Dr. Phil

Phillip Calvin McGraw, known publicly as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality, author, and legal consultant best known for hosting the syndicated advice television show Dr. Phil. Born in Vinita, Oklahoma, on September 1, 1950, he grew up in North Texas and later moved to Kansas. He attended Shawnee Mission North High School and earned a football scholarship to the University of Tulsa in 1968. He subsequently transferred to Midwestern State University, graduating with a B.A. in psychology in 1975. He completed an M.A. in experimental psychology in 1976 and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1979 at North Texas State University, followed by post-doctoral training in forensic psychology at the Wilmington Institute.

Early in his career, McGraw joined his father's private psychology practice in Wichita Falls, Texas. During the early 1970s, he co-managed the Grecian Health Spa in Topeka, Kansas, which eventually closed amid financial distress and legal investigations. In 1985, he partnered in presenting self-help seminars called Pathways before selling his stake in 1991. In 1990, he co-founded Courtroom Sciences, Inc. (CSI), a trial consulting firm that conducted simulated court trials for legal cases. His work with CSI led to his role as a creator of the television drama series Bull, which was based on his trial consulting experience.

McGraw gained widespread public prominence through his association with Oprah Winfrey, who hired CSI in 1995 for a trial in Texas. Following the trial's conclusion, McGraw began making regular appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show as a relationship and life strategy expert starting in April 1998. In September 2002, he launched Peteski Productions and premiered his daily syndicated talk show, Dr. Phil, produced by Winfrey's Harpo Studios. The show achieved high viewership ratings, consistently ranking among the top syndicated daytime television programs.

Throughout his media career, McGraw established additional production ventures and spin-off programming. Alongside his son Jay McGraw, he formed Stage 29 Productions in 2005, which launched television projects such as Decision House and the long-running medical talk show The Doctors. As an executive producer, McGraw earned recognition including a Daytime Emmy Award for The Doctors in 2010 and a Daytime Emmy Award for Daily Mail TV in 2019. In 2021, he hosted the CBS reality series House Calls with Dr. Phil. Outside of television, he co-founded the telehealth platform Doctor On Demand in 2012, providing virtual access to medical and mental health professionals.

McGraw ceased renewing his Texas license to practice psychology in 2006, and regulatory authorities in California determined his television work did not require state licensing. In November 2023, he announced the formation of Merit Street Media, a Fort Worth-based network focused on news and true crime, anchored by his show Dr. Phil Primetime. Merit Street launched its broadcasting operations in April 2024.