birds' Star Richard Chamberlain Manages to Look Amazing in His 80s

While it's fairly common to find beautiful women who have somehow managed to retain their age-defying looks over the years, Richard Chamberlain is proving that men can stay gorgeous too.

The 85-year-old actor started to get greys over 20 years ago and now has a head full of it. Somehow, though, he still looks as handsome as ever, and there's good news for men who want to be just like him.

As reported by the NY Post, Chamberlain did an interview some time back and revealed the secret to his strong body, even stronger voice, and enduring good looks. He initially said he doesn't know the trick, but then he spilled the beans.

"My family seemed to stay in reasonably good shape... I try to get my eight [hours of sleep] and I've always felt that exercising was important."

Of course, diet also plays a major role. The singer and actor eats healthy food like salads, soups, and sandwiches, and only indulges once every six weeks.

Chamberlain is personally motivated to "maintain" himself because of his Beverly Hills upbringings and the vanity that came with it. In line with that, he played a gorgeous hunk in the prime of his career.

His most popular roles were in "Dr. Kildare," and then as priest Ralph de Bricassart on the '80s mini-series "The Thorn Birds." The story followed the priest who struggled to choose between his love, Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward) and his faith.

In his real love life, however, Chamberlain is actually gay and lived a long married life with Martin Rabbett for thirty-three years before their divorce in 2010. Though Chamberlain said his sexuality didn't seem to affect his career, he reportedly advised other gay men against coming out.

Speaking to the Advocate, he insisted:

"For an actor to be working is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't, so it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay' — especially if you're a leading man. Personally, I wouldn't advise a gay leading man-type actor to come out."

Chamberlain personally confirmed that he was gay at age 69 when he wrote his memoir "Shattered Love" in 2003. By that time, people were already partially aware of his identity.

The actor could not give an exact time that someone should come out as gay, but he was realistic about the landscape at the time. Luckily, it's still not preventing him from finding work.

In 2009, he returned to stage acting for a role in "Spamalot." Following his divorce the next year, Chamberlain appeared on the show "Twin Peaks," and then later on "The Black Ghiandola."

He also had small parts on TV shows like 2006's "Nip/Tuck," "Desperate Housewives, "Leverage," "Chuck," "Brothers & Sisters," and the very inclusive comedy, "Will and Grace," which starred two gay men.