6 Things You Never Knew About Robert Young, Star of ‘Father Knows Best’ & ‘Marcus Welby, M.D.’
For many of us, Robert Young will always be Jim Anderson on Father Knows Best, the warm and wise dad we all wanted. Later, he became America’s favorite doctor in Marcus Welby, M.D., proving that even after his film career slowed down, he had more stories to tell.
But behind the scenes, Young’s life was not always as easy as those he portrayed onscreen. Born in Chicago to an Irish immigrant father, Young’s family struggled financially, especially after his father left when he was just 10 years old. He worked as a newspaper boy to help support the family before eventually finding his way to acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. From there, an MGM talent scout spotted him, launching a career that would span film, radio and television.
Young battled decades of depression and alcoholism, yet managed to turn his personal struggles into advocacy, helping countless others through mental health outreach. Here are six surprising facts about the man behind two of TV’s most beloved characters:
1 His most famous show was once canceled
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When Father Knows Best first hit the airwaves in 1954, it wasn’t exactly a runaway success. In fact, CBS canceled it after just one season. However, fans wrote to the network, asking for the show to come back. Thanks to that flood of viewer support, the series was brought back and moved to an earlier time slot. Slowly but surely, it caught on and became one of the defining family sitcoms of the era. It’s a good reminder that even the biggest hits sometimes need a little help getting off the ground.
2 He wasn’t always the sunny character we remember
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Young may have played happy, grounded characters onscreen, but in real life, things weren’t always so easy. He battled depression and alcoholism for nearly 45 years, quietly struggling behind the scenes even as he won over audiences every week. He hit rock bottom in 1991, when a suicide attempt that occurred while he was struggling with Alzheimer’s disease and heart issues finally brought his mental health issues into the open. After recovering, he became an outspoken advocate for mental health care and inspired others to seek help. The Robert Young Community Mental Health Center was even named in his honor.
3 He was a favorite among Hollywood’s leading ladies
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There was something about Young that made him a go-to costar for some of the biggest actresses of the golden age. From Joan Crawford to Katharine Hepburn, Margaret Sullavan to Claudette Colbert, he shared the screen with many of the era’s most iconic stars. In fact, many leading ladies specifically requested to work with him because he was such a gentleman and never stole the spotlight from them.
4 He played Betty Anderson’s dad onscreen — and offscreen too
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Elinor Donahue played the eldest daughter Betty on Father Knows Best, and she and Young shared more than just scripted family moments. He was a real-life mentor to her, helping her navigate the industry and offering support beyond the set. In a fun twist, her character was even based on one of his real daughters. Their bond lasted well beyond the show, and Donahue was one of the former castmates who helped celebrate his 90th birthday in 1997. Ultimately, he passed away soon after, on July 21, 1998.
5 He made a documentary about motorcycle safety
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In the late ’70s, when many stars his age were slowing down, Young took on a new kind of project. He produced a documentary called Twenty Times More Likely in 1978 that focused on the importance of motorcycle safety training for teens. It was a passion project for him, and it paid off: The film earned him a BAFTA Award for Best Specialized Film the following year.
6 His real-life love story was even better than fiction
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While many of his onscreen characters had picture-perfect families, Young’s real-life romance with Elizabeth Henderson was something truly special. They met as teenagers at Lincoln High School in Los Angeles, when he was 17 and she was 14, and they stayed together for over 60 years. Elizabeth stood by him through career changes, health battles and personal struggles. They raised four daughters and lived out their later years in a house they named “The Enchanted Cottage,” a sweet nod to one of his most beloved film roles.
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