# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/21 "2015-06-21T18:20:39Z")
I always thought Keith Mars was a pretty good dad to Veronica. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/22 "2015-06-21T18:21:25Z")
Roger Stone, in Heinlein’s _The Rolling Stones._ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/23 "2015-06-21T18:33:49Z")
Joseph Rockford? Obviously, Jim Rockford’s a grown man and Rocky’s not responsible for him, but they have a close, loving relationship. Rocky’s concerned for Jim’s safety and wants him to quit the PI business, they go fishing together, and spend lots of time together. I would have loved having Rocky for a dad. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/24 "2015-06-21T18:35:01Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > 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. Yes. My 10 year old daughter loves this show, and I’m so glad of it. Lucas is a really, really good dad. He’s patient, allows his kid some freedom, he’s got his own life and concerns, but you never doubt for a second that his kid is the most important thing in his life. He reminds me a lot of: > [@blondebear](#): > > I always thought Keith Mars was a pretty good dad to Veronica. Again, yes. Supportive, protective, but he also trusts and respects his kid. (Those were going to be my two, so I have nothing left to contribute.) ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/25 "2015-06-21T19:42:50Z")
Aral Vorkosigan in Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan novels. Mr. Solden in Jean Little’s novel From Anna. Mr. Melendy in Elizabeth Enright’s Melendy Quartet novels. Matthew Cuthbert in L.M. Montomery’s novel Anne of Green Gables. Sam Vimes in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels. “Because some things are important.” Sniff. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/26 "2015-06-21T19:47:28Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > 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… > [@WhyNot](#): > > Yes. My 10 year old daughter loves this show, and I’m so glad of it. Lucas is a really, really good dad. He’s patient, allows his kid some freedom, he’s got his own life and concerns, but you never doubt for a second that his kid is the most important thing in his life… Agree with Lucas McCain. Also, Andy Griffith. He is loving and patient with Opie, teaches him some great life lessons, and apologizes when he screws up. ---
**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, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/27 "2015-06-21T19:49:51Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > 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. Lucas McCain! I always think of Chuck Connors as the guy in Branded. Now that I think about it, there were a lot of single dads on TV back then. Besides Chuck Connors, we had Andy Griffith, John Forsythe in Bachelor Father, Ben Cartwright in Bonanza, Bill Bixby as Eddie’s Father, Brian Keith in Family Affair, Fred MacMurray in My Three Sons, Richard Long in Nanny and the Professor, Danny Thomas was a single dad before the second marriage in Make Room for Daddy… even Augie Doggie’s father was single! It’s like Moms had to be eliminated to portray TV Dads having a real relationship with their kids. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/28 "2015-06-21T20:10:54Z")
> [@camille](#): > > Lucas McCain! I always think of Chuck Connors as the guy in Branded. > > Now that I think about it, there were a lot of single dads on TV back then. Besides Chuck Connors, we had Andy Griffith, John Forsythe in Bachelor Father, Ben Cartwright in Bonanza, Bill Bixby as Eddie’s Father, Brian Keith in Family Affair, Fred MacMurray in My Three Sons, Richard Long in Nanny and the Professor, Danny Thomas was a single dad before the second marriage in Make Room for Daddy… even Augie Doggie’s father was single! > > It’s like Moms had to be eliminated to portray TV Dads having a real relationship with their kids. Especially that there were all those single dads and no single moms. And the dads always had a housekeeper/nanny/butler to do the wifely tasks (although presumably not the sex). ---
**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, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/29 "2015-06-21T20:32:47Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Especially that there were all those single dads and no single moms. > > And the dads always had a housekeeper/nanny/butler to do the wifely tasks (although presumably not the sex). I remember reading that Bonanza was one of the few shows that aired in Muslim countries because women weren’t featured. Bonanza always creeped me out because of that. Three sons with three different dead wives. Kind of suspicious of Ben Cartwright. Who would want to marry that guy under those circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/30 "2015-06-21T21:19:54Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Roger Stone, in Heinlein’s _The Rolling Stones._ Good, but topped by Dr. Russell in _Have Space Suit–Will Travel_. “When an [chemistry set] explosion blew out the windows of the barn and started a fire - just a small fire - Mother was perturbed. Dad merely suggested I not manufacture explosives in a frame building.” ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/31 "2015-06-21T22:29:26Z")
My favorite recent TV dad is probably Burt Hummel on _Glee_. He was also arguably the only stable, responsible adult on the entire show. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/32 "2015-06-21T22:35:44Z")
I nominate Jim Anderson on Father Knows Best (inaccurate title for the most part). His three kids could be a handful, and he was always there for them, even when he didn’t understand what was going on. Besides, I think he had a better sense of humor than Ward Cleaver. Anyway, “Ward Cleaver” sounds like a serial killer to me. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/33 "2015-06-21T22:57:22Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Good, but topped by Dr. Russell in _Have Space Suit–Will Travel_. > > “When an [chemistry set] explosion blew out the windows of the barn and started a fire - just a small fire - Mother was perturbed. Dad merely suggested I not manufacture explosives in a frame building.” “The twins are in jail.” "Again? What for? “Tax evasion, and fraud.” “Thank goodness! Last time, it was for experimenting with atomics, inside city limits and without a license.” [Quoting from memory. Might have gotten some details wrong.] ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/34 "2015-06-21T23:23:57Z")
Andy Griffith Lucas McCain Ben Cartwright Jim Anderson , played by Robert Young in ‘Father know best’ ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/35 "2015-06-22T00:15:26Z")
Say what you will, but… Vito Corleone Tony Soprano ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/36 "2015-06-22T02:43:39Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > [QUOTE=mbh] > > Roger Stone, in Heinlein’s The Rolling Stones. Good, but topped by Dr. Russell in _Have Space Suit–Will Travel_. “When an [chemistry set] explosion blew out the windows of the barn and started a fire - just a small fire - Mother was perturbed. Dad merely suggested I not manufacture explosives in a frame building.” [/QUOTE] Actually, Heinlein has a lot of strong father figures, like the dad in “Farmer in the Sky”. When his son is concerned that he didn’t make the cut for the inter-planetary immigration program, dad says: "If we don’t get picked, then tell yourself that you are a darn good grade of steel and that it’s no fault of yours that they wanted magnesium.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/37 "2015-06-22T02:47:52Z")
Captain Benjamin Sisko of _Star Trek: Deep Space Nine_ was a good father to his son, Jake. Professor John Robinson of _Lost In Space_ was also a devoted family man. ---
**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 22, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/38 "2015-06-22T02:58:10Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > 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. My interpretation of the ending was that Tevye would move to reconcile with Chava, even at the cost of violating _tradition_. But of course, that was left for the sequel. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/39 "2015-06-22T03:01:02Z")
Georg Bendemann’s father in Franz Kafka’s short story “The Judgement.” “I sentence you to DEATH BY DROWNING.” You can read it online. Best Father’s Day story ever! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048/40 "2015-06-22T10:58:56Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > June has been heard to say that sometimes Ward could be a little too hard on the Beaver. That’s the first time I’ve heard that line. Today. mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-fictional-dads/723048.md?page=1)