Top 10 TV Dads of All Time

[Zoneboy]

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With Father’s Day just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to take a nostalgic look back at our favorite TV dads. Just like in real life, the roles and responsibilities of fatherhood have dramatically changed with the times. Gone are the days when dads went to work, then came home to an adoring wife in pearls and heels, a pitcher of dry martinis and a full dinner on the table. Today’s TV dads are more well-rounded and have softer edges. They chip in with the household chores, and even become the main caregiver when their wife returns to work. However, some things never change, like the love they show for their TV children. Here is a list of my Top 10 TV Dads of All Time:

1.Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) – Cosby Show – Cliff Huxtable was the king of bad jokes, and he loved to embarrass his kids and long-suffering wife, Claire. Yet he was also warm and loving, and always doled out the best advice when asked for it. Here was one TV dad would go to bat for his kids.


2.Howard Cunningham (Tom Bosley) – Happy Days – Despite his ultra conservative appearance and sensible demeanor, Mr. C was a square dad who was secretly cool. Who else would allow greaser bad boy Fonzie live above his garage? The cardigan-wearing dad was often frisky with wife Marion, proving that some things never change with men.


3.Mike Brady (Robert Reed) – The Brady Bunch – Who didn’t want to hang out with the Brady kids and be adopted by Mike and Carol Brady? As experts in blended families, they always managed to lend an ear and provide lots of support to their six children. Mike Brady balanced career and family with finesse and aplomb, and his threads were “groovy” to match his effervescent personality. I agree with Marcia, Mike Brady is the best dad in the whole world.


4.Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) – Little House on the Prairie – Charles wins the award for “salt of the earth dad.” He could work his fingers to the bone on the farm, get come in to share a laugh and some wise advice with his daughters. He was the rock that provided his family with strength and spirit to survive even the worst frontier crises.


5.Ward Cleaver (Hugh Beaumont) – Leave It to Beaver - Ward was a stern disciplinarian when he needed to be but was surprisingly in touch with his sensitive side for a '50s father. He taught sons Wally and Beaver life lessons and even learned a few himself with the help of wife June. Kids today need more dads like Ward.


6.Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) – The Andy Griffith Show – Soft-spoken was a teddy bear with son Opie, but when it came to running the town, this sheriff dad was no pushover. He was tough on the outside, and soft on the inside. He shared his best advice while fishing with Opie down at the watering hole. You gotta love it.


7.John Walton (Ralph Waite) – The Waltons – Family Patriarch John was hard-working and industrious during the Great Depression and World War II. He ran a small family sawmill, but always encouraged his seven children to spread their wings and leave Walton’s Mountain for a better life. Fearless and sometimes even brash, this workaholic dad did whatever was necessary to put food on the table, yet always found the time to show love and warmth to his family.



8.Dan Conner (John Goodman) – Roseanne – Dan was a big-hearted, blue-collar dad who had to endure years of his wife’s never-ending PMS and life altering mood swings. Yet through it all, he grounded his wild kids and proved that great dads come in all tax brackets.


9.Steve Keaton (Michael Gross) – Family Ties - Ex-hippie, turned father Steven was hilarious as he tried to raise his rebelliously conservative Reaganite son, Alex Keaton (played by Michael J. Fox). When greed was big in the eighties, soft-spoken Steve was like a breath of fresh air. Too bad we now see where that “more is better” attitude of Alex led the country.


10.Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten) – Eight is Enough - Way before the drama of Jon and Kate Plus 8, there was another TV show about a large family called Eight is Enough. Tom worked at a newspaper in order to support his enormous brood. The drama deepened when Tom’s on-screen wife died in real life. This caring dad carried on and eventually married Abby. Through the chaos, Tom always put his children first. Maybe Jon and Kate should rent this series from Blockbuster sometime soon.

[JRDM]

I have to say Gov. Gene Gatling from Benson. He was an awesome dad. I wish I had him for a dad.

[Goldilocks]

What? No Ozzie Nelson?!

[browneyes106]

Where's Homer Simpson lol?

[comedyfreak]

1. Prof. John Robinson from Lost In Space- He was strong, brave, and loved his family. Besides, who wouldn't have wanted Zorro for a dad.

2. Jim Anderson from Father Knows Best- He was always willing to listen and gave very good advice.

3. Tom Corbett from The Courtship Of Eddie's Father- How cool would it be to take walk along anywhere and have a talk with your Dad about anything.

4. James Evans from Good Times- A strong father figure and tough when he had to be to keep his kids out of trouble.

5. Herman Munster from The Munsters- A father who was still a kid at heart and someone you could talk to about anything.

6. Steve Douglas from My Three Sons- Another great Dad who would listen to you and gave good advice.

[MickeyMac]

Cliff Huxtable number one



What a f**king joke


Screw him

[Dusty's Fan]

1. Paul Martin (Hugh Reilly) -- Lassie (GREAT guy)
2. Tom Corbett (Bill Bixby) -- The Courtship of Eddie's Father (quite involved)
3. Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) -- Bonanza (stern yet fair)
4. Sam Jones (Ken Berry) -- Mayberry RFD (another great guy)
5. Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors) -- The Rifleman (single dad, did it all)
6. Ozzie Nelson (Himself) -- The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (cool and fun)
7. Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) -- The Dick Van Dyke Show (good dad, patient)
8. Henry Mitchell (Herbert Anderson) -- Dennis the Menace (ditto)
9. Jim Anderson (Robert Young) -- Father Knows Best (always there to help)
10. Nels Oleson (Richard Bull) -- Little House on the Prairie (a saint in some ways)

Honorable Mentions: Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) -- TAGS
``````````````````Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen) -- The Beverly Hillbillies
``````````````````Gomez Addams (John Astin) -- The Addams Family
``````````````````Darrin Stephens (Dick York & Dick Sargent) -- Bewitched

My takes on some of the others: Howard Cunningham, not exciting/in a rut. Ward Cleaver, too mean -- often feared. Cliff Huxtable, too suspicious of his children -- no trust. Tim Taylor, too immature. Steve Douglas, away from home too much. Stephen Keaton, too neurotic. Dan Connor, unsophistication sometimes revealed in a bad way. Mike Brady, too "know it all." Charles Ingalls, too busy working. Tom Bradford -- just okay. John Walton, superfluous -- too many other parental types of influences on the young ones around the house (would have preferred Andrew Duggan to stay on from The Homecoming). Frank DeFazio, too loud.

[icecream]

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Cliff Huxtable number one



What a f**king joke


Screw him

What's wrong with Cliff?

[spunkygirl]

Alan Matthews from Boy Meets World should be on this list. He truly is a great dad

[Zoneboy]

I agree with a few of these although not necessarily their positions on the list. Cliff Huxtable has no business at #1 and Andy Taylor should've been ranked higher. Ozzie Nelson deserves to be there along with my personal favorite, Henry Mitchell from Dennis the Menace.

[bandito]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

I agree with a few of these although not necessarily their positions on the list. Cliff Huxtable has no business at #1 and Andy Taylor should've been ranked higher. Ozzie Nelson deserves to be there along with my personal favorite, Henry Mitchell from Dennis the Menace.

Huxtable at #1 is a joke.

[MickeyMac]

Originally Posted by catsrule

What's wrong with Cliff?

Nothing I guess but i really really hate the Cosby Show.

[catlover79]

Doug Lawrence (James Broderick) on the drama Family was a great dad. So was Dr. Alex Stone (Carl Betz) on The Donna Reed Show.

[Heidi Dawn]

I agree with a lot of you that some TV fathers are overlooked. Jock Ewing (Dallas), Danny Tanner (Full House), Phillip Drummond (Diff'rent Strokes), Phillip Banks (Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air), Michael Hogan (The Hogan Family), George Owens (Mr. Belvedere), some of these fathers deserve to be on the list. Why not make it a top 50 list?

[MikeLutton]

what about AL Bundy cant forget him