Father’s Day is notable because fathers worldwide receive acknowledgment for their hard work, sacrifices, and commitments. Even though relationships become complicated with time, we hope our readers have at least one fond memory of their father or someone who fulfilled that essential role in their lives. While not as popular as Mother’s Day, we must take the time to thank the men who provide for their families and ensure their children grow into productive, functioning members of society.
Like our list ofbeloved TV Mothers for Mother’s Day, this list will honor Father’s Day by acknowledging some of our favorite onscreen patriarchs. We’ll base our choices on each TV dad’s aptitude for nurturing their children, how effectively they run their household, and their respective actor’s portrayals. With Father’s Day right around the corner, we invite you to get comfortable and enjoy our list of the most beloved TV fathers.
20Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
Debuting in 1999, FOX’sFamily Guyis one of the network’s most popular productions, as it spawned a series of spin-off shows and is still going strong twenty-four years later. Although compared to the pop culture sensationThe Simpsonsaround the time of its debut,Family Guyhas gone on to establish its legacy, and both shows have poked fun at each other over the years. The cutaways, crass humor, and wacky cast of characters are just a few things that have turnedFamily Guyinto the award-winning powerhouse that we know it as today.
Peter Griffin’s dim-witted personality is probably his defining characteristic, but he is also a genuinely thoughtful and loving family man. Even though he has acomplex relationship with his childrenMeg, Chris, and Stewie, Peter still works hard for the family and collaborates with Lois to ensure everyone has food and a roof over their heads.
19Robert “Bob” Belcher Jr. (Bob’s Burgers)
FOX’sBob’s Burgersis a beloved animated sitcom that debuted in January 2011. Known for its unique art style and long-running status,Bob’s Burgersrecently received a movie titledThe Bob’s Burgers Movieand was generally well-received by critics and audiences.
Like many of the father’s on our list, Bob is a simple man with relatively simple goals and aspirations. Bob owns a restaurant named after himself and wants his children to have a better life than the one he lived. Even though Bob is pessimistic and constantly behind on rent, he never gives up on his goals or family.
18George Jefferson (The Jeffersons)
CBS’sThe Jeffersonsaired from 1975-185 and was a successful spin-off of the beloved sitcomAll in the Family, which ran from 1971-1979. Known for its iconic theme song ‘Movin’ On Up,’ performed by the late, great Ja’net DuBois,The Jeffersonsfollowed the Jefferson family and their neighbors in their high-rise Manhattan apartment complex.The Jeffersonswere renowned for covering many important topics during its time, particularly issues stemming from race in America.
Although George was a successful businessman owning a chain of seven dry cleaning businesses, he was a perpetual schemer who thought he was smarter than everyone around him. Despite his unsavory business tactics, prejudices towards interracial couples, and chauvinist attitude, George cared about his family and especially looked out for his children. While the depictions of African American fathers on the small screen haveevolved through the years, George Jefferson was among the first to resonate with Black audiences due to his socioeconomic status, loyalty to his wife Weezy, and the wisdom he shared with his children.
17Carl Winslow (Family Matters)
ABC’sFamily Mattersdebuted on September 1989 and depicted the daily lives of the Winslow family, a middle-class African American family living in Chicago, Illinois. Although we’d forgive you for thinking the comedic nerd Steve Urkel was the protagonist, it was Chicago Police Department officer Carl Winslow who was the family’s breadwinner.
A proud man, Carl took his role as the self-proclaimed Big Kahuna very seriously and ensured everyone living under his roof did the same. Although a short-tempered man, especially with the consistently annoying Urkel, Carl always does what’s necessary to provide for them. He sets an example of the kind of man his son Eddie should be and the type of man his daughters Laura and Judy should aspire to date.
16Al Bundy (Married… with Children)
FOX’sMarried… with Childrendebuted in April 1987 and ran successfully until June 1997. The show received praise for its cast, humor, and depiction of a working-class American family. Although not as polished as other families on our list,Married… with Childrenwas such a success with audiences as it perfectly captured the financial struggles prevalent for most families in the late 1980s to the mid-90s. Instead of dramatizing the hardships,Married… with Childrenapproached them with comedy, thus offering audiences levity about stressful situations in their homes.
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Beloved actor Ed O’Neill plays Al Bundy, the misanthropic women’s shoe salesman and patriarch of the Bundy family. Al generally complains about his station in life, his marriage, and his children’s lack of ambition and success but adds a hint of humor to his complaints.
Despite his cynical outlook on life, Al is shown on multiple occasions standing up for his family whenever they’re disrespected or otherwise in times of crisis. O’Neill’s portrayal of Bundy would be one of many reasons he would later secure another patriarchal role in ABC’s wildly successfulModern Familyas Jay Pritchett.
15Red Forman (That ’70s Show)
FOX’sThat ’70s Showwas one of the most successful American sitcoms of the 1990s. Set in the fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin,That ’70s Show’s opening theme and characters were among some of the things that contributed to the show’s success. The show’steenage characters were the most popularof the cast, but Kitty and Red Forman, the older couple supervising the teens, were also well-received.
Red Forman was known for his strict demeanor and ever-present newspaper in hand. The father of Eric and Laurie, Red was known to show favoritism toward Laurie and often berated Eric, calling him things like “soft” and “dumb-ass.” Moreover, he tended to favor Hyde as he felt the young man was a better example of what a man circa 1970s suburbia was like.
Despite being harsh on Eric, Red admits to Kitty that he loves his son and only treats him harshly to help keep him on a straight path. As both men grow older, Red’s attitude toward Eric softens as he becomes proud of the young man’s growth and success, thus, in a strange way, somewhat justifying his tough-love approach to parenting.
14Hank Hill (King of the Hill)
Beavis and Butt-Headcreator Mike Judge created FOX’sKing of the Hillin 1997 to rave reviews and ratings.Hillis set in the fictional town of Arlen, Texas, and follows the daily lives of its residents, particularly the Hills. The proud propane and propane accessories salesman, Hank is one of Arlen’s most honest and hardest-working citizens, and he gets along well with just about anyone he meets. Despite his accomplished professional life, Hank struggleswith matters revolving around his family life. While Hank doesn’t always understand or agree with his young son Bobby’s interests, he generally supports Bobby and reassures him whenever he’s feeling depressed.
One of Hank’s hang-ups is his inability to show affection to those he cares about, as he thinks it is a sign of weakness. However, Peggy convinces him to talk to Bobby in the pilot when their son says he feels like a disappointment to the family. Despite himself, Hank genuinely assures Bobby that he’s one of the things he’s most proud of and loves him, and the two begin to bond shortly afterward. Hank is supposed to represent the idea of the all American family man, thus why he tends to struggle with technology and expressing himself. However, we see Hank rise above his issues multiple times to support his friends and family.
13Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
FOX’sThe Simpsonsis the longest-running animated sitcom, as it has been on our television screens since 1989 and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.The Simpsons’ popularity mainly comes fromits large cast and guest celebrity appearances. Of the show’s many characters inhabiting the neighborhood of Springfield, the Simpsons family is undoubtedly the most famous of the bunch. Marge’s gravelly voice and iconic tower of blue hair,Bart’s mischievous antics, Lisa’s know-it-all personality, and Maggie’s wisdom far beyond her years are just a few characteristics that make the family unique.
However, the patriarch, Homer Simpson, is the most bizarre member of the bunch. The dim-witted father of three is famous for his love of donuts, frequenting Moe’s Tavern, and his signature catchphrase, “D’oh!” While Homer is arguably the most recognizable entrant on our list, he isn’t the best dad as he is lazy, selfish, and has no problems strangling Bart whenever the two disagree. Despite his shortcomings as a father, he manages to hold a soft spot in most fans’ hearts because of his unwavering loyalty to his family. Even if he’s often the reason for the family’s troubles, he always stands by his family and never hesitates to defend them when necessary.
12Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
ABC’sModern Familyperformed well with critics and audiences and enjoyed a fruitful eleven-season run. The twenty-two Primetime Emmy award-winning mockumentary boasted an all-star cast of some of TV’s finest actors, well-written jokes, and unique depictions of stereotypical television archetypes. Speaking of archetypes, critics praised Ty Burrell for his portrayal of father and husband Phil Dunphy, a real estate agent and father of three. Whereas most onscreen father figures are dopey and ineffective, Burrell brings a sensitivity and authenticity rarely seen to his character. Phil is shown on multiple occasions throughout the show to be competitive and geeky, but he is also an honest, sincere, and caring family man.
11Andre “Dre” Johnson (Black-ish)
ABC’sBlack-ishran for eight seasons between 2014-2022 and received generally favorable reviews from audiences and critics. Created by Kenya Barris,Black-ishand itsvarious spin-off seriestactfully tackle the many issues of race that African Americans face in the United States from people inside and outside of the Black community. The Primetime Emmy Award-winning sitcom follows the lives of the Johnson family, an upper-middle-class African American family living in an affluent, predominantly White suburb, and the challenges associated with their station in life.
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A self-proclaimed alpha male, Dre Johnson is a successful advertising executive who wants to ensure his children understand and appreciate their culture despite their socioeconomic status. Despite Dre’s brash personality and borderline arrogance, he genuinely cares about his family, works hard, and emphasizes to his children the importance of self-love and respect for their culture.
