Marcus Welby, MD

Network: ABC
Episodes: 172 (hour)
Seasons: Seven

TV show dates: September 23, 1969 — May 4, 1976
Series status: Cancelled/ended

Performers include: Robert Young, James Brolin, Elena Verdugo, Pamela Hensley, Sharon Gless, Marcia Ralston, Connie Izay, Anne Schedeen, Anne Baxter, and Gavin Brendan.

TV show description:
Robert Young stars as Doctor Marcus Welby, a caring family practitioner who believes in old-school, common-sense methods and the importance of having a good bedside manner. Welby served in the US Navy as a doctor during the war. A widower, he enjoys sailing his boat on the ocean and spending time with girlfriends like Myra Sherwood (Anne Baxter). Welby has an adult daughter named Sandy (Christine Belford, then Anne Schedeen) and a grandson, Phil (Gavin Brendan).

Welby works with Doctor Steven Kiley (James Brolin), a brilliant young physician. He has more strait-laced methods and often disagrees with Welby’s way of thinking but usually ends up seeing the value in what his partner says. The two work alongside one another at a private practice in Santa Monica, California and often work with the staff at nearby Lang Memorial Hospital.

The two doctors are ably assisted by Consuelo Lopez (Elena Verdugo), their loyal secretary, nurse and friend. Towards the end of the show’s run, Kiley meets and marries Janet Blake (Pamela Hensley), a public relations director. Sharon Gless plays another secretary, Kathleen Faverty.

Storylines tackle issues like addiction to painkillers, brain damage, breast cancer, depression, dysautonomia, epilepsy, impotence, leukemia, mononucleosis, rape, and sexually transmitted diseases.