Bob Saget and the 11 best movie and TV dads

Happy Father’s Day to all of the hardworking and loving dads out there! It may be time to celebrate all special father figures, but it’s also a time to celebrate the best movie and TV dads, the fathers who have graced the screen, whether small or big.

Fathers can be some of the most inspiring and thoughtful people we have in our lives, and these 11 movie and TV dads embody what it means to be a father. Whether it is looking after their kid or someone else’s kid, displaying a level of compassion and understanding is important when it comes to being a dad.

There’s also sternness that comes with being a father, as they have to know when it’s time to put their foot down. The lessons fathers teach their children are some that will follow them for the rest of their lives. Each of the dads below has these qualities and can display them in such a way that even if someone might not have a dad (or a good one), they can look up to these on-screen fathers in the same way.

Who are the best movie and TV dads?

Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) – Full House (1987-1995)

Danny Tanner was Phil Dunphy (who may be on this list as well), before Phil Dunphy. Tanner was a goof, and he had a knack for cleanliness and order, but he always put his family above all else. As a single dad, three young girls would have been a lot to take care of, but Tanner opened his home to not only his best friend but his brother-in-law and his entire family, as well.

When talking about some of the best TV dads it is hard to keep Tanner off the list because of how influential he was. The lessons he taught his own daughters resonated with fans, and the way he not only housed but help care for others in his life was important for people to see as they grew up. I could’ve added any of the men from this show, but ultimately Danny Tanner is the one that resonated most.

Yondu (Michael Rooker) – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

As Yondu says floating up in space, “he may have been your father boy, but he wasn’t your daddy.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has both one of the worst dads in film history in Ego, and one of the best in Yondu. Throughout the first film, and much of the second, it is believed that Yondu never took Peter Quill to his father, Ego, because he felt that Quill could be an asset to him in performing intergalactic heists, which I mean… he was. But Yondu’s decision for keeping Quill was much more than a small set of hands. He knew what Ego was planning for Quill and knew that he would be solely transporting him straight to his death. Yondu might have been tough on Quill, and definitely kept a ton of secrets, but he protected Quill from sudden doom even if it meant putting his own life at stake, and saved Quill from death even if it meant sacrificing his own. If those aren’t the makings of a great father, then I’m not sure what is.

Burt Hummel (Mike O’Malley) – Glee (2009-2015)

Glee might be a cringe marathon of a TV show, this is not me hating, I love Glee just as much as the next person, but one relationship that never felt cringey and always felt real was that of Burt and Kurt Hummel. Burt Hummel was an old-school kind of man who loved sports and working on cars as a mechanic. There was a struggle, in the beginning, with Burt learning and understanding Kurt’s homosexuality, but in the end, no matter how much of an “old-school” man Burt might have been, his son came first and foremost. He not only embraced who Kurt was, but he also let him make this decision on his own and when he wanted to. Burt’s acceptance of Kurt and his never ending love for his son, always showing he was proud of him, is why he makes this list.

However, not only Kurt, but Burt also managed to be a quality father to Finn when he married Finn’s mom. He was always honest with Finn, never treating him like his own son, but still raising him as best as he could. The addition of Burt into Finn’s life ultimately was a great one for both Finn and his mom.

Rick Mitchell (Danny McBride) – The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

Many fathers and children have the same issue that Rick and Katy Mitchell had in The Mitchells vs. the Machines: a lack of understanding of one another and resistance to understanding each other. Katy didn’t understand her father and didn’t feel as though she understood him, and in the same vein, Rick didn’t understand his daughter and didn’t know how to understand her. No matter what, the love that Rick had for Katy was strong, and the sacrifices he made for her stood out. Rick loves the outdoors and his cabin, but he loved his family more, and even if it took a robot invasion, finally took the chance to understand his daughter. It is something that most fathers have to learn on their own, but if they truly love their kids the way that Rick loves Katy, nothing would stand in his way.

Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) – This is Us (2016-2022)

Throughout the entirety of This is Us, one thing always reigns supreme: Jack Pearson is one hell of a dad. No matter which of his three children, he goes above and beyond to always make sure they feel safe and loved.

For all three of his kids, he was there for them when they needed him most. When Kate felt insecure, when Randall felt alone, or when Kevin felt weak, Jack always was there to help pick the pieces back up and give them all the strength to keep moving. Jack had his demons and he had his hardships, but he would have sacrificed everything, and ultimately did, just so that his family would be okay.

Mark Day (Josh Hamilton) – Eighth Grade (2018)

This one will not be a popular pick unless you have seen the movie, but it is undeniable the amount of care and love Mark gives to Kayla. Eighth Grade is one of the weirdest times for any young person, and especially for a young girl with a single father.

Throughout the movie, it is mentioned that Kayla’s mom left, and neither she nor her father is in any contact with her, which means that all of the parenting leans on Mark. Mark is patient with Kayla, constantly reassuring her and doing what is best for her. He does the little things that might not mean much for Kayla in the present, but ultimately makes a world of difference. Is he overprotective at times, sure, but he is always proud of her and is there for her.

The real reason he makes this list is because of the bonfire scene, which if you have seen it, you would agree with completely.

Rufus Humphrey (Matthew Settle) – Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

In a show filled with a lot of pompous arrogant characters, even his own kids, Rufus Humphrey never quite crossed that line. Rufus had a perfect blend of sternness with loving capabilities that he needed in order to keep Dan and Jenny humbled while also maintaining his love for them. One of the biggest things Rufus did was sacrifice his love for Lily in favor of their kids. He and Lily had a genuine love for one another but gave it up so that their kids could share in what they had. This act right here displays the selflessness of who Rufus Humphrey was.

Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery) – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Releasing in 1989, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was the third film in the highly regarded Indiana Jones franchise, and in my opinion, the best of them. This is largely due to Sean Connery’s magnificent performance as Henry Jones Sr., father of Indiana Jones.

Connery, who had just finished his run as the suave international spy James Bond in 1983, did a full 180 when it comes to character. As the father of Indiana Jones, a James Bond variant in his own right, Henry Sr. was like most fatherly explorers. He wasn’t always around for Indy but still managed to instill the traits and desire into one of cinema’s greatest explorers.

And in a time of weakness for the explorer, when having to choose between life and death, it was the sound of his father that helped pull him from the trance, saving his life. Sean Connery’s masterful portrayal as the father of Indiana Jones reminds everyone of the lessons their father instills in them.

Phillip Banks (James Avery) – Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)

“Uncle Phil” was more or less daddy Phil to a young and naive Will Smith. Phillip Banks was strict, as most judges probably should be, but he was honest and he was loving. He was a protector of his own family, but also took Will in and raised him up to be a fine young man without any hesitation.

Will didn’t take it easy on him and managed to push his buttons quite a few times, but when things got real, and Will needed someone to turn to, Phillip Banks was always there to pick up his kids in times of need.

Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) – Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)

Anyone who has ever played a sport can tell you that when you have a coach who truly cares about you as a person more than a player, they can mean so much more. Eric Taylor makes this list because of how he fathers his family, but Coach Taylor makes this list because of the kind of person he was to many people throughout the years.

Coach Taylor always did things the right way and made sure his players knew he deeply cared for them. He offered his home and his free time, which was little, to help these young men who didn’t have anywhere else to go. Yes, this means that his own family was left sometimes wanting more from him, but anytime they truly needed him, he was there with clear eyes and full hearts.

Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) – Modern Family (2009-2020)

How could I have a list of best movie and TV dads and not include who I think is the best of them all? Ty Burrell might not have the most prolific career of anyone on this list, but his turn as Phil Dunphy is a dad role for the ages.

Whether it is one of his “Phil’s-Osophy” lessons or his love of magic, Phil is everything one could want in a dad. He is charming, loves his wife and his family, and is willing to do anything, and I mean anything, for them, while also maintaining the spark that fathers need. He is understanding of his children and even though his goal is to protect them, he always wants to do what is best for them, which is the most you can ask from a father.

When it comes to on-screen dads, picking just 11 movie and TV dads was difficult. However, all of these display a level of warmth and brutal honesty that every father or parent needs when it comes to raising a child. Again, Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there that do what they can to make their children, and potentially others, feel special on a daily basis!