The 1980s brought us “The Thorn Birds,” a miniseries that captivated audiences and became a cultural touchstone of the era. Garnering an impressive 16 Emmy nominations and winning six, its impact was undeniable.

As the second most-viewed miniseries of its time, “The Thorn Birds” intricately depicted the journey of the Cleary family from the 1920s to the 1960s. Adapted from Colleen McCullough’s 1977 novel, the narrative unfolds as the Clearys transition from New Zealand to the rugged Australian outback, tasked with managing their Aunt Mary Carson’s vast ranch.

At the heart of the story, however, lies a compelling romantic entanglement. Rachel Ward’s character, Meggie, finds herself ensnared in a complex love triangle involving Father Ralph, portrayed by Richard Chamberlain, and Luke, played by Bryan Brown.

In a twist that mirrored the drama of the series, the on-screen chemistry between Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward blossomed into a real-life romance, culminating in their marriage. This off-screen love story added an intriguing layer to the show’s legacy.

Most notably, the series led to Bryan and Rachel’s marriage after they also hit it off in real life. 

The pair continue to live in Australia, while other remaining members of the cast are still in the US. 

Sadly the majority of the cast have passed away, with Richard Chamberlain most recently passing last March at 90 years old. 

We take a look back at the members of the much-loved cast.

Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown – Meghan ‘Meggie’ Cleary and Luke O’Neill 

The greatest love story to come out of The Thorn Birds was Rachel and Bryan’s real life relationship, with the couple having now been married for over 40 years. 

In the iconic miniseries, Rachel’s character Meggie was in a love triangle with Luke and the chemistry off set was also undeniable, with both crediting an instant sexual attraction to what initially drew them together. 

The couple tied the knot just a few months after meeting and went on to have three children, Rosie, Matilda and Joseph, and are also grandparents to Matilda’s children Zan and Anouk. 

They now live on their beef cattle farm in the Nambucca Valley and Rachel has her own ethical meat initiative Farmthru.

Stepping back from acting Rachel, 68, has committed herself to converting the farm from conventional to regenerative farming and filmed the journey in a documentary called Rachel’s Farm. 

Meanwhile Bryan, 78, went on to star in Cocktail, Two Hands, Darby and Joan and more recently Anyone But You. 

He has also written his debut novel, a crime thriller called The Drowning.  

Richard Chamberlain – Father Ralph de Bricassart

The other member of Meggie and Luke’s love triangle, Father Ralph was played by Richard Chamberlain, who sadly passed away back in March 2025. 

The Emmy-nominated actor and 1960s heartthrob rocketed to fame in the TV medical drama Dr. Kildare before going on to star in Shogun and Thorn Birds. 

Richard died in Hawaii from complications from a stroke, with his longtime partner Martin Rabbett telling Variety at the time: ‘Our beloved Richard is with the angels now.

‘He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us. How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.’

The star was dubbed the ‘king of the mini-series’ after appearing in several TV dramas in the 1980s and earned plaudits on stage in roles ranging from Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady and Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music to Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Richard II.

He also was the original Jason Bourne in the 1988 mini-series The Bourne Identity.

Chamberlain won Golden Globes for his work in Shogun and The Thorn Birds. Years earlier, he received one for Dr. Kildare.

Most of his roles were as romantic leading men, which is why he did not publicly reveal he was a homosexual until he was 68 years old.

‘When you grow up in the 30s, 40s and 50s being gay, it’s not only ain’t easy, it’s just impossible,’ he told the New York Times in 2014. ‘I assumed there was something terribly wrong with me. And even becoming famous and all that, it was still there.’

Jean Simmons – Fiona ‘Fee’ Cleary

Jean Simmons was a valued British actress for the best part of 15 years after getting her big break in Great Expectations as Estella in 1946. 

She starred as Ophelia in Hamlet in 1948, with the film going on to win an Oscar for Best Picture and earning her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

From 1950 onwards she turned her sights to Hollywood starring in Guys And Dolls, The Robe, Spartacus and The Happy Ending. 

She also won an Emmy Award for her role as Fee Cleary in The Thorn Birds. 

Jean was married and divorced twice during her life. She married Stewart Granger when she was just 21 and the pair share daughter Tracy. 

After divorcing in 1960 she went on to marry director Richard Brooks and their daughter Kate was born a year later. They divorced in 1980. 

In 2003 she received an OBE for her services to acting in the New Years Honours.  

Jean sadly died in 2010 from lung cancer at age 80.  

Barbara Stanwyck – Mary Carson 

Barbara Stanwyck won an Emmy Award for her role as Mary Carson in The Thorn Birds, which was filmed just seven years before she died. 

During her career she starred in a total of 86 films in 38 years before turning to TV and boasted numerous accolades including three Emmys, a Golden Globe and four Academy Award nominations. 

Her most successful roles included the titular character in Stella Dallas, Ball Of Fire and The Lady Eve. 

In 1944 she had become the highest-paid actress in the US after receiving a third Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for Double Indemnity. 

She also received an Honorary Oscar in 1982 as well as the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1986, and several other honorary lifetime awards. 

Barbara died in 1990 at age 82 of congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 

Requesting to have no funeral, her ashes were later scattered from a helicopter over Lone Pine in California where she made some of her Western films.  

Ken Howard – Rainer Hartheim 

Ken Howard passed away at the age of 71 back in 2016 after a four decade long career in TV theatre and film. 

Best known for his role in the CBS hit The White Shadow, his acting career soon took off after he made his film debut opposite Liza Minnelli in 1970’s Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon, and he went on to win roles in the likes of Rambo, In Her Shoes and Michael Clayton.

In addition he appeared alongside Hollywood sex symbol Sandra Bullock in the 1995 cyber action thriller The Net.

He also won an Emmy for his performance in HBO’s Grey Gardens in 2009 and a Tony Award for Robert Marasco’s Catholic boarding school drama Child’s Play.

Ken was also elected president of the Screen Actors Guild in 2009 and was a catalyst for its 2012 merger with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union. 

Mare Winningham – Justine ‘Jussy’ O’Neill

After starring in The Thorn Birds, Mare went on to have a very successful career, and is the recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards and has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Tony Awards.

She won Outstanding Supporting Actress for Amber Waves in 1980 and George Wallace in 1998 and also received her Tony Award for her role in the Broadway production of Casa Valentina. 

She also played Meredith Grey’s stepmother Susan Grey on Grey’s Anatomy from 2006 to 2007 and as Cherry Lockhart, Cole Lockhart’s mother, for seasons 1–2 and 4 of The Affair from 2014 to 2018.

Away from the camera, Mare is married to actor Anthony Edwards after it was revealed they had secretly eloped in 2021. 

The couple famously costarred in the 1988 thriller feature Miracle Mile and remained friends for many years before things turned romantic.  

Mare was formerly married to Adolfo Martinez, although their marriage only lasted for less than a year and was over by the end of 1981.

She then tied the knot with William Mapel the following year, and they went on to welcome five children before they divorced in 1996.

The performer went on to begin a relationship with Jason Trucco and they tied the knot in 2008 before ending their marriage four years later.

Piper Laurie – Anne Mueller

In 2023 Piper Laurie, who played Anne Mueller, passed away aged 91 after battling illness for some time. 

The actress was best-known for her star turn in Carrie as the title character’s demented mother Margaret White.

Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination and began a surprise second act for Piper, who was a housewife in upstate New York at the time, having given up acting a decade earlier.

She made her debut at 17 in Louisa, playing Reagan´s daughter, then appeared opposite Francis the talking mule in Francis Goes To The Races. She made several films with Tony Curtis, whom she once dated, including The Prince Who Was a Thief, No Room For The Groom, Son Of Ali Baba and Johnny Dark.

Fed up, she walked out on her $2,000-a-week contract in 1955, vowing she wouldn’t work again unless offered a decent part.

She married film critic Joseph Morgenstern, welcomed a daughter, Ann Grace, and moved to a farmhouse in Woodstock, New York. 

She retired to raise a family for over a decade before returning to film and television roles in the mid 1970s. 

Richard Kiley – Padraic “Paddy” Cleary

Richard Kiley was described as ‘one of theater’s most distinguished and versatile actors’ when he passed away in 1999 aged 76. 

Aside from starring in The Thorn Birds, he was best known for his theatre career, winning two Tony’s for Best Actor in a Musical. 

He originated the role of Don Quixote in the Broadway musical Man Of La Mancha and won four Emmys and two Golden Globes during his career. 

He also starred in Kismet, No Strings, Redhead and The Incomparable Max.

Richard died of unspecified bone marrow disease less than a month before his birthday. Broadway’s lights went dark in his honour. 

He was survived by his wife Patricia Ferrier and six children from his first marriage. 

Earl Holliman – Luddie Mueller

Earl Holliman’s career spanned over five decades until his death at the age of 96 in 2024. 

His work was marked by a series of memorable performances, including his Golden Globe-winning role in The Rainmaker (1956), where he portrayed Katharine Hepburn’s lovable, girl-crazy brother.

His role of Jim Curry, which he won over Elvis Presley, also earned him the Best Supporting Actor award.

Perhaps one of his most enduring roles came in the 1970s when he portrayed Angie Dickinson’s tough, no-nonsense boss in the groundbreaking crime series Police Woman (1974), a role that made him a household name for a new generation of viewers.

A true Hollywood icon, Earl was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977, cementing his legacy in the entertainment world.

Philip Anglim –  Dane O’Neill

Philip Anglim played Dane O’Neill in the miniseries, but he is best known for his performances as John Merrick in both the stage and TV versions of The Elephant Man. 

He received a Best Actor nomination for the role at the Tony Awards before going on to star in Macbeth on Broadway. 

Philip used the money he earned from Thorn Birds to buy a farm in Tennessee and previously said: ‘I can be up to my elbows in manure and be very happy.’

Little is known about his personal life, and while he was married to a former Yale classmate, they later divorced.