After seven seasons and 126 episodes, Freddie Highmore’s Dr. Shaun Murphy bid farewell on ABC’s The Good Doctor. Despite the show being a consistent hit, rising production costs and the evolving TV landscape led to its conclusion. The final season faced delays due to a writers’ strike, but Highmore is content with the show’s ending and reflects on saying goodbye after a remarkable run.
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What is Freddie Highmore doing after ‘The Good Doctor?’
Next for Highmore, he’s set to star in a British miniseries this summer, though details are still under wraps. The Good Doctor also allowed him to produce and develop projects, a path he intends to pursue further in the future.
Who is Freddie Highmore?
Freddie Highmore, born Alfred Thomas Highmore on February 14, 1992, is an English actor. He rose to fame as a child star with roles in Finding Neverland (2004), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Arthur and the Invisibles (2006), August Rush (2007), and The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008).
Freddie’s Early Life
Freddie Highmore’s mother, Sue Latimer, is a talent agent representing actors like Daniel Radcliffe and Imelda Staunton, while his father, Edward Highmore, is a former actor. He attended The Brookland Junior and Infant School in Hampstead Garden Suburb until age 11, then earned a scholarship to Highgate School in London. In November 2007, he moved to North London. In 2008, Highmore achieved top grades in his GCSE exams, excelling in English, maths, Spanish, French, Latin, geography, biology, chemistry, and physics.
He continued this trend in his A-level exams 2010, earning A* grades in maths, further maths, French, and Spanish. From 2010 to 2014, Highmore studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, graduating with a double first in Spanish and Arabic.
He also attended the London School of Economics for a summer course in finance. In 2012, he interned at Gulf Bank in Kuwait and worked at a law firm in Madrid while filming Bates Motel, briefly considering a career in law after graduation.
About The Show “The Good Doctor”
The Good Doctor is an American medical drama series that aired on ABC from September 25, 2017, to May 21, 2024, for seven seasons and 126 episodes. It’s a remake of the 2013 South Korean series and stars Freddie Highmore as Shaun Murphy, an autistic surgical resident. The cast also includes Christina Chang, Richard Schiff, Will Yun Lee, Fiona Gubelmann, Paige Spara, Noah Galvin, and Bria Samoné Henderson.
Daniel Dae Kim bought the rights to the original series, adapted it, and brought on David Shore to develop it. Despite CBS passing on the pilot, ABC picked up the show. Produced by Sony Pictures Television and ABC Signature, the series was filmed mainly in Vancouver. It received mixed reviews but was praised for Highmore’s performance. The final season premiered on February 20, 2024.
Character Of Shaun Murphy
Freddie Highmore plays Dr. Shaun Murphy, an autistic surgical resident with near-photographic recall and acute attention to detail. His hiring was controversial among the board. By the end of season 5, he marries Lea Dilallo. In season 6, he becomes a surgical attending, and Lea gives birth to their son, Steven Aaron Murphy. In the series finale flashforward, Shaun is the Chief of Surgery and co-runs the Dr. Aaron Glassman Foundation for Neurodiversity in Medicine with Claire. Shaun and Lea also have a daughter named Maddie. Shaun’s teen years are portrayed by Graham Verchere and his childhood by Kashton Brostl.
What was the last scene from Freddie as Dr. Shaun Murphy?
It was a pivotal moment with Leah, where she helps Shaun become aware of the situations facing Claire and Dr. Glassman. This motivates Shaun to talk to Claire and accept Dr. Glassman’s impending departure. It was a fitting final scene, capturing the show’s essence of small, meaningful interactions. We filmed it back at the studio, with the residence lounge being the last set standing amidst the dismantling stages and sets.
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In Conclusion
The Good Doctor concluded on May 21, 2024, after seven seasons and 126 episodes. While it received mixed reviews, Freddie Highmore’s portrayal of Shaun Murphy was widely praised. The series, produced by Sony Pictures Television and ABC Signature, made a significant impact by highlighting autism and resilience in the medical field.