MY 10 FAVORITE TV DADS OF ALL TIME

Father’s Day is almost here, and while I recently honored the worst of the worst in my list of Favorite Bad Movie Dads—a twisted tribute to cinema’s most dysfunctional, dangerous, and deranged paternal figures—this time, I’m flipping the script. When it comes to television, I’m giving the good guys their due.

That’s right. In the world of TV, I’m looking at the best of the best. My favorite TV dads of all time. These are the guys who, in one way or another, did it right. Now, let’s be clear—not all of them are perfect.

Some are flawed. Some are weird. Some make mistakes, say the wrong thing, or completely screw up. But that’s part of what makes them great. They feel real. They’re complex. They’re human.

Sure, we all know the all-time classics—Andy Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show, Howard Cunningham from Happy Days, Mike Brady from The Brady Bunch, and those iconic mid-century sitcom staples like Steve Douglas from My Three Sons or Danny Thomas from Make Room for Daddy.

Then there’s Tim Taylor from Home Improvement, Dan Conner from Roseanne, and countless others who helped define the archetype of the lovable, well-meaning (and sometimes clueless) TV dad.

But my list? My list goes a little deeper.

These are the TV dads I’ve loved watching the most—some are unconventional, some are deeply flawed, but all of them are memorable, entertaining, and, in their own way, truly great dads. They might not be picture-perfect. They might not always have the best advice.

But they show up, they care, they love their kids (even if they express it in the most hilariously awkward ways), and they make their shows better by being there.

So, in honor of Father’s Day, I’ve ranked my top 10 favorite TV dads of all time—from the heartfelt to the hilarious, the heartfelt to the half-crazy. These guys matter. These are the dads I admire, the ones that made me laugh, made me think, and made television a better place to hang out.

Let’s give the good ones some love. Starting now.

THE TOP 10 BEST TV DADS OF ALL TIME (in order of preference):

1. FRED G. SANFORD – SANFORD AND SON

Portrayed by: Redd Foxx

Fred G. Sanford isn’t just my favorite TV dad—he’s one of my favorite characters in all of television history. Redd Foxx created an unforgettable, razor-sharp, hysterical character who ran a junkyard with his son Lamont (played by Demond Wilson) and filled every single episode with laughs, insults, and pure brilliance.

Whether he was yelling “You big dummy!”, clutching his chest for the famous “Elizabeth, I’m comin’!”, or trading barbs with the incomparable Aunt Esther, Fred was always the heart of the show. Created by Norman Lear as the Black counterpart to Archie Bunker, Fred Sanford was street-smart, deeply flawed, and often politically incorrect—but always hilarious and never dull. One of the all-time greats, period.

2. FRANK COSTANZA – SEINFELD

Portrayed by: Jerry Stiller

Every time Frank Costanza showed up on Seinfeld, you knew it was going to be a classic episode. Jerry Stiller’s explosive, tightly-wound performance as George’s dad was one of the biggest comedic highlights of the show’s later seasons. Serenity now? You bet.

From inventing Festivus to hoarding old TV Guides, Frank was a blueprint for the loud, unfiltered, New York dad. He was completely ridiculous, often furious, and somehow still lovable. A true sitcom icon who made dysfunction fun to watch.

3. AL BUNDY – MARRIED… WITH CHILDREN

Portrayed by: Ed O’Neill

On paper, Al Bundy is a terrible dad. He’s lazy, broke, bitter, hates his job, insults his family, and lives in a world of constant disappointment. But that was exactly the point of Married… with Children. It was a pitch-black, sharp-toothed satire of squeaky-clean family sitcoms—and Al Bundy was the hilarious anti-hero at its center.

Ed O’Neill was perfection in the role. And for all his complaining, Al always came through for his family when it counted. He might be a self-described loser, but he’s a comedy legend and one of the funniest, most oddly endearing dads in TV history.

4. MARTIN CRANE – FRASIER

Portrayed by: John Mahoney

Martin Crane brought balance, warmth, and grounded realism to Frasier. A retired cop and proud army vet, Martin was the blue-collar counterpoint to his pretentious, wine-swirling sons Frasier and Niles. And he brought them (and the show) back down to earth every time they flew too close to the sun.

John Mahoney’s performance was subtle, dry, and always sincere. Whether it was his beat-up recliner, his dog Eddie, or his quiet wisdom, Martin was the soul of the show—and a perfect representation of a strong, steady, loving father.

5. ARCHIE BUNKER – ALL IN THE FAMILY

Portrayed by: Carroll O’Connor

Archie Bunker is one of the most important and iconic characters in television history. A deeply flawed man with outdated, often offensive views, Archie was also a devoted husband, a loving (if stubborn) father, and—thanks to Carroll O’Connor’s genius performance—a surprisingly sympathetic character.

He butted heads with everyone, especially his son-in-law “Meathead,” and made his thoughts known whether you wanted to hear them or not. But under all the bluster was a man who loved his family and just wanted to hold onto a world he didn’t understand anymore. Archie Bunker redefined what a TV dad could be.

6. HOMER SIMPSON – THE SIMPSONS

Voiced by: Dan Castellaneta

Yes, Homer Simpson is lazy. Yes, he drinks too much. Yes, he strangles Bart at least once an episode. But at his core? Homer is a loving, loyal, devoted dad who would do anything for his family—even if he usually screws it up first.

From 1991 to about 1997, The Simpsons was the smartest and funniest show on television, and during that time, Homer was the emotional and comedic center of it all. He’s an everyman, a buffoon, a heart, and a legend. Flawed, yes—but undeniably one of the all-time greats.

7. JOSEPH “ROCKY” ROCKFORD – THE ROCKFORD FILES

Portrayed by: Noah Beery Jr.

Rocky Rockford, the semi-retired trucker and occasional scam artist, was the perfect counterbalance to his son Jim’s cynical private eye antics. Played by Noah Beery Jr., Rocky was always getting wrapped up in the latest caper—usually against his will—and always trying to talk his son out of danger (even though it never worked).

He was funny, warm, and always around to offer a little wisdom (or a sarcastic jab). Their banter was a highlight of the show, and the chemistry between Beery and James Garner was magic. Rocky may not have been the most conventional dad, but he was one of the most charming.

8. ANDRE “DRE” JOHNSON – BLACK-ISH

Portrayed by: Anthony Anderson

Dre Johnson is a modern sitcom dad who reflects both classic tradition and 21st-century reality. He’s loud, stubborn, a little over-the-top—and absolutely devoted to his family. Black-ish tackled issues of race, class, and identity, and at its heart was Dre trying to navigate fatherhood in a world very different from the one he came from.

Anthony Anderson brought heart, humor, and complexity to the role. He’s a TV dad who speaks uncomfortable truths, stands up for what he believes in, and never forgets his roots. Funny, flawed, and fully realized, Dre Johnson is one of the best modern TV fathers out there.

9. KEITH MARS – VERONICA MARS

Portrayed by: Enrico Colantoni

One of the best father-daughter relationships in TV history belongs to Keith and Veronica Mars. A former sheriff turned private investigator, Keith made sacrifices to protect his daughter, support her sleuthing, and keep her safe—even when it put him at risk.

Their bond was deep, loving, and built on trust, sarcasm, and shared late-night stakeouts. Enrico Colantoni’s performance was heartfelt and sharp, and his chemistry with Kristen Bell made their dynamic unforgettable. Keith Mars is a reminder that great TV dads come in all genres—even noir teen mysteries.

10. BEN CARTWRIGHT – BONANZA

Portrayed by: Lorne Greene

No list of great TV dads would be complete without at least one classic, and for me, that’s Ben Cartwright. Patriarch of the Bonanza clan, Ben was wise, fair, and strong—the moral center of the Ponderosa Ranch and the anchor for his three sons: Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe.

Lorne Greene’s performance defines old-school TV fatherhood. He represents the values of early television: honor, respect, discipline, and love. Ben Cartwright is the blueprint for generations of family men that followed—and the perfect close for this list.

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So there you have it—my 10 favorite TV dads of all time, ranked by preference, memory, and love. Some were hilarious, some were heartfelt, and some were deeply flawed. But they all had one thing in common: they made their shows better by just being there. Whether they were sitting in a beat-up recliner like Martin Crane, screaming “Serenity now!” like Frank Costanza, or running a junkyard while calling their kid a big dummy like Fred G. Sanford—these guys mattered.

TV dads have always reflected where we were as a culture. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, they were stoic, wise, and pipe-smoking. In the ‘70s, they got more complex. By the ‘80s and ‘90s, they were cracking jokes and fumbling their way through changing times. And in the 2000s and beyond, they became something even more interesting—multilayered, self-aware, and reflective of the world we actually live in.

These are the fathers I grew up watching, admiring, laughing at, or—let’s be honest—sometimes seeing a little too much of myself in. They’re not perfect, but that’s what makes them great. They made us laugh. They made us think. And, occasionally, they reminded us to maybe cut our own dads some slack.

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