Marcus Welby, M.D.

Watch Marcus Welby, M.D.

  • TV-PG
  • 1969
  • 2 Seasons
  • 7.0  (1,769)

Marcus Welby, M.D. was a medical drama series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1976. It starred Robert Young as the titular character, a general practitioner who worked in Southern California. James Brolin co-starred as Dr. Steven Kiley, Welby's young and energetic assistant.

The show was unusual for its time in that it focused on the personal lives of the doctors as much as their medical practice. Welby was a widower with a young daughter, while Kiley was a bachelor who had a number of romantic entanglements over the course of the show. The personal storylines were as important to the show as the medical cases.

The show was also noteworthy for its attention to medical accuracy. It is said that many medical schools used episodes of Marcus Welby, M.D. as teaching aids. Each episode dealt with a different medical case or issue, and the show's writers consulted with actual doctors to make sure the medical information presented was as accurate as possible.

Robert Young's portrayal of Dr. Welby was a big part of what made the show so successful. He brought a warmth and humanity to the character that made him a beloved figure to audiences. Young had previously starred in another popular TV series, Father Knows Best, which had run from 1954 to 1960. His performance in Marcus Welby, M.D. was a departure from his previous role as a father and husband, but he proved to be just as adept at playing a doctor as he was at playing a dad.

James Brolin was a relative newcomer to TV when he was cast as Dr. Kiley. He had appeared in a few TV shows and movies before Marcus Welby, M.D., but this role was his big break. Brolin's youthful energy and good looks made him a heartthrob for many female viewers, and his character's occasional clashes with Welby added an element of tension to the show.

Other recurring characters on the show included Elena Verdugo as Consuelo Lopez, Welby's no-nonsense nurse; Anne Baxter as Gwen Hardwick, a hospital administrator; and Sharon Gless as Kathleen Faverty, a young doctor who became Kiley's love interest.

Over the course of its seven seasons, Marcus Welby, M.D. tackled a wide range of medical issues, from cancer to drug addiction to mental illness. The show was notable for its willingness to address controversial topics, such as abortion and euthanasia. It was also one of the first TV shows to depict a male doctor performing a breast exam on a female patient, which was considered groundbreaking at the time.

Despite its popularity, Marcus Welby, M.D. was not without controversy. In 1975, the show came under fire from the American Medical Association, which accused it of misleading the public about the scope of practice of general practitioners. The AMA argued that the show gave the impression that GPs could handle any medical problem that came their way, when in reality many cases required the expertise of specialists. The show's producers defended their portrayal of general practitioners, arguing that they were presenting a fictionalized version of the medical profession.

Overall, Marcus Welby, M.D. was a groundbreaking show that paved the way for many other medical dramas that followed. Its emphasis on personal stories and medical accuracy set it apart from other shows of its time. Its legacy can still be seen today in shows like Grey's Anatomy and ER, which owe a debt to Marcus Welby, M.D. for paving the way.

Marcus Welby, M.D. is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (51 episodes). The series first aired on March 26, 1969.

Marcus Welby, M.D.
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Seasons
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The House Of Alquist
24. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The House Of Alquist
March 30, 1971
Dr. Welby urges a young woman to break with her despotic father and marry the man she loves.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Windfall
23. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Windfall
March 23, 1971
A young girl develops an ulcer because she feels her rich parents don't love her.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Contract
22. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Contract
March 16, 1971
Dr. Welby becomes involved in a strained marriage when he assists the wife of a musician who becomes ill on a flight to Los Angeles.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Elegy For A Mad Dog
21. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Elegy For A Mad Dog
March 9, 1971
Dr. Welby is bitten by a rabid dog that belongs to a mentally challenged patient of his.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Don't Kid A Kidder
20. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Don't Kid A Kidder
March 2, 1971
Problems occur after Dr. Welby helps a blind woman arrange plastic surgery for her big-eared son.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Cynthia
19. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Cynthia
February 23, 1971
Welby and Kiley are sued for malpractice by a patient who blames them for her paralysis.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: A Spanish Saying I Made Up
18. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: A Spanish Saying I Made Up
February 16, 1971
Dr. Welby's nurse Consuelo falls in love with a rich man with old-fashioned principles.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: A Woman's Place
17. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: A Woman's Place
February 2, 1971
Dr. Welby tries to help an alcoholic orthopedic surgeon.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Passing Of Torches
16. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Passing Of Torches
January 26, 1971
A former teacher who is dying and a confused medical student complicate efforts to honor the educator.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: False Spring
15. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: False Spring
January 19, 1971
Dr. Kiley begins to fall in love with a TB patient after her husband shows disgust at her condition.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Another Buckle For Wesley Hill
14. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Another Buckle For Wesley Hill
January 5, 1971
A young rancher lapses into despondency when he becomes dependent on a kidney machine.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Brave On A Mountain Top
13. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Brave On A Mountain Top
December 22, 1970
Dr. Welby urges a young American Indian with emphysema to return to the clean air of the reservation.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: All The Golden Dandelions Are Gone
12. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: All The Golden Dandelions Are Gone
December 15, 1970
A father with mononucleosis endangers his life by not following Welby's advice.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: To Carry The Sun In A Golden Cup
11. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: To Carry The Sun In A Golden Cup
December 8, 1970
Dr. Welby suspects a young nurse is suffering from a hereditary muscular disease.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Sounding Brass
10. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Sounding Brass
December 1, 1970
A proud young father refuses to bring his supposedly mentally challenged son to a free clinic for treatment.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Aura To A New Tomorrow
9. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Aura To A New Tomorrow
November 24, 1970
A young epileptic's effort to hide his affliction endangers his life.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Girl From Rainbow Beach
8. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Girl From Rainbow Beach
November 17, 1970
Just before her marriage, a young woman discovers she is a victim of a form of leprosy.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Labyrinth
7. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Labyrinth
November 10, 1970
Dr. Welby tries to help a scientist who appears to be suffering from drug-induced symptoms so serious he fears he will die or become completely incapacitated.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Daisy In The Shadows
6. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Daisy In The Shadows
October 27, 1970
The mother of a mentally handicapped child is forced to realize that she must allow the child to live with foster parents.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: To Get Through The Night
5. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: To Get Through The Night
October 20, 1970
A psychiatrist discovers he is the victim of a fatal form of sclerosis.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Epidemic
4. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Epidemic
October 13, 1970
The efforts of Welby and Kiley to battle a flu epidemic are complicated by a rich hypochondriac.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Warn The World About Mike
3. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: Warn The World About Mike
October 6, 1970
Dr. Kiley's brother believes he is dying and refuses to seek help.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Worth Of A Man
2. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: The Worth Of A Man
September 29, 1970
Even after Welby tells him he has a terminal disease, an attorney refuses to step down from a case.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: A Very Special Sailfish
1. Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two: A Very Special Sailfish
September 22, 1970
A teenager gets caught up in the swinging set, leading to a sexually transmitted disease.
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Where to Watch Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marcus Welby, M.D. is available for streaming on the Shout Factory website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Marcus Welby, M.D. on demand at Amazon and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    March 26, 1969
  • IMDB Rating
    7.0  (1,769)