Top 10 Celebrity Doctors of All Time

“I’m not a doctor, but I play one on T.V.” are words we’ve all heard and probably groaned at. An actor selling us an over the counter medication doesn’t do much to stir the imagination. However, they are not the only ones to grace the small screen.

Luckily with over 50 years of television broadcasting, there are many other options. For decades we have watched them treat, cure, and lose patients but have we picked a favorite? For your approval and debate, we have gathered the top ten celebrity doctors of all time. Check out the below to see if your favorites are on there.

    diane10com1. Dr. Gregory House : Why does a doctor with a pain killer problem get the top spots? Because out of every top celebrity doctor of all time, Dr. House teaches you the most about common and uncommon conditions. A quirky sense of humor and quick wit doesn’t hurt either. The official site has clips, behind the scenes looks, and even a Daily Dose Game.

    2. Dr. Marcus Welby : Long for the days when doctors made house calls and didn’t need a chart to remember who you were or why you were sick? Then Dr. Welby is your top celebrity doctor of all time. With a hit show on ABC, “Marcus Welby, M.D.” ran from 1969 through 1976. It was also the source of several controversies and protests. However, for showing us the what best in doctors can truly be, Dr. Welby stands out.

    3. Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Also known as Hawkeye, he was the star of the hit show “MASH.” Adapted from a film of the same name, the show followed a team of doctors and support staff stationed at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Uijeongbu, South Korea during the Korean War. Hawkeye practiced medicine in the worst of conditions and still managed to make both the audience and rest of the cast laugh. For combining elements of both comedy and drama as had never been done before, “MASH” was one of the most historic television shows of all time, with a finale that was the most watched episode of anything for 27 years until the Superbowl of 2010.

    4.  Dr. Michaela Quinn : Going the other way, this doctor practiced medicine in the old West. Dr. Michaela “Mike” Quinn, a refined woman doctor, moves from the highly civilized world of mid-19th century Boston to a frontier town in Colorado to start her own medical practice. Not only did she practice medicine in a time when women weren’t allowed to do such things, she also became the adoptive mother of three children when one of her patients dies. For breaking more than one frontier, “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” is a top celebrity doctor.

    5. Dr. Doug Ross : For bringing medical drama back to primetime, “ER” had to be included in the top 10 celebrity doctors of all time. Played by the then unknown George Clooney, Dr. Ross was a selfless emergency room doctor who was the first defense between a patient living or dying. He was also known to put his patients before career and had a special interest in caring for children. Although Clooney has moved on to other projects, “ER” can still be seen here on nbc.com.

    6. Dr. John Dorian : In homage to “MASH,” the world created by Bill Lawrence in “Scrubs” is one where both laughter and tears are shed. We first meet Dr. Dorian, or J.D., in his first day as a medical intern. Along with a cast of hilarious and equally flawed co-stars, he experiences the ups and downs of both medicine and life. For making us both laugh and cry, Dr. Dorian is one of the top ten celebrity doctors of all time.

    7. Dr. Leonard H. McCoy : Also known as Bones, Dr. McCoy was the pioneering doctor of the future on the original “Star Trek” series. Even though he was a simple, country man, Bones had no trouble facing the problems of the future head on. He also stands out for putting his patients first, his loyalty to his captain, and constantly reminding him that “Damn it, Jim. I’m a doctor.”

    8. Dr. Douglas Howser. : Launching the career of Neil Patrick Harris, “Doogie Howser, M.D.” centered on a child prodigy who becomes a doctor at the age of 16. Although life threatening disease and tough diagnosis are challenges Doogie faces every day, it is the experience of growing up that turns out to be more difficult for him. Running from 1989 to 1993 on ABC, full episodes of the show can be seen for free on Hulu.

    9. Dr. Cliff Huxtable : Although “The Cosby Show” didn’t center on medicine, it did show us that African Americans could achieve anything be it a successful medical practice or a number one rated television show. With a loving relationship with his wife and my-way-or-the-highway approach to fathering, it is no wonder the show still remains a classic. This site has loads on the series including synopsis, air dates, and more.

    10. Dr. Julius Hibbert : For being a wacky tribute to the above, Dr. Hibbert kept both audiences and himself laughing as the family doctor from “The Simpsons.” With lines such as, “Because this is a life or death emergency, I’ll be requiring cash up front,” Dr. Hibbert reminds us why we need a laugh when choosing a doctor. Honorable mention goes to Dr. Nick Riviera.

Although entertaining, be sure and ask a licensed doctor before following any of the advice or practices seen on the above top ten celebrity doctors of all time. If you need something more realistic, there are also options. Both The Doctors and Dr. Oz are day time shows that center on medicine and offer all sorts of useful tips. If you need more of a “get real” approach to your life, there is none better than Dr. Phil.

Complete Listing of our Articles

Find Surgical Technician Schools Near You. Search Now!