Top 10 Greatest Sitcom Dads of All Time
This is a topic so popular with sitcom fans and it’s also one of the most fun discussions to get into, especially for 90’s kids who grew up with some of these iconic dads as either the father figures they always wanted and never had or as the television versions of their own dads. This is one of the hardest lists to do because there’s been so many iconic sitcom fathers over the decades but bare with me while I do my best to honor the ones that I think are not only the most popular but also the ones who seem to reflect true fatherhood the most out of any other television dad sitcom or drama. Hereeeee, we go!
1. James Evans Sr. From Good Times
James Evans Sr. Played to perfection by John Amos is not only one of the greatest sitcom dads ever but is also the very first black sitcom dad in television history. In 1974 when Good Times premiered there had yet to be a television featuring a nuclear black family and the few shows starring African Americans at the time wouldn’t even have the dad in the picture as either dead, in prison or just a deadbeat who ran out on the family. James was the very first time television viewers saw a black father working hard to raise a family like any of the white ones they were used to. James was sometimes old school, strict and no nonsense but that’s exactly what a great father needs to have in order to make sure his kids know where the line is and to respect authority, especially the authority of your parents. James wasn’t afraid to use that belt either:
But for all his tough love, his level of compassion, empathy and pride of his wife and children was as strong as his discipline. He was very emotional when it came to his kids and would go off the handle if anyone dared to mess with them in anyway:
James’ equal showing of tough love and discipline mixed with compassion and ferocious protection of his family is what in my opinion makes him the number 1 sitcom dad of all time and my personal favorite out of everyone on the list.
2. Philip Banks aka “Uncle Phil” from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
When it comes to celebrating iconic Tv fathers, Uncle Phil usually comes out on top or is at least in the top 5. James Avery whom we sadly lost in 2014 created along with the writers a sitcom dad for the ages. He was a wildly successful Corporate Attorney turned Judge who lived in Bel Air, California with his wife, three(later 4) children, butler and philly born and raised knuckle head playboy nephew. From what I gather I think what makes Uncle Phil so special is that despite how he can lose his temper every now and then and has super high expectations of his family, he’s always, ALWAYS there for them through either money or just plain old good advice they could always use. I will also add that what makes him so iconic is how despite Will getting on his nerves on the regular, he practically adopted Will and was more of a father to him than his own deadbeat father:
Educated, warm, tough, fair, funny, protective and wise as all get out, Uncle Phil is certainly as good as it gets when it comes to classic Tv dads.
3. Carl Winslow from Family Matters
When it comes to sitcom dads Chicago’s finest Carl Winslow is one of the funniest and most badass there is. He’s also one of the most human with faults, mistakes and all. It’s probably why he’s one of my very favorites of all time. Carl was such a great father that he even acted as one to his nephew Little Richie whose father had died when he was a baby, 3J who was a foster kid that the Winslows adopted by the later seasons and even his annoying next door neighbor Steve Urkel who irked Carl mercilessly yet Carl grew to love Steve so much in spite of himself that he took him in when his parents were moving to Russia:
Carl’s also one heck of a cop who represents all that a cop should be: Honest, dedicated, compassionate, tough, caring and holds justice and truth at the highest level:
4. Al Bundy from Married with Children
Al may not have been a perfect dad by any means…. or a happy one. But what he lacks in typical sitcom dad perfection he makes up for in taking responsibility through the misery. Al was everything from rude and crude to miserable in his job and especially with his family, but, if you met his family you’d understand because who wouldn’t be miserable with a wife and kids who don’t respect or even particularly like you? Despite all the Bundys’ bickering and lack of warm jolliness this was a family who at the end of the day would literally kick the asses of anyone who dared to mess with them and the patriarch of this family was it’s greatest hero… Yes, he’s a hero because unlike a lot of deadbeat dads out there Al comes home every day and puts up with the BS, never cheats on his wife, doesn’t beat his kids, gives them every cent he owns, and if you know Al cents are as much as he does actually own. Despite not exactly being a “role model” Al actually has a nice bond with his kids on occasion. No one messes with his “Pumpkin” Kelly:
And shares a love of booze and hot scantily clad women at the nudie bar with his pride and joy boy, Bud:
Al may have his warts and all but he’s one of the greatest sitcom dads ever because it’s easy to be a great dad who’s there with a perfect family but it takes an amazing dad to be there with a family like his.
Ed O’Neill seems to have taken to the father role to his Tv kids in real life as well:
5. George Jefferson from The Jeffersons
Good ole’ George Jefferson may have had an adult son so we didn’t get to see him raise Lionel, George is a top Tv dad because he scraped and saved for years until he could give his family the very best that they deserve. George did a great job too along with Weezy because Lionel grew up to be a great guy in his own right. And although they didn’t always get along:
George and Lionel loved each other and George was as good a role model for a young black boy aspiring to be something great and live in a deluxe apartment in the sky as any other.
6. Dan Conner from Roseanne
Dan Conner, what can I say? John Goodman created a legendary Tv dad who was both the ideal husband and the most fun, keep you laughing dad in tv history. Dan was as real a dad as we’ve seen. He was as much a tough working class hero as James Evans and Al Bundy but also a goofy big kid who wasn’t afraid to whoop some butt once in a while:
7. Lester Jenkins from 227
Lester Jenkins has got to be one of the most overlooked Tv dads ever but he’s as great as the others on the list and is worthy of high praise. He was essentially a black Dan Conner before there was a Dan Conner: Both tough but fun loving men who both were into construction work and were not ones you wanted to mess with and God help you if you try to mess around with one of their daughters. Lester was a great family man who provided for his family not only financially but with love, kindness, strength and laughter.
8. George Lopez from George Lopez
George Lopez had a helluva childhood. He was basically the Mexican Al Bundy only much more successful but just as underappreciated and has just as much horrible luck. He had to suffer through the pain of being abandoned by his father and the pain of not being abandoned by his mother. George may not have had a father figure to learn from but he did a pretty good job with his two kids the overly emotional ditsy Carmen and the hygienically challenged dimwitted Max. George may not have been perfect and could be a bit rough on his kids sometimes, he’s always been there for them and loves them as best as he knows how. He even went into financial debt putting Carmen into private school after she’s been harassed and bullied at her public school. George is the type of dad that will make you laugh all day as well as always there for you when you really need him. Despite his faults and questionable parenting skills, George is one of the greatest dads because no one tries harder to be one than him.
9. Red Forman from That 70’s Show
Red was the no nonsense, hard ass conservative dad most people had growing up and we love him for it. Red was no slouch when it came to discipline, a good old “Foot in the ass” is all you need to stop being a “dumbass” as far as Red was concerned. Despite his gruffness as a Dad to his son Eric he also had a softer side which he mostly showed to his baby girl Laurie but also cared enough to be !@&%% Santa Claus when one of Eric’s best friends Steven Hyde’s mom abandoned him and he lived in a dump:
Red was the dad you didn’t want to mess with but also was a hardworking man who was a devoted husband and dad and boy do we need him today to put the old foot in the ass to these dumbasses we got today. Certain people in power could use a good minute with Red Forman.
10. Robert James from All of Us
Many may not have ever heard or seen All of Us, but it was the Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith produced sitcom based off of their real life situation with Will’s ex wife and being a blended family. Duane Martin played Robert James a Entertainment reporter of the fictional Los Angeles tv show “Mr. LA” and was always stuck between his ex wife Neesee Jamesplayed by Lisaraye and his current girlfriend turned Fiancee Tia Jewel played by Elise Neal. Despite his troubles, Robert was an almost perfect dad to his only child Robert Humphrey James Jr aka Bobby played by Khamani Griffin. Robert was the cool dad we all wish we could have who was best friends with his son and was always there for him. In fact, Robert and Neesee may just be the most dedicated tv parents in history because both sacrificed and put up with so much for Bobby over the four seasons of the series. Never has television depicted black parenting as in depth and as devoted as All of Us. Robert may not be well known but he’s one of the greatest dads because he’s one of the best you could ever ask for.
There are many great tv dads that weren’t on the list but in the honorable mentions list: Andy Taylor, Archie Bunker, Hal Wilkerson, Alan Matthews, Gomez Addams, Mike Brady, Steven Keaton, Jason Seaver, Ray Campbell, Heathcliff Huxtable, Tim Taylor, Martin Crane, Ray Barone, Floyd Henderson, Flex Washington, Frank Mitchell, Ward Cleaver and Fred G. Sanford are all fantastic tv dads that are all in the top twenty greatest tv dads list of all time.
Check out my “Top ten greatest tv moms” list next time, folks… Or else:
