'SPAMALOT' Star Chamberlain Celebrates A 'Kingly' 75th Bday On Stage

The Associated Press reported the happy news that more than 3,000 theatergoers have helped actor Richard Chamberlain ring in his 75th birthday. Fans cheered Chamberlain Tuesday during the opening night of "Spamalot" at the Palace Theater in Cleveland.

After the curtain fell, the audience rose to its feet and sang "Happy Birthday" while a fellow cast member presented Chamberlain with a cake on stage. Richard Chamberlain is wearing the crown of King Arthur on the National; Tour of Monty Python's SPAMALOT.

Chamberlain became a household name overnight in 1961 when he played the title role of Dr. Kildare, a part he played for five years. Over the last two decades, Chamberlain has starred in six of the most acclaimed mini-series: "Shogun," "Wallenberg," "The Thornbirds," "The Bourne Identity," "Dreamwest," and "Centennial." "Shogun" earned Chamberlain a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor, as well as an Emmy nomination. He received another Golden Globe Award, Emmy nomination, and a People's Choice Award for his work in "The Thornbirds."

Lovingly "ripped-off" from the internationally famous comedy team's most popular motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's SPAMALOT is the winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director (Mike Nichols). Monty Python's SPAMALOT features a book by Eric Idle, based on the screenplay of Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, with music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez.

Telling the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail, Monty Python's SPAMALOT features a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight.

Monty Pythin's SPAMALOT is playing at the PlayhouseSquare as part of The U.S. Bank Star Performance Series for a one week engagement March 31 through April 5, 2009.