# Best Fictional Dads **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 21, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048 "2015-06-21T01:38:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/1 "2015-06-21T01:38:28Z")
In keeping with Father’s Day, AV published this article: [“Worst Fictional Dads”](http://www.avclub.com/article/worst-fictional-dads-jack-arnold-alexander-zalache-220938). Some great choices there, but even so, there are still more fictional bad Dads I can think of who would qualify. So many bad Dads! But what about _Best_ Fictional Dads? It’s a lot harder to come up with more than a handful. Here are my picks: Film: Donald Sutherland - Ordinary People Roberto Benigni - Life is Beautiful TV: Bill Cosby - The Cosby Show Andrew Duggan - The Waltons Literature: Atticus Finch - To Kill a Mockingbird Hans Hubermann - The Book Thief So what about you? What fictional Dads are your idea of a great Dad? And Happy Father’s Day to all the real life wonderful Dads on the Dope! ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/2 "2015-06-21T02:05:56Z")
TV: I was too young to watch The Rifleman in first run but I caught it on MeTV and think that Lucas McCain is a great dad. Hubby says Steve Douglas from My 3 Sons. Literature: Matthew Mantrell from the Wizard in Rhyme series. Film: Daniel Hillard from Mrs Doubtfire ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/3 "2015-06-21T02:10:08Z")
Just because I’ve been watching it so much, my first thought was Hal from Malcolm in the middle. A bit clumsy in life in general, but he tries. Having said that, I’m surprised Walter White didn’t make it on to that Worst Dad’s list. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/4 "2015-06-21T02:33:10Z")
Bad ones are easy! Darth Vader, Al Bundy, Archie Bunker… Good ones not so easy. **NotherYinzer** makes a great call with Lucas McCain. Gomez Addams is a darn fine papa! Weird as all heck, but loving, caring, attentive (well, except for shipping the kids to camp in cages.) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/5 "2015-06-21T02:40:17Z")
Atticus Finch wins the thread, of course. Ward Cleaver was actually a great dad. Hopelessly square of course, but willing to give Wally and the Beav plenty of independence while making sure they learned from their mistakes. How about Tevye from _Fiddler on the Roof_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/6 "2015-06-21T03:12:05Z")
Jonathan Kent. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/7 "2015-06-21T05:32:51Z")
Bob Belcher ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/8 "2015-06-21T05:38:47Z")
Darrren McGavin in “A Christmas Story” Not a fingah! ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/9 "2015-06-21T06:28:28Z")
Bill Bixby in, The Courtship of Eddie’s Incredible Hulk. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/10 "2015-06-21T12:01:12Z")
Geppetto ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/11 "2015-06-21T12:17:56Z")
[Coach Taylor](http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a29117/coach-taylor-quotes/) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/12 "2015-06-21T12:41:14Z")
Greg Universe. Steven doesn’t live with him, due to reasons, but he clearly supports him well, and they spend a lot of time together, where Greg dispenses good advice, moral support, and fun. Except when he’s trying to not have a heart attack from hearing what Steven’s up to. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/13 "2015-06-21T12:51:40Z")
[Lunarbaboon](http://www.lunarbaboon.com/comics/?currentPage=3) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/14 "2015-06-21T13:21:32Z")
Richard Castle, from the TV show _Castle_, might very well be the best father in the history of television. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/15 "2015-06-21T13:32:16Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Ward Cleaver was actually a great dad. June has been heard to say that sometimes Ward could be a little too hard on the Beaver. > [@kunilou](#): > > How about Tevye from _Fiddler on the Roof_. Sure, a great father …to 2 of his 3 daughters. If you really believe two out of three ain’t bad we should just nominate Meat Loaf. I always liked Steven Keaton. Of all the dads I grew up with on T.V., he was my favorite. Film: I really liked Larry Fishburne in _Boyz in the Hood_. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/16 "2015-06-21T13:48:03Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > June has been heard to say that sometimes Ward could be a little too hard on the Beaver. > > Sure, a great father …to 2 of his 3 daughters. > If you really believe two out of three ain’t bad we should just nominate Meat Loaf… Correction: five daughters. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/17 "2015-06-21T13:50:12Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Geppetto “You lissen t’me kid! You stay wood!” 😃 [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtKveYW84RY) ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/18 "2015-06-21T14:03:20Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “You lissen t’me kid! You stay wood!” 😃 > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtKveYW84RY](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtKveYW84RY) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/19 "2015-06-21T15:23:47Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Correction: five daughters. Ah, you’re right! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it. I was only thinking of the three marrying daughters, the third of whom he behaved unconscionably toward. Of course, the two youngest daughters having to witness that cruelty, couldn’t have been good for their emotional development. So, Tevye now scores only two out of five. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/20 "2015-06-21T18:12:23Z")
Mike Brady (a) was _exactly_ as good with his three daughters as with his three biological kids: bring him a problem and slow music plays as he patiently notes that things could be worse, but, yeah, you could’ve handled it better, so here’s a little sensible advice from someone who cares; and (b) who doesn’t love Gary Cole? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048.md?page=2)