Fictional physicians are characters in literature, film, and television who are portrayed as medical professionals. Two of the most famous fictional physicians are Doctor Dolittle and Doctor Kildare. Doctor Dolittle is a character created by Hugh Lofting in the 1920s, and is best known for his ability to communicate with animals. Doctor Kildare is a character from a series of films and television shows that ran from 1938 to 1966, and was portrayed as a young doctor learning the ropes of medicine.