Phil McGraw facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dr. Phil
McGraw in 2025
Born	Phillip Calvin McGraw (1950-09-01) September 1, 1950 (age 74) Vinita, Oklahoma, U.S.
Education	Midwestern State University (BA) North Texas State University (MA, PhD)
Occupation	Television host author
Spouse(s)	Debbie Higgins McCall ​ ​ (m. 1970; annulled 1973)​ Robin Jameson ​ (m. 1976)​
Children	2, including Jay McGraw
Relatives	Erica Dahm (daughter-in-law)

Phillip Calvin McGraw (born September 1, 1950), who is famous as Dr. Phil, is an American TV star and author. He is best known for hosting the talk show Dr. Phil. He has a doctorate (a high-level university degree) in clinical psychology, but he stopped renewing his license to work as a psychologist in 2006.

Dr. Phil became famous after appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show in the late 1990s. The host, Oprah Winfrey, helped him start his own advice show, Dr. Phil, in 2002.

Early Life and School

Phillip Calvin McGraw was born in Vinita, Oklahoma, on September 1, 1950. He grew up in North Texas with his two older sisters, Deana and Donna, and a younger sister, Brenda. His father, Joseph, was an equipment supplier for oilfields. When he was 13, he had jobs at an A&W Root Beer stand and a pizza place.

Later, McGraw's family moved to Kansas. His father wanted to become a psychologist, which is a person who studies the mind and behavior. In Kansas, Phil went to Shawnee Mission North High School. He was a good football player and earned a scholarship to the University of Tulsa.

He later moved to Midwestern State University in Texas. In 1975, he graduated with a degree in psychology. He continued his studies at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). He earned a Master's degree in 1976 and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1979. A Ph.D. is one of the highest degrees a person can get from a university.

Career Before Television

After getting his Ph.D., Dr. Phil started working with his father, who had his own psychology practice in Texas. In 1985, they started giving self-help seminars called "Pathways."

In 1990, Dr. Phil co-founded a company called Courtroom Sciences, Inc. (CSI). This company helped lawyers prepare for court cases. They would practice the case in a pretend courtroom, and Dr. Phil would give advice on what worked well. The TV show Bull is based on his work at CSI. It was through this company that he began working with Oprah Winfrey.

Television Career

McGraw on the cover of Newsweek magazine in 2001.

Working with Oprah

In 1995, Oprah Winfrey hired Dr. Phil's company to help her with a court case. She was very happy with his help and thanked him for her victory in 1998. Soon after, she invited him to be a guest on her popular TV show.

His appearances were a big hit with viewers. Starting in April 1998, he became a regular guest expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show, giving people advice on life and relationships.

The Dr. Phil Show

In 2002, Dr. Phil launched his own TV show, called Dr. Phil. It was produced by Oprah Winfrey's company. On the show, Dr. Phil talks about a different problem in each episode and gives advice to his guests.

The show was very successful. For many years, it was one of the most-watched talk shows on TV, second only to The Oprah Winfrey Show. By 2018, Dr. Phil was the number one talk show and stayed at the top for over 100 weeks in a row.

Other TV Shows

Dr. Phil and his son, Jay McGraw, started a production company called Stage 29 Productions. They created several other shows.

• The Doctors was a popular spin-off show that started in 2008. It featured a team of doctors, led by Dr. Travis Stork, who gave health advice. The show won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2010.
• House Calls with Dr. Phil was a reality show that aired in 2021. In it, Dr. Phil visited families in their homes to offer advice.

Merit Street Media

In November 2023, Dr. Phil announced he was starting a new media company called Merit Street Media. The TV network launched on April 2, 2024. It focuses on news and true crime shows. Dr. Phil hosts a new show on the network called Dr. Phil Primetime. A year after it launched, Merit Street filed for bankruptcy.

Other Projects

McGraw in 2013

In 2012, Dr. Phil started a company called Doctor On Demand. It is a telehealth service, which means people can use an app or website to have video appointments with doctors and therapists. This became very helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people needed to see a doctor from home.

Approach to Psychology

Dr. Phil's style of giving advice has been both praised and criticized. Some mental health experts have said his advice is too simple or not helpful. The National Alliance on Mental Illness once called his actions on one show "irresponsible." Dr. Phil has said that he does not like traditional, one-on-one therapy.

However, many viewers find his advice helpful. A 2016 study found that people who watched the Dr. Phil show were more likely to seek professional help for their own mental health issues. Dr. Phil often encourages his guests and viewers to get help from trained professionals.

Books and Awards

Dr. Phil has written several best-selling books, starting with Life Strategies in 1999. He has also written books about relationships and families.

He has received many awards for his work. In 2015, he was added to the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. In 2020, he received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. The American Psychological Association also gave him an award for bringing attention to mental health issues.

Personal Life

McGraw with his wife Robin in May 2013.

Dr. Phil was briefly married when he was 20 years old. In 1976, he married his current wife, Robin Jo Jameson. They have two sons, Jay McGraw and Jordan McGraw.

Dr. Phil is a licensed private pilot and enjoys flying single-engine airplanes. He is a Christian and started the Dr. Phil Foundation in 2003, a charity that helps support children and families.

In politics, Dr. Phil supported Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election. In January 2025, he went with officers from ICE during a raid in Chicago. This happened at the same time the government was increasing its efforts to send immigrants without permission back to their home countries.

Filmography

Discography

Guest appearances

See also

In Spanish: Phil McGraw para niños