Top TV Dads: The Ultimate Countdown of Our Favorite Father Figures

Fabulous dads have always been a staple on television, especially in classic comedies such as Leave It to Beaver (1957 to 1963) and The Andy Griffith Show (1960 to 1968). From dramas to sitcoms to even teen murder mysteries (F.P. Jones, we're looking at you), the wise and loving father figure continues to be a prominent presence on the small screen.

Andy Griffith played the role of Andy Taylor, the sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina, and father to Opie, portrayed by Ron Howard. Despite Howard being only 6 years old when cast, Griffith took the opportunity to teach and guide the young actor. According to Howard, Griffith provided a valuable insight into the creative process, explaining why certain scenes were funny and others were not. This experience has stayed with Howard throughout his career, and he remembers Griffith as both playful and focused on getting the work done.

The '90s introduced us to some of the most iconic TV dads, including Carl Winslow from Family Matters and Frank Costanza from Seinfeld, making it an essential era to consider in any discussion of this topic.

Reflecting on his time on Family Matters, Reginald VelJohnson shared with The Hollywood Reporter in 2015 how much the show and his role as Carl Winslow meant to him. He spoke of the strong bonds formed among cast members, who became like family to him, and how they still keep in touch to this day.

Initially hesitant to take on the role of George's father, Stiller eventually became a fan favorite with his portrayal of Frank. Jerry Seinfeld praised Stiller's performance, stating that he never needed to give him notes or adjust his acting, as whatever Stiller did was always hilarious and perfect for the show.

Keep scrolling for a look back at some of the greatest dads in TV history:

Credit: ABC/Peter "Hopper" Stone; ABC/Raymond Liu; NBC (2); Everett Collection

TV Dads We Love: From Jack Pearson and Andre Johnson to Phil Dunphy and Louis Huang

Fabulous fathers have always been a fixture on television, from classic comedies like Leave It to Beaver (1957-1963) and The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968) to modern dramas and even teen murder mysteries. And while these fictional dads may not always be perfect, they always have their children's best interests at heart.

Andy Griffith played the role of Andy Taylor, who was both the father of Opie (played by Ron Howard) and the sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina. Despite Howard being only 6 years old when he was cast as Opie, Griffith took the opportunity to teach the young actor about creativity and the nuances of comedy, while still maintaining a professional and productive work environment. As Howard later recounted, Griffith was always kind, playful, and focused on getting the job done.

The '90s were a golden era for TV dads, with unforgettable characters such as Carl Winslow (played by Reginald VelJohnson) from Family Matters and Frank Costanza (played by Jerry Stiller) from Seinfeld. According to VelJohnson, his time on Family Matters was extremely meaningful to him, as he witnessed many significant events such as births, deaths, and weddings. The cast and crew of the show became like a second family to him, and they still keep in touch to this day.

When Jerry Stiller was offered the role of George's father on Seinfeld, he initially turned it down, claiming to have never heard of the show despite its immense popularity. However, once he accepted the part, his portrayal of Frank Costanza quickly won over fans. According to Jerry Seinfeld, Stiller's performance was so perfect that they never had to give him any notes or adjustments. Whatever Stiller did in his portrayal of Frank, it worked and was hilarious.

Keep scrolling for a look back at some of the greatest dads in TV history:

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Dr. Andy Brown

Actor: Treat WilliamsShow: EverwoodTV Kids: Ephram, Delia

Credit: Fierce Baby Prods/Detective Agency/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

Louis Huang

Actor: Randall ParkShow: Fresh Off the BoatTV Kids: Eddie, Emery and Evan

Credit: Shane Harvey/The CW

Joe West

Actor: Jesse L. MartinShow: The FlashTV Kids: Iris, Wally and Jenna

Credit: Diyah Pera/The CW

Fred Andrews

Actor: Luke PerryShow: RiverdaleTV Kids: Archie

Credit: Dean Buscher/The CW

F.P. Jones

Actor: Skeet UlrichShow: RiverdaleTV Kids: Jughead and Jellybean

Credit: Kevin Estrada/The CW

Rogelio De La Vega

Actor: Jaime CamilShow: Jane the VirginTV Kids: Jane and Baby

Credit: Ryan Miller/Shutterstock

Darryl Whitefeather

Actor: Pete GardnerShow: Crazy Ex-GirlfriendTV Kids: Madison and Hebecca

Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Oliver Grayson

Actor: Stephen Conrad MooreShow: The Bold TypeTV Kids: Carly

Credit: Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Ramesh Shah

Actor: Shoukath AnsariShow: Master of NoneTV Kids: Dev

Credit: Casey Durkin/NBC

Kenan Williams

Actor: Kenan ThompsonShow: KenanTV Kids: Aubrie and Birdie

Credit: Mark Davis/Getty Images

Mitch Leery

Actor: John Wesley ShippShow: Dawson’s CreekTV Kids: Dawson and Lily Leery

Credit: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC

Mitch Clarke

Actor: Peter GallagherShow: Zoey's Extraordinary PlaylistTV Kids: Zoey and David

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Jack Pearson

Actor: Milo VentimigliaShow: This Is UsTV Kids: Randall, Kate and Kevin Pearson

Credit: Abc-Tv/Wb-Tv/Lorimar/Kobal/Shutterstock

Carl Winslow

Actor: Reginald VelJohnsonShow: Family MattersTV Kids: Eddie, Laura, Judy and 3J

Credit: Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage

Keith Scott

Actor: Craig ShefferShow: One Tree HillTV Kids: Lucas and Lily

Credit: Getty Images

Dan Conner

Actor: John GoodmanShow: RoseanneTV Kids: Darlene, Becky, D.J. and Jerry Garcia Conner

Credit: Maarten de Boer/NBC

Randall Pearson

Actor: Sterling K. BrownShow: This Is UsTV Kids: Tess, Annie and Deja

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Jim Walsh

Actor: James EckhouseShow: Beverly Hills, 90210TV Kids: Brenda and Dylan

Credit: Warner Bros. Television/courtesy Everett Collection

Danny Tanner

Actor: Bob SagetShow: Full HouseTV Kids: D.J., Stephanie and Michelle

Credit: ABC/Kelsey McNeal

Andre "Dre" Johnson

Actor: Anthony AndersonShow: Black-ishTV Kids: Zoey, Junior, Jack, Diane and DeVante

Credit: Jamie Trueblood/AMC

Don Draper

Actor: Jon HammShow: Mad MenTV Kids: Sally, Bobby and Eugene

Credit: Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Tony Micelli

Actor: Tony DanzaShow: Who's the Boss?TV Kid: Samantha

Credit: Everett Collection

Steven Keaton

Actor: Michael GrossShow: Family TiesTV Kids: Alex, Mallory, Jennifer and Andrew

Credit: ABC/Peter "Hopper" Stone

Phil Dunphy

Actor: Ty BurrellShow: Modern FamilyTV Kids: Haley, Alex and Luke

Credit: Miranda Penn Turin/FOX

Burt Hummel

Actor: Mike O'MalleyShow: GleeTV Kids: Kurt

Credit: HBO / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Tony Soprano

Actor: James GandolfiniShow: The SopranosTV Kids: Meadow and A.J.

Credit: CBS / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Ray Barone

Actor: Ray RomanoShow: Everybody Loves RaymondTV Kids: Ally, Michael and Geoffrey

Credit: Everett Collection

Mike Brady

Actor: Robert ReedShow: The Brady BunchTV Kids: Greg, Peter and Bobby

Credit: Everett Collection

Phillip Banks

Actor: James AveryShow: The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirTV Kids: Hilary, Ashley, Carlton and Nicky    

Credit: Eric Liebowitz / The CW / Courtesy Everett Collection

Rufus Humphrey

Actor: Matthew SettleShow: Gossip GirlTV Kids: Dan and Jenny

Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images

Rowan Pope

Actor: Joe MortonShow: ScandalTV Kid: Olivia

Credit: Saeed Adyani/Warner Bros./Getty Images

Sandy Cohen

Actor: Peter GallagherShow: The O.C.TV Kid: Seth and Ryan

Credit: Everett Collection

Ward Cleaver

Actor: Hugh BeaumontShow: Leave It to BeaverTV Kids: Wally and Theodore

Credit: Michael Muller/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Eric Taylor

Actor: Kyle ChandlerShow: Friday Night LightsTV Kid: Julie

Credit: Touchstone Television/courtesy Everett Collection

Alan Matthews

Actor: William RussShow: Boy Meets WorldTV Kids: Cory, Eric and Morgan

Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO

Ned Stark

Actor: Sean BeanShow: Game of ThronesTV Kids: Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon and Jon Snow

Credit: Castle Rock Entertainment/courtesy Everett Collection

Frank Costanza

Actor: Jerry StillerShow: SeinfeldTV Kid: George

Credit: Neil Jacobs/CBS

Ted Mosby

Actor: Josh Radnor (voiced by Bob Saget)Show: How I Met Your MotherTV Kids: Luke and Penny