The Best Fathers in Movies and Television

Posted on June 14, 2008 at 3:00 pm

Check out my Gallery of 10 of my all-time favorite movie dads.
And check out Idol Chatter’s list of the best TV dads. I love all the fathers on all the list and in the comments, especially Andy Griffith. I also loved Tom Bosley on Happy Days. He always had just the right words of wisdom and support. I loved the late Sydney Pollack as Will’s father on “Will and Grace.” Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and Archie Bunker (Carrol O’Connor) had their moments! So did Jerry Stiller as George’s father on “Seinfeld.” And it was a treat to see a glimpse of one of the all-time best TV dads, the late Bill Bixby in “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” in the new “Incredible Hulk” movie (a nod to Bixby’s role in the Hulk TV show).

3 Replies to “The Best Fathers in Movies and Television”

I thought it was kinda sad that in so many of those movies they had to have the mother either dying or deserting the family in order for the men to step up to the plate.

I thought of that as I was writing, Monkie! But I don’t think it reflects anything other than the basic principle of drama that there has to be some conflict. That’s one reason I like the TV dads. The series format lends itself much better to a consistent and dependable presence from the father (while the conflict goes on with the other family members and it all gets resolved by the end of each episode).

Good choices, but what about Greg Kinnear in “Little Miss Sunshine”?
He just goes the distance with the kid, despite the wacko family he has to shepherd along the way.
And the Dad in “Juno”–can’t remember his name, but I loved the whole family dynamic there–especially Dad being incredibly supportive of his daughter’s decisions and emotions. Very touching indeed.

Comments are closed.