He’s not like regular dads: he’s a TV dad! But with so many great father figures on television out there, we wanted to know who is the best TV dad? And let me tell you, these answers didn’t disappoint.
Of course, there are so many TV dads out there, so it’s hard to do justice to all of them on a shortlist. That being said, I challenge you to disagree with any of these TV dads being anything less than top-tier!
1. Bandit Heeler (Bluey)
Starting out strong with probably the most well-rounded TV dad out there. If you don’t have young kids, you can be forgiven for not knowing anything about Bluey’s dad, Bandit. First of all, I just love that he’s an archeologist who digs up bones (get it). So funny. Second, though, he’s a great dad because he’s imperfect. Third, and most importantly, he spends a lot of quality time with his kids.
Totally relatable, Bandit Heeler makes us all feel seen as dads with young kids. And that, my friends, makes him the best TV dad.
2. Uncle Iroh (Avatar the Last Airbender)
Not technically the main character’s dad, yes, but that’s the very reason Uncle Iroh is a great father! After losing his own son tragically, Uncle Iroh took it upon himself to raise his nephew – bestowing him with both training and wisdom.
A fan included this quote, which sums up Uncle Iroh’s parenting style: “I was never angry with you. I was sad because I was afraid you had lost your way.”
3. Bob Belcher (Bob’s Burgers)
As a parent, I relate to Bob Belcher so much, especially since my 3 oldest kids remind me a lot of his trio. Bob is a great dad in so many ways: he cares about his kids, shows love and affection, and tries his best to guide them through life. Despite being imperfect, it’s the “do anything for your kids” attitude Bob has that makes him such an amazing TV dad.
“He learned all of the Equestranauts lore and then infiltrated a brony convention— in costume— just to get Tina’s pony doll back,” someone explained.
4. Gomez Addams (The Addams Family)
Folks mentioned him from the original Addams Family show, but I think he’s great in the movies and Wednesday too. I couldn’t put things better than the fan who suggested him, though. Here’s what they said:
“A devoted and passionate spouse. A loving and supportive father. Cheerful, creative, and energetic. Never a bad word for anyone that I can recall.”
5. Alan Matthews (Boy Meets World)
Throwing things back here! Do you remember this sitcom from the 90s? Well, Alan Matthews is the main character’s dad in the show and is considered to be the best TV dad by so many! What makes Alan so great is that he’s realistic. He makes mistakes (and owns up to them), doesn’t have a fancy job, and has to work hard.
6. Hal (Malcolm in the Middle)
I can’t agree with this one more! Hal is definitely up there as one of the best fathers on TV. Just think of all the things he puts up with when it comes to his boys! One aspect that really sets him apart, though, is the way he approaches so many situations with love and kindness.
Now, if you watch the show, he definitely makes a lot of mistakes – but he really tries, and that matters.
7. Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb)
Having great father figures in kids’ shows is super important, and this is another example where extra care went into a TV dad’s writing. What’s fun about Dr. Heinz is that he’s also evil. Despite that, he’s still a great dad to his daughter.
8. Uncle Phil (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
Another father figure replacing a dad, Uncle Phil became something akin to a dad to Will after he moves in with them at the start of the show. Since Will’s biological dad was never present in his life, his uncle served as that guide to help him learn and grow.
9. Dan Conner (Roseanne)
One thing a few folks said about Dan Conner is that he reminded them of their own dad, and I completely agree. While we might expect men to be capable and well-rounded now, when Roseanne came out, Dan’s even composure (even when angry with his kids) and domestic contribution set him apart from other dads on TV at the time.
10. Danny Tanner (Full House)
It could be easy to say Danny gets praise for doing something that a woman would be expected to, but any fan of Full House knows that Bob Sagat’s character stepped up far beyond the bare minimum. Honorable mention here: Jesse and Joey, who also help out.
11. Jack Pearson (This Is Us)
Jack Pearson is, in my opinion, an immaculately written TV dad, and I was so glad to see others felt the same. On the surface, he really is the perfect dad: super involved with his kids, worked incredibly hard to give them a good life, and took the time to install certain qualities in each triplet individually.
Beyond that, though, you have a character who struggled with PTSD from the Vietnam War and childhood abuse, alcoholism, and anger issues. Yes, these make him a worse dad and husband, but you also get a feel for how much generational healing is happening with Jack, something we don’t see often in TV series.
Others also suggested Randall Pearson, so I’ll leave that here too.
12. Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
This is another TV dad that stands out for breaking down stereotypes. Super lame (but working so hard to be cool), Phil is always trying his best when it comes to his family. He also strives to understand and connect with his daughters. Despite the silly side, Phil steps up when he has to – making a well-rounded, praise-worthy dad.
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Everett
Everett has been writing about media, technology, and parenting since 2014. His work has been featured on MIT Technology Review, HuffPost, and various blogs. When not writing or binge watching TV shows, you'll find him playing video games or spending with with his kids.