Dr James Wright has passed away: The Good Health Show doctor is dead at 94
One of Australia’s most high-profile TV doctors and Australia winner of the year, Dr James Wright, dies aged 94
- Aussie TV and radio doctor ‘James Wright’ John Knight has passed away at the age of 94
- He died on Sunday, November 27, just two weeks after his 95th birthday
- He was on Good Health Show, Mike Walsh Show and Midday in the ’70s and ’80s
James Wright, Australia’s first famous radio and TV doctor, has passed away at the age of 94.
from Sydney 2GB Radio presenter Ben Fordham paid tribute to Dr. Wright – real name John Knight – after the star’s passing on Sunday.
Dr. Wright was the host of The Good Health show on 2UE and the ‘jolly doctor’ on The Mike Walsh Show and The Midday Show in the 1970s and 1980s.
He also wrote for the well-known Australian magazine Dolly under the infamous sealed ‘Dolly Doctor’ section.
Famed TV and radio doctor John ‘James Wright’ Knight (above) passed away on Sunday at the age of 94
Sydney radio host Ben Fordham (above) paid tribute to Dr. Wright, praising the star’s charitable work for housing the frail elderly
At that time, ‘media consultants’ from the medical world were not allowed to use their real names on the broadcast.
Dr. Wright was just two weeks away from celebrating his 95th birthday when he passed away on Nov. 27.
“I loved how he said to people when they came on the program ‘what’s your problem?’, so not medical mumbo jumbo,” Fordham said.
“People called him up and told him what was going on. They often brought up things with Dr. James Wright that they were too embarrassed to discuss with their own doctor.
“He would answer anyone’s questions. He was eccentric, he was intelligent, he was a joy to be around.’
Dr. Recognized for destigmatizing major health issues, including the HIV-AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Wright started a charity in 1971 to house senior citizens.
Dr. James Wright (above) was Australia’s first celebrity doctor, appearing regularly on TV and presenting 2UE’s The Good Health Show
He is also known as the uncle of criminal bikie Mark ‘Chopper’ Read who wrote semi-autobiographies about his life of crime, in which he claimed to have killed 19 people.
Fordham said he was “lucky” to work with Dr. Wright during his time at 2UE and praised his philanthropic work.
“Out of the mic and TV studio, he did incredible things to help people,” he said.
“He set up a foundation that owned hundreds of high-rise homes in Surfers Paradise and he would rent those apartments for a third of their income to struggling elderly retirees.
‘If people didn’t have money, he would still offer them a place.
“He has done incredible things and we will pay tribute.”
Dr. Wright was recognized for his charitable work in 2017 when he was nominated for NSW’s Senior Australian of the Year.
