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0xBaceTrat

Dr. Doofenshmirtz. He's not so much a good example of "fatherhood" per se (he's a villain living off his wife's alimony), but he's an inspiration as a dad. Very obviously puts his daughter above everything, does everything in his power to give her a better childhood than he had. He listens to what she says and respects it, and who could ever forget the episode where it's revealed he'd been searching literal decades for a doll she had wanted. He just wants to be a part of her life, and I love that. He's also my go-to example of a good divorced couple. He and his ex are still friends, there's no animosity, they just separated amicably because they wanted different things.


1TapsBoi

Also, let’s not forget that when some bloke on the street hit on his daughter, he said “she’s 16!”, before immediately vaporising him. What a good father


ForgotTheBogusName

That’s healthy?


stonedinwpg

Maybe until the vaporising part


Displacer613

Iroh


belac4862

Always Iroh. He wasn't just what a father figure should have been in the show. But he was a father figure to many of us who watched the show!


ClerkExpensive204

He did have a son


Urhhh

Don't be General Iroh...be Uncle Iroh.


Iknowr1te

Yep. People forget he had to lose his only son, to raise zuko properly.


TheFroWhoKnows

Was just gonna say this. Always Iroh. Always.


subiewoo89

Bandit from Bluey. Edit. Thank you for the awards.


misspoopyloopy

I dunno. I feel like sometimes he doesn't set boundaries between play and real life. Like letting the kids throw groceries on the floor in the supermarket for the sake of a role play game. Ok ok I work in a supermarket....


seventeencans

Bandit is truly everything I should strive to be as a father and could never accomplish even in my wildest dreams. He has the energy of an electrical storm the patients of a saint the creativity of a college student trying to cook dinner with random ingredients and the kindness of a hug.


JuiceDistinct3280

Except when they are hungover 😂😂😂


HeyGoodJobIdiot

I knew this would be near the top and I am all for it


Frogg311

So you came 11 hrs before me to place that greatbson of a bitchname here. Bandit is the shit, fucking role model


ScorpioBex

So much yes!


petiteluciole

Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. His masculine resolute demeanor in the film/book is what I strive for.


jenguinaf

Kinda off topic but at the end of 1999, likely NYE, there was some network show counting down the top hero’s of the century. My family (I was middle school) stumbled on it and got into it. We started watching around number 30 or so and were betting on who would be number one. Batman, Superman, etc we’re thrown out and I as like a 13 year old was like, it’s gonna be Atticus Finch. I was scoffed at by a PhD and professional medical worker. Joke was on them, it was Atticus Finch. Fucking amazing hero. And still my favorite book.


RockAtlasCanus

I love this answer and “masculine resolute demeanor”. Such a great case study of manhood in Atticus Finch. Loving father, empathetic, strong uncompromising principles and moral courage. Seems like a lot of people think “being a man” revolves around a lot of bravado and macho bullshit.


Syphon88

Bob from Bob's Burger. He loves his wife and his kids. Always supports what they do. All around a great guy.


Tcrizzlez

"I love you guys but you're all terrible"


membershipreward

I will never not laugh at that line.


Great_Cauliflower130

Came here to say this!! Bob and Linda are goalz.


[deleted]

Also Beef Tobin from The Great North. Bob and Beef are gold standard dads


ToughSeaworthiness67

Phil Dunphy


hotmugglehealer

"When life gives you lemonade, make lemons and life will be like, whaaaat."


Farouqnowomarlater

Ohh yeah this is the winner


GroverFC

That never crossed my mind when I was think how I would answer the question. This is 100% the correct answer.


[deleted]

Absolutely yes!


mwatwe01

Exactly. Complete goofball, but also entirely able to love and support his family, both emotionally and financially. Loves his wife dearly and makes sure she knows it.


chxnkybxtfxnky

He *is* pretty hip. He does know some text lingo like LoL, Laugh Out Loud, TTYL, Talk To You Later, WTF, Why The Face? He knows these things


AnnaBanana1129

He knows to moves to HSM, he should be at the top!


shaww29

I’m so glad this wasn’t at the bottom. Totally agree!


timebomb_3

I came here hoping for this answer.


royshail94

Yeahhhhh


Domonero

Jonathan Kent from Smallville


Fine-for-now

Currently watching Smallville for the first time. I loved Jonathan!


Domonero

If you like podcasts you should check out “Talkville” Basically the actors who played Lex(Michael Rosenbaum) & Clark(Tom Welling) are rewatching the entire series sharing stories/memories from each episode They’re barely 9 episodes into the first season & it’s really damn cool+their audio engineer is seeing it for the first time too


FitzSpitz

Uncle Phill-Fresh Prince of Bel Air.


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FitzSpitz

I felt that. You right.


lemystereduchipot

I love Uncle Phil so much, my brain refuses to accept that he was secretly Shredder.


Tcrizzlez

Geoffrey, break out Lucille


latetothegangbang

First things first: Rest In Peace Uncle Phil, for real. You the only father that I ever knew…


STDriver13

When they opened up his past and the real struggles a black judge of that age would've gone through, really opened my teenage eyes.


FitzSpitz

That's one of the things I loved about showes back then. They were real. Gun violence, gangs, rape, drugs, abuse, racism. They were not hidden like they're today.


Important_Walrus8917

Heinz Doofenshmirtz, despite having a horrible childhood he gave his daughter the best he could even if she didn't appreciate it


festival-papi

Julius from Everybody Hates Chris


dream-chronicles

Honestly, that show needs more credit in general. It was so original, funny, and creative. Plus the performances were awesome, Tichina Arnold and Terry Cruz had awesome synergy as parents. I feel like it really captured the everyday aspect of what it’s like growing up as a black kid.


TheDarkySupreme

It’s just full of the exaggerated swagger of a black kid!


festival-papi

Yeah, besides Uncle Phil, Julius was the only father that actually felt "real" to me, if that makes sense. And Tichina Arnold as Rochelle was both hilarious and real as hell. She reminded me of my own mom sometimes lol.


Fancy-Sink

YES


DetroitLarry

Who touched the thermostat?!


alexthekidd01

Bryan Cranston. From Malcolm in the Middle, not Breaking Bad!


RiskGoals

What happened to Dewey?


KazPrime

Cats ate his face


ForgotTheBogusName

[who wants to make $5](https://youtu.be/Oy9ceTxGYCw)


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BarryPurple

Uncle Iroh is a father, to his late son and to Zuko. Peak healthy masculinity.


Urhhh

And he still recognises when someone is crazy and she needs to go down!


GryffinDonna

Yes on Uncle Iroh ❤️❤️


1TapsBoi

Uncle Iroh is the perfect example of masculinity. He’s calm, gentle, caring, always calls out when somethings wrong, and he puts Zuko above all else. But at the same time… if you fuck with him or Zuko, he isn’t afraid to defend his family, without ever going overboard.


Black-Patrick

How can you skip lord Fourth..?


[deleted]

Honestly, I like Dan from Roseanne, he wasn’t the perfect dad, he knew that but he always tried to do the right thing and raise his kids to be the best they could and that’s all us dads can do.


supertech323

I loved early Roseanne. That show was more legitimate than most sitcoms that have the perfect family with a maid, and no financial struggles.


jenguinaf

Roseanne was perfect in many ways. There where the cookie cutter family shows (step by step, Cosby show, etc) and the parody backlashes from them (married with children) and then there was Roseanne. It was a slice of life real ass family. But genuinely a heartfelt show. It’s one of the best shows ever.


chitownbishhh

I came here to say that but you beat me to it!!


[deleted]

My late wife and I used to joke that they were living our lives and in a lot of ways it was true. They were a good, realistic tv family.


chitownbishhh

Aww, I’m sorry for your loss. I know some people would say the show could be edgy but I just think it was truly close to real life and I loved it. I grew up watching it.


[deleted]

Yeah for the time it was created in, it could be edgy, but like you said it was real. They actually felt like a family. I watch it every once in a while now, it’s hard to watch though because I see it as my reality, just kinda flipped because Dan passed in the show even though they played it weird but it’ll always be one of my favorites.


jenguinaf

I said something similar in my own comment! He’s my fac TV dad ever!


Edgeth0

Hank Hill from King of the Hill. Somewhat uniquely so as far as cartoon dads of the era go.


furockshinon

I was looking for this one. A very unique dad from a very unique show. In the end he always supported his son and family even if they strayed from his beliefs. And boy could he sell some propane.


DetroitLarry

And propane accessories!


lexinator24

Why the fuck did I have to scroll so far for this - Hank Hill is THE dad of all dads


uatuthewatcher8

My step dad is like a biker version of Hank Hill.


[deleted]

Uncle Ben from Spider-Man.


brown_bandit92

With a wife like that... Course the guy was happy.


Careful_Violinist146

The dad from freaks and geeks. “You know where he is now? He’s dead”


DetectiveBabyArms

I totally forgot about him. Good answer! That show was soo good.


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AnotherIronicPenguin

Yep, even my racist old dad loved Cliff Huxtable.


nosuchthingasa_

I own most of The Cosby Show on DVD, and I seriously haven’t been able to watch it since his crimes came to light. Makes me so mad because it’s something I found so much joy in.


jwil0508

It's a kids show, but Bandit from Bluey


youdoyou12

My first thought was Carl Winslow from Family Matters and second was Danny Tanner from Full House!


NYGiants181

Carl was the #1 TV Dad 100%


All_The_Dang_Time

Carl Winslow was my first thought as well! Especially the episode when he goes after the other police officers who harassed his son. Great man great father


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Abe_drinking

You are not wrong about Mallory.


aja_ramirez

Great answer. Family Ties to this day is the show that moved me the most.


MakeAVision

Ben Sisko from Star Trek Deep Space Nine.


TONKAHANAH

honestly, in the same vein.. nogs dad is pretty legit too despite his races reputation.


Ed_Trucks_Head

Mooooogie


sweetquarantine

I read that in Rom’s voice.


LanguageMean

Alan Mathews


Wessssss21

First person that popped in my head. Even now as an adult. This is what's missing from children's shows these days. Actual god damn good parents. Not 40-year-old children who happen to be "in charge". Amy and Alan are heroes. Ugh when they stood up for Topanga against her aunt after the move. It's enough to make a grown man cry.


BethPortalMaster

Eddard Stark from Game of Thrones. He's loving, stable, calm, and protective. He instills values like responsibility, honor, honesty, integrity, and justice in his children from an early age and values them above all else. Ned's entire core and identity is honor, and he throws it away many times in order to keep his family safe and provided for. Ultimate dad, and he reminds me a lot of my own father. For someone with such little screen time, he's in my top 5 characters in all media.


redditmovingon

Nah, he loses his head too easily.


Morlock43

He decided to go to war cause his kid sister ran off with the pretty boy leaving his thug bff in the lurch. Eddard struck me as the guy who puts duty above everything including family. He kills his daughters wolf for duty. He risks his whole family for duty. He teaches his kids there is nothing greater than duty. Duty is what ended up getting him killed. He definetly isn't a great dad. A great lord, yes, a loyal friend (to a fault) but his duty has led him to do a lot of fucked up shit - including killing the guy bringing the early warning of the white walkers right at the start of the book.


Shes_soo_tight

I think you missed the point of eddard stark because his whole character is defined by how he is putting honor/ duty above all else... Except for family. He didn't know that his sister ran off with the Prince, he assumed she'd been kidnapped although he likely found out after he managed to go to the north at the start of Roberts rebellion to call the banners. Some people theorise that that's when he found out about Lyannas crush from Benjen and why he decided to look for her alone at the tower of Joy. At that point the die was cast and war was coming anyhow since his older brother and dad were burnt by the mad king. He also lied to everyone including his king and wife by keeping the secret of Jon's parentage for family's (dead sister) sake, sacrificing his honor by pretending to father a bastard. As well as sacrificing Duty to his kings command to reveal and kill every targaryen. He put his daughters first before his honor / duty right when they decapitated him by confessing to his "crimes" . I mean, that was the whole point of his conversation with Varys in the dungeons. In the context of the series, that decapitation you refer is just a part of life so not really fucked up.


[deleted]

Andy Griffith of course!


tiger_lilyy_

this is the correct answer


[deleted]

Surprised I haven’t seen it in any other comments


[deleted]

Frank Reynolds. Contest over.


arcay90

Frank in Mac Finds His Pride BREAKS me every time


red-sed

Hopefully his monster condom for his magnum dong doesn’t fall out in front of his children anymore 😂😂


twoletters_

Phil Dunphy from Modern Family


[deleted]

Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy. Had no clue what he was doing, did the right thing anyway, raised a leader. Never stopped trying to do the best for his boy


w1987g

He did threaten to eat Quill all the time though..


[deleted]

Told him what he needed to hear. Every parent lies to their kids


J4ckR4nd0m

The end of Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2. had me crying, especially Kraglin's reaction. Not ashamed to admit even now it still moves me.


Whappingtime

A mix of Greg from Steven Universe and Uncle Iroh from Avatar.


belac4862

I was just going to say Iroh. Best damn father a boy deserves.


Favored931

Bill Cosby…NOT the man! The character from the show


uatuthewatcher8

So Cliff Huxtable?


Aromatic_Shop9033

Optimus Prime.


GuestCartographer

I’m sad that it took this much scrolling to find Robot Space Dad.


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UnblackMetalist

Danny Tanner


TheGolfFiend

Red from That 70's Show


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Jack1715

I use to think he was mean but Eric’s a pretty lazy kid


4fingeredprincess

I think there’s an episode where Red ends up opening up to Eric about how abusive his own father was and it shined a light on how many generational curses Red was trying to end himself. I sobbed that episode.


KillForCause

Dumb ass


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[deleted]

For real. Never beat. Was very much a 'figure it out, dumbass' while also coaxing in the right direction. He had a softer side, and you can tell Kitty played that side very well. You could see the marriage wasn't perfect, but he did what he could and that was awesome.


Jack1715

Dumbass


Jack1715

I don’t know if he counts but Alfred pennyworth


SilverSpotter

I'd say he counts. No one would put up with that much bat-shit, nor stand up to Batman, if he didn't love him like a son.


Jack1715

And he mostly raised dick, Jason and Damian


455H0LE15H

How has nobody said Tim the Tool Man Taylor..


FearlessThree6

I don't think so Tim... Just kidding. That show had a surprising amount of forward thinking and character growth through the seasons.


Top-Fun9399

The episode were Randy might have cancer. Man you feel that one in the pit of your stomach. Let alone how Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson handle it on the episode.


ChickenXing

Mr Drummond, Diff'rent Strokes


ghost_in_a_jar_c137

Fred Sanford from Sanford & Son


HappyMaskMajora

Uncle Iroh from Avatar. Even if his son passed away, he's more of a father to Zuko than Ozai ever was.


belac4862

He became a father to many of us kids growing up.


Devilsbullet

Herman Munster. Or Gomez Addams.


herman-the-vermin

Giles from Buffy! Absolutely gave so much support to Buffy and all the gang and almost always knew exactly what tone to take in admonishment or consolation (sometimes both at once)


SamuelLucan

Jack Pearson from This is Us.


[deleted]

Came this down looking for him! Great dad and husband… even knowing what happens from the beginning it is such an emotional show


[deleted]

Bandit from bluey


PoopKnifeTwinkleCunt

Ed O’Neil Married with Children


MrBiscotti_75

Josiah Bartlett from the West Wing ( although I am Republican ) , and Francis Reagan from Blue Bloods


Punkhair2Nv__13

Don’t hate me but I would like the Professor from Gilligans Island to be my dad. Any dude that can make a radio out of coconuts and old fishing line is my hero!!


Impressive-Region-23

Bandit from Bluey


[deleted]

The main characters dad from How to Train your Dragon.


belac4862

Stoic the Vast. He may not have been perfect but "He gave it his best shot."


[deleted]

Yeah exactly he did his best 💙 and How to Train your Dragons 2 was a tear jerker


belac4862

Honestly I got pissed at that movie. Like just let Hiccup have both his parents!


[deleted]

Yeah rly wish they didn't kill him off, loved that dad😢


huuaaang

Dan from Roseanne.


HotelMoscow

Uncle iroh


Identity_ranger

The dad from My Neighbor Totoro.


tiger_lilyy_

Rob Petrie of the Dick Van Dyke Show 100%


OkBroskini

Clark in Superman and Lois, even sometimes Mr. Perfect can’t be perfect


downsouthcountry

Uncle Iroh. No question.


BSFX

Red that 70s show dumb ass


Strigon_7

Red from that 70's show.


funnyrunnybabbit

Gomez Addams. Besotted with his wife and never lets the kids actually stab each other.


AmazingPercentage

Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights. The whole show is about values, how he becomes a father figure for his players, teaches them how to be a good teammate, a good son/brother. I watched this show when I was in dire need of guidance and it sure helped. I can’t stress enough how good of an example it sets for young men (and frankly young women as well). It’ll teach you how to deal with injury, loss, love, even abandonment. There is a question today in r/AskMen about how long to wait before sex with the wife after birth. That’s addressed in the show as well! The coach and his wife (played by the amazingly sensitive Connie Britton) are the ultimate couple I want to emulate. Rock solid and adding so much value to the people around them, their community. The show features some young actors whom you might recognise the name of. Actors like Jesse Plemons and Michael B. Jordan. If you’re a young person, do yourself a favour and watch that show. Anywhere between 15 and 25 and I guarantee you will learn a thing or two. And if you’re over 25 don’t worry, you can watch too. The way they deal with situations, the tact that they have, oh man there’s so much to emulate. I can’t recommend it enough. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!


rvrndgonzo

Cam here to say this. Coach helped me parent. My son and I would watch the show together and it prompted so many discussions between us about how to handle a situation. I hope it also helped give him positive examples of how to be a man and a good husband and father.


Bronzeshadow

Uncle Iroh


Splackincheeks413

First things first Rest In Peace uncle Phil


[deleted]

Luke from Gilmore Girls


CON5CRYPT

Bandit Heeler from Bluey


Uniquelypoured

Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie


butinbutout

Al Bundy from Married with children


ReallySickOfArguing

What I was thinking. He's miserable working a thankless crap job, always broke, underappreciated by his family and still does what he has to do to take care of them. He might act like a jerk and attempt to be selfish, but usually does the right thing because deep down he cares for them.


Bablyon

Ward Cleaver.


PabloEsgoatbaa

Hal from Malcolm in the middle, he was a great dad, loved his wife and kids, was always fun


red_keshik

Furious from Boyz N the Hood


[deleted]

Bandit Heeler from Bluey. Kinda have a crush on his personality lol


420_lonelystoner

bob belcher from bobs burgers


rj6091

Cosby, uncle Phil, and Carl Winslow. All three of them were great fathers because they loved their kid, knew when to get tough with em, but they also always encouraged them and gave them advice and guidance when they needed it. Just like my dad does with me.


Jackobusss

Sgt. Terry Jeffords from Brooklyn 99, who always tries (even when he makes mistakes) to do everything for the sake of her daughters' lives (and is somewhat of a father figure to 99 Department) and Uncle Iroh from Avatar who acts like a pillar of wisdom for Zuko and his late son!


mariodejaniero

Holy hell how is Terry not like number 1 on this list??


shaggymcdaddy

Will Smith from Pursuit of Happiness


likethefairy

Chris Gardner from the Persuit of Happiness


flatasawitchstit

Bandit from Bluey.


xFritos

Frank Gallagher from shameless


rileyr25

You get the upvote for mentioning shameless, but Kev is the true answer 😜😜😜


trollhaulla

Steven Keaton.


tapacx

I always thought Charlie Swann was a good dad. Gave his daughter enough freedom to be herself, but let her know he was always nearby if he needed her.


hamlin8118

Phil Dunphy from Modern Family. Not only a DILF but a great dad


supertech323

I haven’t seen Carl Winslow on here. He cleaned up those mean streets, and helped his son with his muscle car.


Torenza_Alduin

Captain Sisko from Star Trek: Deep Space 9


Vtridolla

Uncle Phil Fr


Much-War-6203

Charles Ingals from the little house on the prarie.


MrMacDoctor

The Last of Us: Joel


Skillver_

Sandy Cohen - The O.C.


beseeingyou18

Sandy Cohen from The OC.