Emergency! was more than just a popular show—it was a lifeline. It brought people together, kept them safe and helped prepare viewers. The series had two purposes: to entertain and to educate.

While it was an important series for the public, Emergency! was also meaningful for Bobby Troup, who played Dr. Joe Early.

Before his time on the show, Troup had already done just about everything someone in the entertainment industry could do—he was a songwriter, a painter, a pianist, a singer, and an actor.

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But beyond his career, Troup was also a devoted father to his five children, who played a big part in his life—and a small part in Emergency!

Troup was married to Julie London, who also starred in Emergency! as nurse Dixie McCall. The two had a loving family that shared a passion for acting and Hollywood. In fact, it was their love of acting that brought them all together.

"Five of us were involved with making this particular segment," Troup said in a 1972 interview with Democrat and Chronicle. "Our 10-year-old daughter, Kelly, made her debut in the episode."

She played a victim in a bus crash in the season one episode "Saddled."

"Then my second daughter, Rome, who was Polly in the My Three Sons series, played a young girl who suffered a bottle burst in her face," Troup continued. "And Cynnie, my oldest daughter, is the script girl for the series."

It was truly a family affair for the Troups. He gave his kids a lot of credit and praised them as talented young actors.

"They aren’t starstruck," Troup said. "And they work real hard. Julie and I are both very proud of them. They’re all good kids, and we love them very, very much."

In addition to recognizing his family, Troup also credited the show’s stars—Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe—for its growing success. 

He said that even though Emergency! aired in a tough time slot—going up against All in the Family—it was the show’s fantastic cast that helped it stand out against Archie, Edith, and the rest of the Bunker family.

"We’re up against Archie Bunker," Troup said. "That alone takes a lot of guts. But while the adults may like All in the Family, the kids seem to watch our show more."

While Emergency! brought together millions of fans across the country, it also brought his own family closer—on and off screen.