Stars of The Thorn Birds, Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward, reunited publicly for the first time since the beloved 1983 ABC drama aired. The actors, who portrayed the unforgettable characters Ralph de Bricassart and Meggie Cleary, reunited during the “Pioneers of Television” Season 3 presentation at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour.
Although their on-screen chemistry became iconic, the two had barely seen each other in the decades following the miniseries. Chamberlain recalled that their only previous encounter had been a brief meeting at an airport in Thailand while both were involved in the same project. According to him, Ward was leaving just as he was arriving, giving them only about 10 minutes together before going their separate ways.
Their reunion at the television event was far more meaningful, giving fans a chance to see the stars together again after many years. Richard Chamberlain described how wonderful it was to reconnect with Rachel Ward, whose performance alongside him helped make the romantic miniseries a television classic.
