Jeff Chamberlain obit

Jeff Chamberlain(1954-2020)

 

He was not on the list.

Jeffery Dean Chamberlain was released from his earthly life at 9:16 pm on 9/16/2020 after a four-year battle with cancer. Born January 5, 1954 in Ft. Ord, CA, Jeff was the eldest child of Thomas Max Chamberlain (of Kanab, UT) and Vel Dean Richardson (of Hollywood, CA). He had six younger siblings, four daughters, and seven grandchildren.

Jeff grew up in Hidden Hills, CA and attended Agoura High School, where he served as class president and received all-conference honors in football and track. At Brigham Young University, he played football and rugby and appeared in drama productions. After two years of missionary service in Fukuoka, Japan, he earned a BS in Economics from Cal State Northridge with an emphasis in Asian Languages and later an MBA from UCLA’s The Anderson School of Management.

Jeff spent forty-five years in the entertainment business, starting out as a background actor in the film Midway. He went on to guest star in various TV shows such as Quincy, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, and All My Children, before becoming a contract player on the daytime drama Capitol. He appeared in the film Pump up the Volume and starred in the NBC television movie Stranger at Jefferson High, where he met Lachelle Price. They married in 1979 and created two businesses: Whole Wheat Management for children in entertainment and Chamberlain’s Performing and Fine Arts Academy in Los Angeles and Agoura Hills. He especially enjoyed videotaping his daughters’ performances and those of hundreds of other children.

Jeff worked as a dialogue coach on Ridley Scott’s Black Rain and later produced the films States of Grace (God’s Army II), Falling, and Abandoned Mine, which he also wrote and directed.

Jeff had a love of the outdoors and did plenty of skiing and snowboarding in the mountains of Utah. He attended the Sundance Film Festival annually since its inception and eventually moved to Park City. Over his life, he also lived in Reseda, North Hollywood, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Simi Valley, Culver City, and Agoura Hills, CA; Park City, UT; and, finally, the peaceful, picturesque Midway. He was blessed with wonderful friends everywhere he went.

Previous employment includes CBS corporate finance department and Catalina Production Group at MGM. His Beverly Hills company, Chamberlain Consulting, provided media and branding strategies. The Wall Street Journal quoted him as an expert in international entertainment finance, and he testified at the state of Utah’s senate subcommittee to support tax incentive legislation for films. Recently, he produced media for Nutraceutical Corporation.

Known as “The Hollywood Why Guy,” Jeff was a founder and host of the Liberty Line-up on K-Talk Media AM-1640 out of Sandy, UT. As a member of the press, he interviewed a wide variety of public figures from Gavin Newsom to Al Pacino. He especially enjoyed meeting Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Jeff served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all his life. He was passionate about his principles, sought truth, and had big dreams. Not only did he endure to the end, but he also fought a heroic battle throughout and always kept his sense of humor. He loved and was loved deeply, and he will be dearly missed.

Heartfelt thanks to those who cared for Jeff during his illness and final days: daughter Jordi, Melanie & Mike Horrocks, Lori Payne, Nicole & Seth Stewart, Justus Minardi, Christie Moulton, Lorleen and the Braunberger family, daughter Valerie, and the team at CNS Hospice.

Survived by four sisters: Lorleen Braunberger (Kreg) of Central, UT; Lynette Minson (Ron) of Birmingham, AL; Leanne Bowers (Kim) of Newberg, OR; and Lesly Chamberlain of Sheridan, OR; and a brother, Curtis (Debra) of Queen Creek, AZ. Four daughters: Jordan Alexis Chamberlain of Park City, UT; Valerie Chamberlain Walker (Cody) of Las Vegas, NV; Cassie Anne Chamberlain of Santa Cruz, CA; and Lynleigh Chamberlain of Chapel Hill, NC. Seven grandchildren: Ava Cheyenne, Jesse Dean, and Eli Jackson Walker; Jeremiah Tate, Ethan Nathaniel, and Jillian Renee Robbins; and Nova Light. Though he and Lachelle divorced after thirty-four years, they remained close friends and writing partners. Preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Blair Chamberlain of Moorpark, CA.

 

Actor

Alexa PenaVega and Saige Thompson in The Mine (2012)

The Mine

3.8

Preacher

2012

 

Christian Slater in Pump Up the Volume (1990)

Pump Up the Volume

7.2

Mr. Woodward

1990

 

Susan Lucci, Debbi Morgan, Rebecca Budig, Cameron Mathison, and Darnell Williams in All My Children (1970)

All My Children

6.8

TV Series

Dr. Cornwall

1989

2 episodes

 

One Life to Live (1968)

One Life to Live

6.9

TV Series

Dr. Granger

1989

2 episodes

 

As the World Turns (1956)

As the World Turns

6.4

TV Series

Hastings

1988–1989

16 episodes

 

Capitol (1982)

Capitol

6.9

TV Series

Lawrence Barrington

1982–1983

24 episodes

 

Rivals (1981)

Rivals

6.2

Sludge

1981

 

Jack Klugman in Quincy, M.E. (1976)

Quincy, M.E.

7.3

TV Series

Parking Attendant

1980

1 episode

 

Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)

Billy Jack Goes to Washington

4.5

Page (uncredited)

1977

 

Smash-Up on Interstate 5 (1976)

Smash-Up on Interstate 5

6.0

TV Movie

(uncredited)

1976

 

Midway (1976)

Midway

6.8

Sailor (uncredited)

1976

 

Nick Nolte, Peter Strauss, and Susan Blakely in Rich Man, Poor Man (1976)

Rich Man, Poor Man

8.2

TV Mini Series

Corporal

1976

1 episode

 

Death Brings Roses (1975)

Death Brings Roses

3.3

Al

1975

 

Bea Arthur in Maude (1972)

Maude

7.3

TV Series

Joey (uncredited)

1975

1 episode

 

Producer

Alexa PenaVega and Saige Thompson in The Mine (2012)

The Mine

3.8

producer

2012

 

Falling (2008)

Falling

7.8

producer

2008

 

States of Grace (2005)

States of Grace

6.7

producer

2005

 

Additional Crew

States of Grace (2005)

States of Grace

6.7

videographer

2005

 

Michael Douglas in Black Rain (1989)

Black Rain

6.6

dialogue coach

1989

 

Director

Alexa PenaVega and Saige Thompson in The Mine (2012)

The Mine

3.8

Director

2012

 

Writer

Alexa PenaVega and Saige Thompson in The Mine (2012)

The Mine

3.8

Writer

2012

 

Self

4 Out of 5 Stars (2013)

4 Out of 5 Stars

TV Series

Self

2013

1 episode