In honor of Father’s Day, we wanted to honor the best television dads of all time.
They may not have been our real fathers, but they still taught us plenty of life lessons. Or, in the case of some, they entertained us on a weekly basis.
So here’s to you, TV dad. We love you.
Ward Cleaver – Leave It to Beaver
The model citizen of television Dads, Ward Cleaver was the iconic father figure in the 1950s.
He married his high school sweetheart, provided for his family, and was always there for his two boys, raising them to become outstanding men.
Danny Tanner – Full House
If Ward Cleaver is the ideal 1950s dad, then Danny Tanner is the perfect 1990s father.
Despite being a single dad, he has the help of his family to raise his three daughters, but he’s the father figure for the entire cast of Full House and acts as the moral North Star to everyone.
Red Forman – That ’70s Show
Red Forman is no North Star. He doesn’t always see eye to eye with his son Eric and is overly hard on him while spoiling his daughter Laurie.
Still, Red is an excellent father figure, particularly to Hyde, who lacks that in his own life.
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Al Bundy – Married… with Children
On one hand, Al Bundy will never win a Father of the Year award. He’s also never going to come close to winning husband of the year, either.
All Al wants to do is sit back, relax, crack a beer, and watch the game. When push comes to shove, though, he’ll be there for his family.
Uncle Phil – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Sometimes the best dad you can have isn’t your biological father.
That’s the case with Uncle Phil, who takes Will in as his own. The moment when Will’s real dad skips town once again is not only one of the most emotional moments in sitcom history, but a perfect example of why Uncle Phil belongs in the television dad hall of fame.
Hopper – Stranger Things
Like Uncle Phil, Hooper steps in to be a father figure when needed.
Of course, raising Eleven, a psychic with telekinetic powers who was experimented on by the CIA, is a little harder than raising your nephew. That doesn’t matter to Hooper, who risks his life to help protect Eleven.
Phil Dunphy – Modern Family
If you looked up the definition of a dad joke in the dictionary, Phil Dunphy’s picture would be there.
His balance of goofy eccentricity meshes well with his effectiveness at raising a family. He’ll embarrass you one moment and be there when you need him most the next.
Hal – Malcolm in the Middle
Hal may be the most devoted father in television history. He loves his wife and children more than anything.
Unfortunately for them, Hal’s behavior is the likely cause of the chaos that exists within the family. Hey, at least it’s entertaining, right?
Homer Simpson – The Simpsons
Speaking of chaos, no one will argue that Homer Simpson is a calming force in anyone’s life, though.
If you ever question his ability as a father, however, I’m going to stop you right there. The ending of “And Maggie Makes Three,” which shows us why he keeps his awful job, is an incredibly sweet and touching revelation.
Andy Taylor – The Andy Griffith Show
Enough of the chaotic dads, let’s go back to a likely Father of the Year award winner.
Andy Taylor is arguably the greatest television dad of all time and is the textbook definition of what it means to be a great father. He’s the role model, hands down.
Tim Taylor – Home Improvement
If you’re going to be the father of three sons in the (somewhat) modern day, there’s arguably no better father than Tim “The Toolman” Taylor.
He loves sports, cars, and tools. He may not always be as handy as he thinks, but he always knows how to do the right thing. Sometimes, that means asking Wilson for advice.
Steven Douglas – My Three Sons
Before Home Improvement aired, Steve Douglas was the model father of three sons.
He’s not the only widower on our list, and he actually has a lot in common with Danny Tanner. The only difference is that he’s doing it all on his own, which makes Steven Douglas even more impressive.
Hank Hill – King of the Hill
Part of what makes Hank Hill such an incredible father to Bobby is that, despite being unable to comprehend a changing world, he still loves his son more than anything.
Sure, Bobby prefers prop comedy to playing sports, but Hank will always do anything to grow closer to Bobby.
Mike Brady – The Brady Bunch
They used to be four men living all together, yet they were all alone.
Mike Brady had an impossible task beforehand: raising three sons alongside three daughters. Yet that didn’t stop him from making it work, helping his family and television viewers learn valuable lessons on a weekly basis.
Frank Costanza – Seinfeld
Let’s end on a chaotic note.
Frank Costanza is a horrible father, yet he’s one of the most entertaining television dads of all time. He also helped give us a new holiday to celebrate: a Festivus for the rest of us!
Jerry Stiller was only in less than 30 episodes, but he made them count.
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