# Handsomest TV dad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381 "2018-06-19T15:08:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/1 "2018-06-19T15:08:42Z")
Helping keep the threads all nice and balanced! I say there’s no finer dad on TV than [Howard Wolowitz](https://goo.gl/images/WaHhyi). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/2 "2018-06-19T15:17:31Z")
Don Draper is one of the handsomest men in all of modern television. Or THE most. Too bad he’s a terrible, terrible person and a terrible dad so he loses a lot of points there. But if we’re going for looks only…yeah Don Draper. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/3 "2018-06-19T15:20:49Z")
No love for Al Bundy? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/4 "2018-06-19T15:24:57Z")
The Dick van Dyke show wins both threads. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/5 "2018-06-19T15:30:00Z")
Don Draper is the one who came to mind. Of course, his character is supposed to be irresistible to women so they had to have a very handsome actor portray him. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Too bad he’s a terrible, terrible person In some ways, yes, but like all the characters in _Mad Men_ he’s not all bad or all good. He’s a terrible husband and father but decent in other ways. E.g., he’s the only one of the partners against having Joan prostitute herself to get the Jaguar account. He finds and helps Peggy when she is hospitalized after her pregnancy. He generally supports her rise (although he is a terrible boss in other ways. ---
**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 19, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/6 "2018-06-19T15:51:58Z")
David Hasselhoff in Baywatch It would be hard to argue against Carl Betz in the Donna Reed Show. You can make a good case that [Alex and Donna Stone](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0079475/mediaviewer/rm1052296960) were an even more beautiful couple than Rob and Laura Petrie. Those teen dramas that are a specialty of the CW (formerly WB) seem to feature parents that fall into ILF territory. [Stephen Collins](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004834/mediaviewer/rm3177627648) in 7th Heaven [John Schneider](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0773884/mediaviewer/rm1378861568) in Smallville ---
**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 19, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/7 "2018-06-19T16:03:51Z")
Ward Cleaver himself, Hugh Beaumont. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/8 "2018-06-19T16:15:44Z")
Chuck Connors from The Rifleman. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/9 "2018-06-19T16:42:46Z")
jesse katsopolis? Also OPs link doesn’t work. Is Wolowitz considered physically attractive or was that a joke? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/10 "2018-06-19T16:49:20Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Also OPs link doesn’t work. Is Wolowitz considered physically attractive or was that a joke? The link works for me. Wolowitz would be considered the opposite of physically attractive by most people. So **Dung Beetle** is either joking or really likes skinny guys with big noses and bad hair and clothes. (Although the character is made up to look considerably worse than the actor who plays him.) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/11 "2018-06-19T17:05:56Z")
Not the kind of thing I typically think about, but how about one of the first, Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz). I’d think the latin lover look would be quite popular with people attracted to men. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/12 "2018-06-19T17:10:10Z")
Tom Selleck has gained weight, but I would nominate him in _Blue Bloods_ as handsomest TV patriarch. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/13 "2018-06-19T17:19:37Z")
Mike Brady. Along with Carol Brady, they also win hottest combined couple (should that thread get created). ---
**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 19, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/14 "2018-06-19T17:24:16Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Don Draper is the one who came to mind. Of course, his character is supposed to be irresistible to women so they had to have a very handsome actor portray him. > > In some ways, yes, but like all the characters in _Mad Men_ he’s not all bad or all good. He’s a terrible husband and father but decent in other ways. Eh, I wouldn’t call Don a terrible father. He’s not great, to be sure, but considering the times he lived in, as well as his own horrific upbringing, he could have been much worse. At least he shows his kids some affection (when he remembers they exist), which is more than they get from their mother. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/15 "2018-06-19T17:26:27Z")
Don Draper, all day every day. Mike Brady, before the bad perm. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/16 "2018-06-19T17:58:48Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The link works for me. > > Wolowitz would be considered the opposite of physically attractive by most people. So **Dung Beetle** is either joking or really likes skinny guys with big noses and bad hair and clothes. (Although the character is made up to look considerably worse than the actor who plays him.) Well, it must be the latter. I am legitimately astonished that anyone would consider Wolowitz/Simon Helberg the opposite of attractive. I call that male perfection. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/17 "2018-06-19T18:01:48Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Wolowitz would be considered the opposite of physically attractive by most people. Would he? Kind eyes, unintimidating build, quick smile, ready with a joke? I could see it. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/18 "2018-06-19T18:19:54Z")
Gotta go with Lorne Greene in Bonanza. But Tom Selleck in Blue bloods is a real close second. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/19 "2018-06-19T18:29:42Z")
Race Bannon and Dr. Quest. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381/20 "2018-06-19T18:53:29Z")
No love for Archie Bunker? We had a Pug named after Archie Bunker. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handsomest-tv-dad/816381.md?page=2)