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Fred MacMurray was ''semi-retired'' while on My Three Sons
MacMurray was such a low-pressure kind of guy that he even "semi-retired" while still working.
My Three Sons was a successful family sitcom that originally aired on ABC from 1960 to 1965 before making the move to CBS in 1965. The series was so long-lasting that its leading star, Fred MacMurray, became a bit bored of it by the time its final few seasons premiered.
MacMurray played the role of Steve Douglas. As a father of three boys, Steve Douglas was kind, patient and understanding — something MacMurray struggled to emulate off-screen or in his personal life.
According to a 1970 interview with Dayton Daily News, MacMurray and his castmates had just entered their 11th year on television. With years of experience and familiarity with each other, My Three Sons became second nature for MacMurray.
After dedicating most of his time and life to the series, by season 11, MacMurray had developed a bit of senioritis. According to the interview, he devoted less than four months a year to the series, shooting all of his scenes out of context with the rest of the cast.
"I'm semi-retired," MacMurray said. "Every year I think we ought to quit while we're ahead. But at the end of the season when the ratings came out, we stand very high. So we just carry on another year."
Although MacMurray loved working on the series, he was tired.
Before his time on My Three Sons, MacMurray's first uncredited role dated back to 1929. He could be seen in a variety of films, a few TV series and more than one iconic Disney film. But by the time My Three Sons was in the final season, MacMurray was burnt out.
"In the beginning, I used to make feature films when I'd completed the series for the season. Now I just putter around," MacMurray said. "Maybe I should feel guilty about not becoming a producer, but I'm a low pressure kind of guy."
MacMurray said the transition from film to TV was difficult at first. In fact, MacMurray wouldn't even agree to do the show because it meant spending six months or more of his time to make it work. So, producer Don Fedderson, agreed to MacMurray's truncated schedule.
Even Henry Fonda worked with Fedderson on the "MacMurray Method," in order to leave about eight or nine months open per year for other projects, or just for rest, if you're MacMurray.
"Each year the show becomes easier," MacMurray said. "In the beginning, I'd do all the kitchen scenes in two days, changing wardrobe from script to script. Then I'd do all the exteriors and so on. Now we break it up a little and work runs smoother, and it still leaves plenty of time for me to relax and enjoy myself."
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