Classic Television - Prime Time

My Three Sons

Original channel

ABC (1960–1965)

CBS (1965–1972)

Original run

September 29, 1960 – August 24, 1972

Starring

Fred MacMurray

William Frawley

William Demarest

Don Grady

Stanley Livingston

Barry Livingston

Tim Considine

Meredith MacRae

Tina Cole

Beverly Garland

Dawn Lyn

Ronne Troup

Daniel, Joseph, and Michael Todd

My Three Sons is an American situation comedy. The series ran from 1960 to 1965 on ABC, and moved to CBS until its end on August 24, 1972. My Three Sons chronicles the life of a widower and aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas (Fred MacMurray), raising his three sons. The series also starred William Frawley as the boy's live-in maternal grandfather, Bub. Frawley, was replaced in 1965 by William Demarest due to health issues.

The series was a cornerstone of the ABC and CBS lineups in the 1960s. With 380 episodes produced (a median of 31.5 episodes a season), it is second only to The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as television's longest running (live-action) sitcom. Disney producer Bill Walsh often mused on whether the concept of the show was inspired by the movie The Shaggy Dog, as in his view they shared "the same dog, the same kids, and Fred MacMurray".