9 Dads In Film & TV We Love
We think dads are the best — we love their corny jokes, their sweet, sentimental moments, and their drive to protect the ones they love. Anyone who has a good dad in their life knows how impactful their presence can be.
And with Father’s Day right around the corner, we’re in the mood to celebrate dads, both real and fictional. So we’ve compiled a list of dads we love from film and television — characters that we feel capture the most important aspects of a good man and father.
Lee Abbott from A Quiet Place
In a world that’s been ravaged by monsters that hunt their prey by sound, Lee has a lot more on his plate than the average father — but he hasn’t let his circumstances get in the way of his parenting. Lee stands out as a wonderful father by investing in unique relationships with his children, instilling in them the importance of family, and teaching them to persevere, love, and act with bravery. Lee’s eventual sacrifice of his own life to save his children puts him at the top of every “best dads” list.
Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
This beloved 90s sitcom centers around Will, a teen who’s been getting in a little too much trouble and is sent to live with his affluent Aunt Vivian and Uncle Phil — a very strict, precise, and stern man who, under his tough, no-nonsense exterior, has a heart of gold and a deep love for his children. While Phil certainly isn’t the gentlest or jolliest of men, he’s committed to giving Will a better life, as well as being the father he never had.
Eric Taylor from Friday Night Lights
Set in a small Texas town that’s obsessed with football, Friday Night Lights follows the story of a high school football team, headed by Coach Taylor — often regarded as one of TV’s greatest husbands and fathers. With his incredible mix of strength, tenderness, and courage, Coach Taylor shows himself to be a man who puts his family first and truly values his relationship with his daughter.
Peter Banning from Hook
In the beginning of this classic fantasy, Peter is a workaholic who has a strained relationship with his wife and is often absent or unreliable with his children. But after his children are kidnapped, he’s forced to remember his real identity as Peter Pan and return to Neverland in order to save them. While Peter starts off as the father we’d all never want to have, his journey to rescue his children helps him reclaim his role as their father and protector — which is perfectly illustrated when Peter must recall his happiest memory in order to fly, and he thinks of his son’s birth.
Martin Crane from Frasier
This 1990s sitcom focuses on the Crane family, made up of Marty and his two lovably pretentious psychiatrist sons. While Marty is more of a sports and beer kind of guy, his sons prefer to go to operas and wine tastings, leading to their fair share of differences. But Marty, old-fashioned, stubborn, and modest as he is, chooses not to allow these differences to separate him from his sons — even though he often feels that he doesn’t understand their world, and even pokes fun at them from time to time, his love for his sons transcends all of their differences.
Chris Gardner from The Pursuit of Happyness
Chris is a single father who’s struggling to give his son a bright future, in the midst of rough financial times and being evicted. Yet, in the middle of a life storm that seems endless, Chris never takes his eyes off of providing for his young son, chooses not to become bitter, and offers his son an image of a man who’s taken it upon himself to own his life and his role as a father.
Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird
Based on Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird tells the story of Atticus Finch, a widowed lawyer, and his two children as he takes on a case to defend a Black man who’s wrongfully been accused of rape. Atticus’s strong yet gentle approach to parenting is what’s earned him wide recognition as one of fiction’s greatest fathers; his courage, unwavering sense of right and wrong, pursuit of the truth, and compassion make him a father we’ll never forget.
Arthur Weasley from Harry Potter
While Arthur is a smaller character in the Harry Potter series, we can’t ignore what an extraordinary father he is. Though lacking in monetary wealth (with 7 children), Arthur proves himself time and time again to have a wealth of love, generosity, and loyalty, which he extends not only to his biological children, but to Harry, an orphan. Arthur Weasley is the ultimate family man whose incredible example for his children builds a tight-knit family we all wish we were part of.
Mark Day from Eighth Grade
Bo Burnham’s 2018 film tells the story of Kayla Day, an awkward, anxious, quiet eighth grader who just wants to belong. Her single father, Mark, consistently attempts to make a connection with her through jokes and loving remarks, but to no avail — until one night, in an remarkably beautiful scene, he invites her to open up about her worries and insecurities, assuring her that he couldn’t be more proud to be her father. Mark’s consistency in his daughter’s life and his unwillingness to give up on her makes him one of the best dads we’ve seen.