Fathers often don’t get enough recognition for their hard work and commitment, so in honor of this upcoming Father’s Day, we decided to give a shout out to all the fathers out there, who are doing their best, with our all-time favorite TV dads. These dads didn’t raise us, but we grew up with them, and they were always there to show us what true love looks like. If you don’t yet have anything planned for Father’s Day, we hope this nostalgic list would inspire you to come up with something that would make your dad happy.
Red Forman, That 70’s Show
This might seem like an odd choice, but here’s why it isn’t: in a show that revolves around the lives of six teenagers in the seventies, Red is almost the only father figure around, and essentially, he functions as a father figure to his son Eric, as well as all his friends, who are all lacking a dominant father figure. Despite his constant rants and his tough love, he truly cares about his “dumbass” son and his friends.
Phil Dunphy, Modern Family
Phil Dunphy is the classic “cool dad” – the good cop, the father who tries to be friends with his children, the father who’s young at heart, and the opposite of ‘cool’ according to his children, and that’s what makes him so lovable. Dunphy deserves a place of honors on this list just for coining the term, “peerenting,” a genius combination of the words ‘parenting’ and ‘peer’, which embodies the essence of being a “cool dad.”
Ned Stark, Game of Thrones
Although his appearance on the show was too short, Ned Stark has made an impact on all fans out there. Again, although his character died in the first season, his character is established as the most (and perhaps the only) honorable man in the seven kingdoms. He is a man of values, which he teaches his children; he believes in loyalty and kindness, and he seeks justice. Throughout the show, you can see his children have all received hose qualities from their father, which is why House Stark is everyone’s favorite house.
Zeek Braverman, Parenthood
Zeek Braverman is the chief of the tribe, and you can’t not love the chief of the tribe. Some people might argue that Adam is the best father figure in the show, but everything Adam knows, he’s learned from Zeek (in a way). Zeek somewhat reminds us of Red Forman, int hat he is a tough, but loving father. Much like Red Forman, despite his tough exterior, he secretly loves and appreciates his kids. Perhaps most importantly, Zeek acknowledges his mistakes, which makes him a forgiving man.
Jack Pearson, This is Us
You can’t help but admire Jack Pearson, because despite his shortcomings (we all have them), he never gave up and did the best for his children. Of course, his tragic death might cloud our judgement, but so what? That’s all part of his character. Despite battling alcoholism and the memories of an abusive childhood, Jack was determined to have kids and be the best father he knew he could be, always putting his children’s happiness first – and that’s what parenthood is all about.
Gomez Addams, The Addams Family
The Addams family isn’t your average family, and Gomez Addams isn’t your average father. Gomez is an old fashioned man and an old fashioned father, and one thing we like most about him is his dedication to his character. from the pencil mustache to the luxurious cigars. As to his parenting methods, you can tell he puts his children’s happiness first, but he also allows Wednesday and Pugsley the necessary freedom and independence to grow and discover who they are.
Ross Geller, Friends
It’s not easy being a single dad, and Ross Geller (arguably the star of the show) deserves major credit for doing the best he can under the circumstances. This might not be a popular choice, but if you ask us, he’s the portrayal of every dorky father out there – the one who’s trying to get his children interested in boring things, such as dinosaurs or traditional holidays. Besides, there’s something extremely relatable about his clumsy character.