Here are TVs favorite dads!
Father’s Day was this past Sunday and in honor of that here is a list of 16 GOOD dads in television that helped guide us through this thing called life. Television, although not real life is a reflection of the real thing and even though these fathers are fictional characters they meant a lot to their audience and had an effect on all of our lives in one way or another.
16. Rogelio De La Vega (Jane The Virgin)
Rogelio De La Vega (Jaime Camil) may have gotten a late start in being a father to his daughter Jane (Gina Rodriguez) but he got right to it and made sure he gave her everything plus more than he wasn’t able to before. Their father and daughter dance at Jane’s wedding was are one of the best dad and daughter duos ever!
15. Flex Washington (One on One)
Flex Washington (Flex Alexander) learned to put aside his bachelor lifestyle to be the best father he could be to his teenage daughter, Breanna (Kyla Pratt) and it wasn’t easy but he did it all while dancing and protecting her from knuckle headed boys.
13 + 14. Cam & Mitch (Modern Family)
When Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) adopted Lily they accidentally locked her in the car which was just first of many parental mistakes to come as every parent can relate to but the mistakes make the love and support they give to Lily even more special. Lily’s sass with Cam and Mitch’s personalities make their family one of the funniest on TV.
12. James Evans (Good Times)
He worked multiple jobs and was hardly home but that’s part of what makes him such a good dad; he works hard to provide for his family. When James Evans was home he was a loving and protective father to his 3 children.
11. Michael Bluth (Arrested Development)
Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) had terrible examples of how a father should be from his own father which is why he made sure to be the opposite of George Bluth (Jeffery Tambor) for his son George Michael (Michael Cera). Michael spent most of his time trying to be a good example for his son and lead him in the right direction—and well, thinking of ways he could get away from his family forever but, of course with George Michael by his side.
10. Dre Johnson (black-ish)
Sometimes Dre (Anthony Anderson) is like a child himself and hand full for his wife Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) but, he’s still a great father to their 5 children even if he is being a little too hard on them (Junior).
9. Johnny Rose (Schitt’s Creek)
Johnny Rose pushes his son David and daughter Alexis in the right direction, he believes in them and supports them wholeheartedly. Their family wasn’t close before but hard times brought them closer than ever and allowed Johnny to make up for lost times. He’s the perfect example of better late than never.
8. Al Bundy (Married With Children)
An iconic TV dad, Al Bundy ( Ed O’Neill) has stories and jokes for days which actually put his two kids Kelly Bundy (Christina Applegate) and Bud Bundy (David Faustino) as well as his wife Peggy (Kate Sagal) to sleep once and he’s rough around the edges but that makes him a dad that doesn’t hesitate to beat up his daughters boyfriends whenever she asks (or doesn’t ask).
7. Ray Campbell (Sister, Sisiter)
Not only is he a father to his daughter Tamera (Tamera Mowry) whom he adopted when she was a baby but he’s also a father to her long lost twin sister, Tia (Tia Mowery). Although, Ray (Time Reid) struggles with seeing his daughter as a young woman and not a little girl (what father doesn’t?), he is always there for Tamera and Tia in times of need, gives them great advice, and he’ll knock someone out if he has to. When it comes to his girls he’ll do whatever it takes to protect them.
6. Michael Kyle (My Wife & Kids)
Michael Kyle is the kind of father that will tell you like it is, he’s not one to sugar coat and he might hurt your feelings a little with a joke but all he wants is the best for his kids as any good father does.
5. Carl Winslow (Family Matters)
He’s not necessarily easy-going and when it comes to his rules Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) does not play, he’ll surely make sure you’ve learned your lesson from whatever it is you did which makes sense being that he’s a cop but you better believe he’ll have your back no matter what even for his annoying neighbor Steve Urkel (Jaleel White).
4. Randall Pearson (This Is Us)
Just as his adoptive father Jack Pearson before his death, Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown) is a great father if not a better one to his two girls and to his adopted daughter Deja. He’s understanding, patient, and caring. Randall is literally a dream dad.
3. Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
There’s never a dull moment when your dad is Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell). Yes, his goofy personality can be embarrassing at times but there’s nothing like a father who accepts you, supports you and teaches you to be yourself. He tries to be the “cool” dad and that can be so not cool to his kids but he’ll do anything for them and that makes him one of the coolest dads there is.
2. Philip Banks aka Uncle Phil (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
What makes Uncle Phil (James Avery) such a great dad isn’t just the fathering he does with his own 4 children but the fathering he does with his nephew, Will. Although, Uncle Phil was especially tough on Will he meant well and loved him like one of own. In the “Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse” episode which is one of the greatest scenes in TV history, we saw just how much he loved his nephew. Phillip was the father Will never had and his tough love was just the kind of love he needed.
1. Cliff Huxtable (The Cosby Show)
*Trigger warning: This is in no way in support of Bill Cosby and his actions as an individual. We do not support sexual assault in any way.*
The Cosby Show is one of the best sitcoms ever in TV history and paved the way for what sitcoms are today. The character Cliff Huxtable raised 5 kids alongside his wife Claire (Phylicia Rashad) and together they made a strong team. Cliff was always there for his children and taught them lessons in fun and innovative ways like when he turned their house into the “real world” to teach his son Theo the responsibilities of being an independent adult.
