Here are our 10 favorites. Only doctors from medical shows count, so Dr. Frasier Crane and Dr. “Bones” McCoy are out of luck.
Dr. Ben Casey, Vince Edwards, “Ben Casey,” 1961 to 1966: a dedicated young physician broods.
Dr. James Kildare, Richard Chamberlain, “Dr. Kildare,” 1961 to 1966: pretty boy doctor fights for patient rights.
Dr. Marcus Welby, Robert Young, “Marcus Welby, M.D.” 1969 to 1976: wise old doctor interferes in his patients’ personal lives.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, Alan Alda, “M*A*S*H,” 1972 to 1983: wisecracking, martini-swilling pacifist stuck in Korea.
Dr. Phillip Chandler, Denzel Washington, “St. Elsewhere,” 1982 to 1988; Denzel on the verge of fame.
Dr. Kathryn Austin, Christine Lahti, “Chicago Hope,” 1994 to 2000; women can be doctors, too.
Dr. Doug Ross, George Clooney, “ER,” 1994 to 2006; Clooney on the verge of fame.
Dr. Mark Greene, Anthony Edwards, “ER,” 1994 to 2006; earnest young doc, killed off in the series.
Dr. Gregory House, Hugh Laurie, “House,” 2004 to present; curmudgeonly genius won’t follow the rules.
Dr. Meredith Grey, Ellen Pompeo, “Grey’s Anatomy,” 2005 to 2010; pickle-faced pain in Seattle.
And here are some great TV doctors who didn’t get to do enough doctoring to make our list:
Dr. Richard Kimble, David Janssen, “The Fugitive,” 1963 to 1967; on the run, looking for the one-armed man.
Dr. Frasier Crane, Kelsey Grammer, “Frasier,” 1993 to 2004; dispensing advice and casting judgment in Seattle.
Dr. Joel Fleischman, Rob Morrow, “Northern Exposure,” 1990 to 1995; New York doctor stuck in the wilds of Alaska.
Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, DeForest Kelly, “Star Trek,” 1966 to 1969; smart-alecky Starfleet surgeon.
Dr. Galen “Doc” Adams, Milburn Stone, “Gunsmoke,” 1955 to 1975; hanging out with Marshal Dillon, Festus and Kitty.
Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, David McCallum, “NCIS,” 2003 to present; Navy medical examiner talks to his “patients.”
Dr. Quincy, Jack Klugman, “Quincy, M.E.” 1976 to 1983; medical examiner with no first name jumps into cases.
Dr. Doogie Howser, Neil Patrick Harris, “Doogie Howser, M.D” 1989 to 1993; kid genius with a computer.
Dr. Michaela “Mike” Quinn, Jane Seymour, “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” 1993 to 1998; home on the range.
Dr. Who, who?, “Dr. Who,” 1963 to present; from the BBC, an advice-giving alien who travels in a 1950s police box.
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