Once upon a time, not so long ago, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) held the number one ‘TV dad’ spot on Father’s Day lists worldwide.
Sure, sure, Cosby and Cliff are two different men, but the lesson is the same. It’s no longer enough to simply be present, crack jokes, and serve the kids Jell-O.
The time has come to hold our TV fathers to a higher standard. Out with the old and in with the new… Here are TV’s Most Heavenly Fathers of this millennium.
David Nolan Charming, Once Upon a Time
David Nolan (Josh Dallas) is techically Prince Charming, but considers himself a Prince of the people. A man like any other with feelings and emotions, he has both a kingdom to run and a family to protect.
A staunch beliver in happily ever after with an epic love for Snow White, he defends and sacrifices for his family at all costs — literally making him the prince of dads.
Louis Huang, Fresh Off the Boat
Father, Louis Hang (Randall Park) leads his Taiwanese family as they make their way in America during the 1990s. While his wife and three children have trouble fitting into their new Floridian community — which is essentially absent of an Asian population — dad is hell bent on making his new Cowboy-themed steak restaurant a success.
Louis is not giving up on the family’s new life in Orlando no matter how (hilariously) tortured his family is by their new address. This father is determined to provide his wife and children with the opportunity he never had — to live the American Dream.
Richard Castle, Castle
The only thing more honorable than a man who’s a fabulous father, is one who’s an amazing son as well. Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) has been sole custodian of his daughter, Alexis, ever since his wife cheated, divorced him, and ran off for a more exciting life.
Yet after his mother is swindled out of her life’s savings, he also rescues her and moves mom in with him.
When it comes to Alexis, Castle’s love knows no bounds. He’s done everything from mercilessly torturing those who harm her, to making Alexis his ‘Best Man’ when he remarries. Castle does everything for his child, because she is, without question, “the most important person in his life.”
Rogelio de la Vega, Jane the Virgin
He may have missed Jane’s early years, but as soon as soon as Rogelio de la Vega (Jaime Camile) discovers he’s Jane’s biological father, he totally makes up for lost time.
The famous telenovela star supports Jane’s relationships and pregnancies — no matter how they come to be, or where they may go. Though rather self-obsessed, Rogelio has been a dream dad to Jane from the get-go — even when suddenly being a father was virgin territory.
Andre Johnson, black-ish
It’s anything but easy to establish a true sense of cultural identity while bringing up African American children in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood. Yet Andre Johnson (Anthony Anderson) is determined to make it work.
He wants his family to have a happy, modern life — based on equality and chock-full of opportunity. t’s not all so serious though, as Andre is one of, if not THE funniest dad on network television today!
Fred Andrews, Riverdale
While the rest of the parents in Riverdale are hiding scandalous family secrets from their children, Fred Andrews (Luke Perry) takes the moral high ground. Focused on his son, Archie, while guiding him through high school, Fred would do anything for his son — even take a bullet for him.
Danny, Jesse, and Joey, Fuller House
In Fuller House, the parental village it took to raise the Tanner kids is back with a vengeance, taking the Tanner home up a notch — with even more love and fun than when it was just plain “Full.”
Little Michelle is nowhere to be seen of course, as the Olsen twins have long since moved onwards and arguably upwards, but the fatherly trio of Danny, Jesse, and Joey has returned to the San Francisco house, with a whole new generation of kids to raise.
And with the boys’ fatherly band back together, their music (and their house) has never been more energetic, or more entertaining.
Michael Bluth, Arrested Development
Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) may be a lite neurotic, but what’s sexier than a dad willing to do anything for his family? To keep his selfish booze hound relatives in line, he often plays the party pooper … but without Michael keeping everyone out of trouble — there’d be no party on which to poop.
Joe West, The Flash
Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) is a God among men in the Arrowverse. Completely dedicated to his three children, Joe makes sure his crime-fighting offspring always know they’re loved. Sweet as sugar, but vicious as necessary, he’ll lovingly have a good cry with his kids, but just as easily shoot anyone who dares threaten them.
Seeley Booth, Bones
Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) is a doting dad who spends as much time as possible with his son, Parker. He is proof that a man can learn who NOT to be from his own father. Growing up in a household of violence and hatred, Booth is determined to be the exact opposite of his abusive father — often overly protective to ensure his family’s safety.
Sandy Cohen, The O.C.
Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher) is a public defender who takes the case of car thief, Ryan Atwood, and ends up as his legal guardian, in addition to his biological son Seth. In the second season, Sandy also allows Ryan’s biological brother, Trey to join the family.
The ultimste idealistic do-gooder, Sandy loves, protects, and defends his sons no matter how badly they screw up, while doling out romantic advice and that crucial first -time sex talk over the perfect spread of Bagels and Lox.
Ray Donovan, Ray Donovan
Ray Donovan (Liev Schreiber) can be a very, very bad man, yet still be one hell of a husband and father. There’s no other force quite like Ray in terms of the power and respect he commands, and the passion and protection he provides. Donovan may not always be around when his wife and kids want him, but he’s always there when they need him.
Dale Bishop, Siren
As both the local Sheriff in Bristol Cove and Maddie Bishop’s step-father, Dale Bishop (Gil Birmingham) faces a difficult decision. When Maddie confides in her dad that her friend, Ryn is indeed a mermaid who may have done the town dirty, she is nonetheless released from questioning.
Dale’s decision to release Ryn may not necessarily have been the right call as Bristol Cove’s sheriff, but it is definitely the right — and most loving move as Maddie’s step-daddy.
Adam Braverman and Joel Graham, Parenthood
Adam Braverman (Peter Krause) and Joel Graham (Sam Jaeger) are both stellar fathers under the big Braverman family umbrella.
The oldest child of Zeek and Camille Braverman, Adam has three children of his own, while often playing dad to his siblings and even parents in times of crisis.
Adam’s standout father moments include basically EVERYTHING he does for Max, who’s challenged with Asperger’s — from their meant-to-be-fun father-son adventures out to the amusement park and into the ocean — to Adam punching a man when he calls Max a “retard.”
Adam also barely even flinches when daughter, Haddie brings her first ever girlfriend home from college. Though I guess it’s all relative, considering the loser dudes she dated in high school.
Julia’s husband, Joel struggles with his role as a stay-at-home dad, but is super-supportive of his wife’s career and loves being a father. It seems easy with their daughter, Sidney, but Joel struggles to relate to their adopted, rather difficult son, Victor — straining their marriage.
Yet Joel’s an amazing man, insisting he and Julia stay the course. And in the end, both their relationship and their parenthood prevail.
Jay, Phil, Cam, and Mitchell, Modern Family
The patriarch of the Pritchett clan,Jay (Ed O’Neil) is proof that a fabulous father often sets the stage for his offspring to both be — and choose — stellar partners themselves.
Jay’s daughter, Claire, is married to Phil Dumphy (Ty Burrell), the (self -proclaimed, but not far from it) coolest dad ever to his three kids — daughters Hayley and Alex, and son, Luke.
That leaves Jay’s son, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson)and his partner, Cam (Eric Stonestreet) to be the most neurotic but loving parental tag team ever to raise their adopted baby girl, Lily, into a confident, sassy and hilarious young woman.
The Pritchett men might just be the best example of stellar fathers breeding the next generation of exemplary men, if not for this next guy…
Jack Pearson, This Is Us
Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) isn’t perfect, but that’s what makes him seem so real. Put aside his drinking problem and what you’ve got left is a truly amazing man and father to his three children — Kevin, Kate and Randall.
Proof that excellent fathers raise sons that grow up to be stellar dads themselves? Jack’s son, Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown), is an EPIC father to Annie,Tess, and foster dad to Deja.
With the help of his amazing wife Beth, Randall’s family may just be the brightest (and cutest) on television.
Surely Jack couldn’t be prouder as he watches Randall from up in heaven, and sees what an incredible husband and father his little boy has become.
Coach Eric Taylor, Friday Night Lights
Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) is not only a beautiful man inside and out, he’s a wonderful husband and dad to his wife and kids.
Coach Taylor is also the father figure to many of his football players who never had dads of their own.
He motivates, appreciates, and rarely dissapoints those who look up to him, cultivating both his children and his players into winners.
With a father figure like Coach Eric Taylor, even without clear eyes and full hearts, you likely couldn’t lose.
