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Ethan Murphy is the overarching antagonist of the ABC medical drama series The Good Doctor.

He is Shaun Murphy and Steve Murphy's abusive father.

He was portrayed by the late Kirby Morrow in the first season, who also voiced Rey Za Burrel in the English version of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, and by Michael Trucco in the third and seventh seasons, who also played Owen McGregor in Criminal Minds, Alec in Charmed and Eric Lutz in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Biography[]

Problems with raising Shaun[]

Shaun always felt terrified of his very abusive father Ethan, whose behaviour probably stemmed from his son's autism and not knowing how to handle it properly. Another key fact is Ethan drinking a lot of alcohol. Ethan furiously shouted at Shaun after being expelled from school, due to his condition, being the third school where he isn't fully accepted, demanding to know what did he do this time, blaming him for being a 'disappointment' and 'shame' to the family. Steve tries to pull Ethan off Shaun but is stopped. Shaun, however can only quietly shiver in fear while caressing his pet rabbit, which Ethan in a fit of rage throws against a wall, cruelly killing it in the process and devastating Shaun. Shaun's lazy mother, Marcie, on the other hand, does nothing to stop her husband's behaviour, only watching as the whole event happens. After this, Shaun and Steve go to Doctor Glassman, whom they beg to cure the rabbit, only for him to solemnly tell Shaun that the rabbit is dead and it cannot be saved. This is the last straw, as Steve decides that he and Shaun will not be returning to their parents' home, making a new home out of an abandoned breakers yard to live there and distract themselves from the trauma. However, when Shaun turns 14, Steve tragically dies walking on top of a train, falling off and breaking his neck.

Steve's funeral was attended by Shaun, his parents and Glassman. Ethan approaches Shaun and tells him he can take whatever time he needs to mourn his brother as he and Marcie would be waiting for him in the car. Nevertheless, Shaun refuses to return to his parents and is placed into foster care until he turns 20 and starts living on his own. He doesn't speak to either of them as the years pass, not even after he is hired to work at St. Bonaventure Hospital as a medical surgeon, facing a lot judgement from his colleagues, but gradually earning their trust and respect.

One last reunion[]

Marcie contacts Dr. Glassman, informing him that Ethan has pancreatic cancer and left with very little time to live and relays the information to Shaun, who is initially (and understandably) skeptical to go after how poorly Ethan treated him in the past, but ultimately relents after Glassman convinces him otherwise to at least listen to what Ethan has to say, probably something important. During the encounter at his old home, Ethan apologizes to Shaun for making him suffer, assuring his son that he's proud of the man he has become over the years and that all he's ever wanted was to have a son to share interests and hobbies with, only for Shaun to snap at him, blaming Ethan for killing both his pet rabbit and Steve and that he doesn't care if he dies before storming out of the room. While both Shaun and his best friend, Lea, who he brought along on the trip, both agree that Ethan sucked as a parent, Glassman thinks he deserved some mercy, comparing the situation to the death of his daughter Maddie. Taking Glassman's advice to heart, Shaun decides to forgive his father and quit punishing him further.

In response, Ethan tells Shaun that he doesn't want to keep punishing him either and that he's very smart, but in a shocking emotional twist, Ethan starts throwing venomous words at his son, calling him weak and a spoiled little baby and blaming him for Steve's death. Shaun feels vulnerable at hearing this, but his mother, instead of comforting Shaun, still justifies her husband's as delirium from the morphine, but it's pretty clear Ethan is meaning it. To make it worse, Ethan dares Shaun to "run away again" as Glassman tries pulling him away, but this time Shaund doesn't run out. That night, Glassman breaks the news to Shaun that Ethan died thirty minutes after the debacle. Shaun is left emotionally devastated by his father's death and starts hitting himself just as Lea shows up and comforts him, lying on bed together.

Relationships[]

Family[]

  • Marcie Murphy - wife
  • Shaun Murphy - son (estranged)
  • Steve Murphy † - son (estranged)
  • Lea Dilallo - daughter-in-law
  • Miscarried granddaughter †
  • Steven Aaron Murphy - Grandson
  • Maddie Murphy - Granddaughter

Enemies[]