They can be goofy. They can be cool. They can be stern. They can be wise. In the 60 years since programs like “Father Knows Best” and “Leave It to Beaver” dominated the airwaves, television dads have changed some, but continue to bring us some of television’s funniest and most poignant moments.
Over the years, dads like Ward Cleaver (“Leave it to Beaver”), Mike Brady (“The Brady Bunch”) and Howard Cunningham (“Happy Days”) have dispensed sound advice and doled out stern but gentle discipline when needed. New dads such as Ricky Ricardo (“I Love Lucy”) and Jack Pearson (“This Is Us”) have shown the joy and wonderment of being a new parent, and the various dilemmas all parents face when raising young children. Andy Taylor (“The Andy Griffith Show”), Steve Douglas (“My Three Sons”) and Danny Tanner (“Full House’) are widowers trying to be both mother and father to their broods, creating both hilarious and touching moments. And bumbling dads like Homer Simpson (“The Simpsons”) and Tim Taylor (“Home Improvement”) make us laugh at their silliness.
Whether they’re hardworking or shamelessly lazy, full of wisdom or reliant on mom for decision-making, a crime boss or an honest business-owner, television dads have been entertaining us for decades. From the 1950s to now, here are some of the greatest TV dads who have inspired us with their wisdom, made us teary-eyed with their shows of affection and delighted us with their antics.
Tour our photo gallery featuring the 40 best TV dads ranked for Father’s Day.
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40. The Sopranos
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
His own mother is so vile that he is in therapy dealing with all the mess she’s put him through – including trying to have him killed! Choosing to go to therapy is not an easy decision for a man who is the godfather of a major organized crime family, but he does it because he wants to be a better parent to his own children than his parents were to him. He tries (unsuccessfully) to hide the nature of his business and give his children a “normal” upbringing, and does all he can to keep them safe and to steer them away from the criminal life.
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39. Shameless
Image Credit: Courtesy of Showtime William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher
The dad of six uses his children to cheat the welfare system and con sympathetic people out of money, while leaving the primary childcare to his oldest daughter, who is still a child herself. His behavior reflects his addictions and his own terrible upbringing; despite his shortcomings, he loves his family, and tries to right some of his wrongs and help his children when they are in dire straits. He loses Liam in a card game, but works (successfully) to get him back; he supports Debbie during her teen pregnancy; he claims Ian as his own, even though he knows he is biologically his brother’s child; he protects Carl when he gets in over his head in criminal activities. While he may not be the most stellar dad on the list, he is certainly the most entertaining.
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38. The Rockford Files
Image Credit: Cherokee Prods/Nbc/Universal Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Noah Beery, Jr. as Joseph “Rocky” Rockford
Beery had had a prolific 50-year career in both film and television before “The Rockford Files,” but he is best remembered for his thrice Emmy-nominated role as Jim Rockford’s easygoing father. Rocky’s son spent time wrongfully convicted of a crime, and is now a struggling PI, but Rocky has always stood by and supported him. Even though sometimes his help can go a little awry, Rocky’s intentions are always good, and Jim knows he can count on him.
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37. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Image Credit: Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Ozzie Nelson as Ozzie Nelson
Long before the days of reality television, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson helmed a sitcom based on their real lives with their two sons, David and Ricky. It’s never quite clear what Ozzie does for a living, and he seems to spend most of his time trying to figure out what’s going on in his own home. But for 14 years, we watched as he and Harriet raise their two sons, following them through dating, marriage and careers, creating what is still the longest-running sitcom centering on a nuclear family.
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36. Family Matters
Image Credit: Abc-Tv/Wb-Tv/Lorimar/Kobal/Shutterstock Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow
This Chicago police officer likes to act tough, claiming to be the “Big Kahuna” of his home. But he is a very caring father to his three children, and is willing to defer to his wife Harriet when necessary. What truly lands him on this list, though, is the fact that he puts up with annoying neighbor Steve Urkel, even becoming a second father to him.
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35. The Beverly Hillbillies
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett
“Welllll, doggie!” Not many men would take their mother-in-law and the child of their cousin with them to a mansion in L.A. after striking it rich. But Jed is a moral family man, so in his new life he forms a family with them as well as his daughter Elly May. Jed is not a very educated man, but his wealth of common sense keeps the family’s new financial situation safe and his patience allows him to be a father figure to the bumbling Jethro.
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34. Black-ish
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Anthony Anderson as Andre “Dre” Johnson
Dre and his wife Bow are a successful Africa-American couple who are raising their five children in a predominantly white suburb. Dre struggles to ensure that his children understand their black heritage, and maintain a sense of that culture. Hilarity arises when he is caught between his own parents ideas of how his children should be raised, and his children’s more modern sense of identity.
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33. The Waltons
Image Credit: Lorimar TV/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock Ralph Waite as John Walton, Sr.
John works hard running a sawmill to put food on the table for his wife and seven children during the Depression and World War II. Times can be hard on Walton’s Mountain, as the family sometimes struggles to make ends meet, but John is determined to give his children opportunities he never had, such as graduating from college. He is straightforward and can be stern, but has a deep love and devotion for his family, strengthened by a loving commitment to his wife Olivia and an indestructible faith.
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32. I Love Lucy
Image Credit: CBS/Paramount Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo
One of the sweetest scenes in television history is when Lucy tells Ricky that she is expecting, and they dance and sing “We’re having a baby,” with Lucy tearing up and Ricky clearly overcome with emotion. He is the typical nervous new father, showing concern about his wife’s condition, and wonderment at the new life he is responsible for. As Little Ricky grows up and gets himself into typical little boy mischief, Ricky guides him to do the right thing. Ricky also teaches him about his Cuban heritage, which was groundbreaking television for the time, and encourages Little Ricky’s talent for playing drums, even allowing him to play alongside his band.
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31. This Is Us
Image Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson
Jack is devastated when one of his triplets is stillborn, but “turns lemons into lemonade” by agreeing to raise an abandoned child, who is African American, along with his two surviving children. Jack struggles with balancing satisfaction with his job with being able to provide for his family, leading to a struggle with alcoholism. However, Jack is determined to be a better father than his own was, and straightens himself out so that he can be present for his family. His love and devotion to his family is so profound that his loss continues to be felt decades later.
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30. Father Knows Best
Image Credit: Screen Gems/Kobal/Shutterstock Robert Young as Jim Anderson
Warm and kind, Jim Anderson is the epitome of the 1950s sitcom father. As the title of the series implies, whenever one of his three children has a problem, he is there to offer sage advice, teaching them timeless valuable life lessons, such as how to stand up to a bully, the value of contributing to their community and the importance of telling the truth.
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29. All in the Family
Image Credit: Snap/Shutterstock Carroll O’Connor as Archie Bunker
The clash between the older generation and the younger generation is played out between ultra-conservative Archie and his liberal daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Mike. Archie is an old-school hardworking man who is convinced that his way is the right way, but despite his gruffness, he clearly has a soft spot for his “little girl,” and even though he refers to him as “Meathead,” he tolerates Mike because Gloria loves him. When the pair move off, Archie shows that soft spot when he agrees to adopt a distant relative of Edith’s, becoming a dad to a young girl again well into his middle age.
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28. Growing Pains
Image Credit: Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Alan Thicke as Dr. Jason Seaver
The idea of a stay-at-home dad was still unusual in the 1980s, but that is exactly what this psychiatrist does so that his wife can go back to work. He makes working out of your home while raising four very different children, from a newborn to a mischievous teenager, look easy. He can go from goofy cardigan-wearing dad to cool understanding dad in a heartbeat, and the show of fan love at Thicke’s sudden passing in 2016 is a testament to his enduring appeal.
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27. Leave It to Beaver
Image Credit: Abc/Kobal/Shutterstock Hugh Beaumont as Ward Cleaver
Nearly 60 years after the airing of the final episode, Beaver and Wally’s dad is perhaps the most enduring paternal icon of the idyllic 1950’s sitcoms. Ward is married to his childhood sweetheart, has a good job and two boys who get into the occasional mischief, but are mostly good kids. When they have a dilemma or do get into that occasional bit of trouble, they know they can rely on their dad for advice; there are times he helps them out as well, but he knows when they need to be disciplined, and he and June work together to raise morally upright young men.
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26. Veronica Mars
Image Credit: Greg Gayne/Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Enrico Colantoni as Keith Mars
His daughter’s best friend is murdered, and Keith loses his job as sheriff as result of his investigation. Veronica becomes an outcast at her school and her mom leaves, making Keith a single dad to a teenager going through a life crisis. The bond between father and daughter is central to the show, and Keith lets Veronica have a little bit more freedom than most teenagers and the two can get snarky with each other. However, he has instilled a strong sense of integrity and honesty into his only child, leading her to be more mature and responsible than most kids her age.
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25. George Lopez
Image Credit: Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock George Lopez as George Lopez
Loosely based on his own life, George Lopez is a hardworking man trying to provide for his wife and two kids. His own childhood was dysfunctional, with an alcoholic mother who has lied and told him his father died when he was a baby. He and his mother have a somewhat contentious relationship, lobbing insults back and forth; he is determined to be a better parent and does all he can to connect with his children and protect them, and proudly teaches them their Mexican heritage and culture.
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24. Family Ties
Image Credit: Ubu Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock Michael Gross as Steven Keaton
As liberals and former hippies raising their children in the Reagan-era ’80s, Steven and his wife Elyse are often exasperated by the materialism and conservatism of Alex, Mallory and Jennifer. In our world today, the political divide is so contentious; even though Steven doesn’t always agree with his children, the soft-spoken, laidback dad teaches them to form their own opinions, and, more importantly, to respect differences. We could learn a lot from this ’80s sitcom family.
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23. That 70’s Show
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman
In this politically correct world, calling your son “dumba**” wouldn’t fly. However, this is the 1970s, and Red is hard on Eric to toughen him up, but oddly has blinders on when it comes to his trampy daughter Laurie. He seeks peace and quiet, but to his irritation, his home is always filled with teenagers. No matter how grumpy he gets, and how stern he is with the kids, Red bonds with them all at some point, occasionally shows Eric some love and even opens his home to Hyde, becoming a father figure to him.
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22. Married with Children
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures/Embassy Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock Ed O’Neill as Al Bundy
He was a football star in his glory days of high school; now he’s married to a wife who spends what little money he makes and father to a trampy daughter and goofy son. He really just wants a beer and to watch a good game on TV, but when his family needs him, he stands by them and teaches them not only the value of a dollar, but also that nobody hands them out for nothing.
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21. Malcolm in the Middle
Image Credit: Saeed Adyani/20th Century Fox Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Bryan Cranston as Hal
Hal is completely devoted to his wife Lois, and they frequently share their mutual love and passion for each other, resulting in a houseful of rambunctious boys. The befuddled father wisely leaves most decisions up to his wife, as his immaturity usually leads to disaster; however, his easygoing persona is a cooling balm to Lois’s more abrasive personality. He does discipline on occasion, but is more often up for some sort of adventure with his boys (usually behind Lois’s back), or helps them out when he knows Lois will come down hard on them.
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20. Make Room for Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show
Image Credit: Marterto Prods./Kobal/REX/Shutterstock Danny Thomas as Danny Williams
In its 11-year run, this show went through a name change, a network change and cast changes. As a result, Danny evolves from a successful and busy nightclub entertainer whose wife is the primary caregiver to their two children, to a widower who has to balance his work with being a single dad, to a remarried man and adoptive father to his new wife’s little girl. Throughout it all, Danny manages to balance his life as an entertainer on the road with being a loving dad to his children. In real life, Thomas was a champion for children, founding St. Jude Children’s Hospital in 1962.
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19. Family Guy
Image Credit: Courtesy of FOX Seth MacFarlane as Peter Griffin
His dog and infant son are smarter than he is, he’s not very nice to his daughter, he has trouble relating to his son and his wife is inevitably right almost all the time. Oh, and he can barely keep a job. However, he does manage to provide a decent lifestyle for his family, and he manages to be there for them in truly difficult times. If he would just listen to Lois, things would likely be more normal. . . but not nearly as funny.
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18. Bonanza
Image Credit: Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
In the pioneering days of the Old West, Ben has been widowed three times, and each wife blessed him with a son. He takes great pride in his ranch, The Ponderosa, raising his sons to follow in his footsteps, and watching both his business and his family prosper. He is a formidable man, who is stern with his sons, but also very loving.
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17. Frasier
Image Credit: Davis Factor/Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock John Mahoney as Martin Crane
The down-to-earth retired cop couldn’t be more different from his two culturally refined psychiatrist sons, which has caused rifts in the past. However, although he tends to be cranky and has a hard time showing his feelings, Martin truly loves his sons – even more than he loves his ratty old recliner and his sweet pup Eddy.
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16. Schitt’s Creek
Image Credit: Courtesy of Pop TV Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose
As the patriarch of a family that suddenly goes from riches to less-than-rags, Johnny is the voice of reason in a chaotic situation. His wife and two children (one of whom is portrayed by Levy’s real-life son Dan) are extremely self-absorbed; however, both Alexis and David deal with their new situation with aplomb, eventually finding jobs and earning their own way and contributing to the family despite having been spoiled all their lives.
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15. Riverdale
Image Credit: Courtesy of the CW Luke Perry as Fred Andrews
There are so many strange and immoral happenings surrounding the citizens of Riverdale that it’s easy for a teenager to be led astray, and Archie is fortunate to have Fred to act as his moral compass. Fred is not perfect, but he has learned from his mistakes, and is raising his son to do the right thing and to make levelheaded decisions. It is absolutely heart-wrenching when Archie loses the man to whom he looks up.
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14. Little House on the Prairie
Image Credit: Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls
Who couldn’t love “Pa?” In the harshest of Minnesota winters, he works two backbreaking jobs (farming and mill working) and is the only male in a small house full of females. But Pa is quick with his robust laugh, always ready with words of wisdom and willing to play a lively tune on his fiddle anytime. And, despite modest means, he has enough room in his heart to adopt three more children later in life.
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13. Sanford and Son
Image Credit: Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Redd Foxx as Fred G. Sanford
He calls his son Lamont the “big dummy” and fakes heart attacks if Lamont threatens to leave the business. The two run their junkyard business together, but are usually at odds about something and often trade insults. Their somewhat contentious relationship leads Lamont to leave at times; however, he always comes back as the two are truly close and have each other’s backs.
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12. Modern Family
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy
Using his skills “peerenting,” Phil humorously attempts to strike a balance between being a friend to his children and being an effective parent. He’s crazy goofy, and more often than not ends up embarrassing his kids. However, those kids are grown now, and know they can still depend on him, proving your kids are never too old to parent and embarrass.
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11. Everybody Loves Raymond
Image Credit: Robert Voets/Hbo/Worldwide Pants Inc/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock Ray Romano as Ray Barone
His mother is overbearing (and she lives next door – yikes!), and her babying leads him to be a somewhat lazy husband and father. However, throughout all the chaos with his own crazy parents and brother, Ray always keeps his sense of humor, making him a fun, laid back dad.
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10. The Simpsons
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson
“D’oh!” He may be a bumbling, lazy, dim-witted mess, and he may give in to bouts of anger by strangling his juvenile-delinquent son, but in the end he provides for his family, and when it really counts, he is there for his kids and his wife Marge. Despite his buffoonery, he loves his family, and has become one of the most recognized and lovable characters in the history of television.
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9. Seinfeld
Image Credit: Courtesy of Sony Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza
He’s loud. He’s irascible. He wears sneakers in the swimming pool. Out of 180 episodes, George’s dad only appears in 29, but he is one of the most memorable characters in television history. And he gave us the great holiday Festivus! RIP Jerry Stiller – you’re still keeping us laughing.
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8. Happy Days
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham
“Mr. C” is father to Richie, Joanie and Chuck (who disappeared mysteriously and hasn’t been heard from since Season One), a responsible business owner and a devoted family man. Kind and understanding, Mr. C is so approachable that even his kids’ friends ask him for advice, and he is always available for words of wisdom. Mr. C is the dad everyone would want – and he looks adorable in his Leopard Lodge fez.
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7. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC James Avery as Philip Banks
Since he’s a judge, “Uncle Phil” can be very strict, a little cheap and at times has a bit of a temper. But he is also kind and loving, welcoming his nephew Will into his home after he got into a bit of trouble, and raising him alongside his own three children.
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6. Roseanne
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC John Goodman as Dan Conner
After years of television dads being portrayed as either the sage givers of advice or goofballs who rely on their wives for childrearing, Dan came along as a relatable, down-to-earth guy who works hard to provide for his wife and children. Even though times can be tough sometimes, Dan has a ready smile, and is a good, strong role model for his children.
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5. The Brady Bunch
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Robert Reed as Mike Brady
Mike is already busy with three boys, but marries Carol and lovingly accepts her three daughters as his own. His household doubles in size, and Mike works hard as an architect to provide for his family. Despite being a busy man, he always has time to offer words of advice to his young children, and has a way of gently guiding them to see when they make a mistake, and teaches them to take responsibility for them.
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4. My Three Sons
Image Credit: Don Fedderson Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock Fred MacMurray as Steve Douglas
In one of the longest-running sitcoms in TV history, the affable MacMurray shines as the widowed father of three young boys. In its 12-year run, the boys inevitably grow up and marry (one even has triplets!), and Steve adopts Ernie, an orphaned friend of his youngest son, and eventually remarries, becoming stepdad to a young girl. The down-to-earth dad is involved enough in his kids’ lives to make sure they don’t get into any big trouble, but hangs back enough to let them learn from mistakes.
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3. Full House
Image Credit: Lorimar/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock Bob Saget as Danny Tanner
Left alone to raise three young daughters, Danny has his hands full. His brother-in-law and best friend move in to help, but sometimes they can be big kids themselves. You’d think Danny would be driven crazy in the chaotic house, especially with his obsession with cleanliness, but he keeps his sense of humor. It isn’t easy being both father and mother as his three young girls grow into young women, but he is always there to guide them and to offer advice.
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2. Home Improvement
Image Credit: Buena Vista Tv/Touchstone Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Tim Allen as Tim Taylor
He loves sports, tools and cars, which seemingly makes him the perfect guy to have three rambunctious sons who love to prank and to fight amongst themselves. Tim can be a bit of a smug know-it-all sometimes, but he also knows when to ask for advice (especially from his neighbor Wilson), and when to admit he’s goofed up. So popular is Allen as a dad he has had a second successful sitcom, “Last Man Standing,” in which he is father to three girls.
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1. The Andy Griffith Show
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor
The opening sequence each week told us all we needed to know about what a good dad Andy is. A widow and busy sheriff of his small hamlet, he takes time out to spend fishing with his young son, not only providing valuable bonding time, but teaching him life skills. Sure, Aunt Bee was there to help, but it is clear that Andy is a very involved dad, and is the one Opie comes to when he needs advice. Nearly 60 years after the show’s debut, Andy Taylor is still the TV dad to beat.
