TV Guide's 50 Greatest Dads and Moms of All Time
by jordanhores | created - 13 Sep 2018 | updated - 9 months ago | PublicThis list is a list of the 50 greatest fathers and mothers in television history. Highlights diversity and epitome of being parental figures within their families. Excluding TV shows with mixed, negative and panned critical reception. Excluding characters with less than 60 episodes and derived from movies. No specific ranking. F=50 M=50 --Extra Mentions Little House on the Prairie Happy Days 7th Heaven George Lopez The Munsters Who's the Boss? The OC Family 8 is Enough The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Once & Again Growing Pains Lost in Space Beverly Hills 90210 Everwood -The Bernie Mac Show -8 Simple Rules Roseanne
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1. The Waltons (1972–1981)
TV-G | 60 min | Drama, Family, Romance
The life and trials of a 1930s and 1940s Virginia mountain family through financial depression and World War II.
Stars: Jon Walmsley, Mary Beth McDonough, Eric Scott, Kami Cotler
Votes: 9,063
John Walton Sr.* Olivia Walton*
2. The Danny Thomas Show (1953–1965)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Danny is a New York entertainer. Between his co-stars at the nightclub where he performs and his wife and kids, he has dilemmas galore, which he somehow manages to resolve and still laugh.
Stars: Danny Thomas, Rusty Hamer, Marjorie Lord, Angela Cartwright
Votes: 1,247
Danny Williams * Margaret Williams*
3. Father Knows Best (1954–1960)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The popular radio show comes to life in this hit sitcom about a wise family man, Jim Anderson, his common-sense wife Margaret and their children Betty, Bud and Kathy.
Stars: Robert Young, Lauren Chapin, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray
Votes: 2,641
Jim Anderson * Margaret Anderson*
4. My Three Sons (1960–1972)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Widower Steve Douglas raises three sons with the help of his father-in-law, and is later aided by the boys' great-uncle. An adopted son, a stepdaughter, wives, and another generation of sons join the loving family in later seasons.
Stars: Fred MacMurray, Stanley Livingston, Don Grady, Barry Livingston
Votes: 4,499
Steve Douglas * Barbara Harper Douglas-
5. I Love Lucy (1951–1957)
TV-Y | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.
Stars: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley
Votes: 28,944
Lucy Ricardo* Ricky Ricardo-
6. Family Ties (1982–1989)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Chronicles liberal ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter, Justine Bateman
Votes: 20,336
Steven Keaton * Elyse Keaton*
7. The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a large family united when a widower and a widow marry.
Stars: Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Ann B. Davis, Maureen McCormick
Votes: 15,723
Mike Brady * Carol Brady*
8. Bewitched (1964–1972)
TV-G | 25 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
A witch married to an ordinary man cannot resist using her magic powers to solve the problems her family faces.
Stars: Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead
Votes: 24,404
Samantha Stephens* Darrin Stephens-
9. The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family
A loving mother and wife deals with situations and problems of a middle-class family in the late 1950s and the early 1960s.
Stars: Donna Reed, Paul Petersen, Carl Betz, Shelley Fabares
Votes: 1,895
Alex Stone * Donna Stone*
10. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a TV writer both at work and at home.
Stars: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam
Votes: 11,895
Robert Petrie * Laura Petrie*
11. Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a suburban boy, family and friends.
Stars: Jerry Mathers, Hugh Beaumont, Barbara Billingsley, Tony Dow
Votes: 9,358
Ward Cleaver * June Cleaver*
12. All in the Family (1971–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
A working class man constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.
Stars: Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers
Votes: 18,681
Archie Bunker * Edith Bunker*
13. The Simpsons (1989– )
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.
Stars: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner
Votes: 436,294
Homer Simpson * Marge Simpson*
14. The Patty Duke Show (1963–1966)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Music
Teenager Patty Lane and her worldly identical cousin Cathy navigate family and high school life.
Stars: Patty Duke, Jean Byron, William Schallert, Paul O'Keefe
Votes: 1,549
Martin Lane * Natalie Lane*
15. The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.
Stars: Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover
Votes: 10,617
George Jefferson * Louise Jefferson*
16. Thirtysomething (1987–1991)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
Seven tricenarians living in Philadelphia struggle with everyday adult angst.
Stars: Timothy Busfield, Polly Draper, Mel Harris, Peter Horton
Votes: 3,053
Michael Steadman * Hope Steadman*
17. The Jetsons (1962–1963)
TV-Y7 | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a futuristic family.
Stars: George O'Hanlon, Janet Waldo, Mel Blanc, Penny Singleton
Votes: 24,006
Jane Jetson* George Jetson-
18. The Addams Family (1964–1966)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Horror
The misadventures of a blissfully macabre but extremely loving family.
Stars: John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy
Votes: 21,823
Morticia Addams* Gomez Addams-
19. The Sopranos (1999–2007)
TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama
New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.
Stars: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli
Votes: 472,237
Carmela Soprano- Tony Soprano
20. Modern Family (2009–2020)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Three different, but related, families face trials and tribulations in their own uniquely comedic ways.
Stars: Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell
Votes: 484,230
Mitchell Pritchett Cameron Tucker
21. Dallas (1978–1991)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
J.R. Ewing, a Texas oil baron, uses manipulation and blackmail to achieve his ambitions, both business and personal. He often comes into conflict with his brother Bobby, his arch-enemy Cliff Barnes and his long-suffering wife Sue Ellen.
Stars: Larry Hagman, Ken Kercheval, Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray
Votes: 16,600
Clayton Farlow Ellie Ewing-
22. Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Family
A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.
Stars: Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan
Votes: 142,668
^Lois Wilkinson* ^Hal Wilkinson-
23. The Flintstones (1960–1966)
TV-G | 26 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles.
Stars: Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Jean Vander Pyl, Bea Benaderet
Votes: 41,053
Wilma Flintstone* Fred Flintstone- Betty Rubble* Barney Rubble-
24. Lassie (1954–1974)
TV-G | 30 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
The ongoing saga of the Martin family and their beloved collie, Lassie.
Stars: Lassie, Jon Provost, June Lockhart, Hugh Reilly
Votes: 3,811
Ruth Martin- Paul Martin- `Ellen Miller*
25. Seinfeld (1989–1998)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy
The continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends.
Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander
Votes: 351,949
Estelle Constanza* Frank Constanza-
26. NYPD Blue (1993–2005)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Detectives from NYPD's 15th Precinct investigate homicides within their precinct.
Stars: Dennis Franz, Jimmy Smits, Gordon Clapp, James McDaniel
Votes: 16,352
Andy Sipowicz * Connie McDowell*
27. Bonanza (1959–1973)
TV-PG | 49 min | Western
The Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.
Stars: Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts
Votes: 11,011
Ben Cartwright *
28. The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Widower Sheriff Andy Taylor, and his son Opie, live with Andy's Aunt Bee in Mayberry, North Carolina. With virtually no crimes to solve, most of Andy's time is spent philosophizing and calming down his cousin Deputy Barney Fife.
Stars: Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Don Knotts, Frances Bavier
Votes: 17,012
Andy Griffith *
29. Alias (2001–2006)
TV-14 | 42 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
Sydney Bristow is an international spy recruited out of college, trained for espionage and self-defense.
Stars: Jennifer Garner, Ron Rifkin, Carl Lumbly, Kevin Weisman
Votes: 54,788
Jack Bristow *
30. The Rifleman (1958–1963)
TV-PG | 30 min | Family, Western
The adventures of a Wild West rancher, wielding a customized rapid-fire Winchester rifle, and his son.
Stars: Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford, Paul Fix, Joe Benson
Votes: 5,019
Lucas McCain *
31. The Rockford Files (1974–1980)
TV-PG | 50 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The cases of an easy-going ex-convict turned private investigator.
Stars: James Garner, Noah Beery Jr., Joe Santos, Luis Delgado
Votes: 10,889
Rocky Rockford *
32. Sanford and Son (1972–1978)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.
Stars: Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, LaWanda Page, Don Bexley
Votes: 10,819
Fred Sanford *
33. The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
Four previously married women live together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times.
Stars: Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty
Votes: 47,274
Dorothy Zbornak Rose Nylund Blanche Devereaux Sophia Petrillo-
34. Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama
The story of the drama surrounding a family's adult siblings.
Stars: Dave Annable, Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Ron Rifkin
Votes: 25,574
Nora Walker*
35. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A young woman, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head
Votes: 159,868
Joyce Summers*
36. The Big Valley (1965–1969)
TV-PG | 60 min | Western
The Wild West adventures of the Barkley family in California's San Joaquin Valley.
Stars: Richard Long, Peter Breck, Lee Majors, Linda Evans
Votes: 3,548
`Victoria Barkley*
37. Petticoat Junction (1963–1970)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of the family staff of The Shady Rest Hotel and their neighbors of Hooterville.
Stars: Edgar Buchanan, Linda Henning, Bea Benaderet, Frank Cady
Votes: 3,651
`Kate Bradley*
38. Grey's Anatomy (2005– )
TV-14 | 41 min | Drama, Romance
A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors.
Stars: Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Justin Chambers
Votes: 342,197
Meredith Grey-
39. Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A young African-American teen attempts to survive with his dysfunctional family and his all-white school in the 1980s.
Stars: Terry Crews, Tichina Arnold, Tequan Richmond, Imani Hakim
Votes: 41,868
Rochelle- Julius-
40. The Wonder Years (1988–1993)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Kevin Arnold recalls growing up during the late 60s and early 70s; the turbulent social times make the transition from child to adult unusually interesting.
Stars: Fred Savage, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, Jason Hervey
Votes: 40,811
Norma Arnold- Jack Arnold-
41. King of the Hill (1997–2010)
TV-14 | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A straight-laced propane salesman in Arlen, Texas tries to deal with the wacky antics of his family and friends, while also trying to keep his son in line.
Stars: Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon, Johnny Hardwick
Votes: 58,518
Peggy Hill- Hank Hill-
42. Kim Possible (2002–2007)
TV-G | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A high school cheerleader and her clumsy best friend balance their duties as global crime-fighters with the typical challenges of adolescence.
Stars: Christy Carlson Romano, Will Friedle, Nancy Cartwright, Tahj Mowry
Votes: 32,274
Ann Possible- James Possible-
43. Boy Meets World (1993–2000)
TV-PG | 23 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
An adolescent with two siblings tests his various theories about life as he endures the trials of growing up alongside a good friend.
Stars: Ben Savage, Rider Strong, William Daniels, Betsy Randle
Votes: 46,456
Amy Matthews- Alan Matthews-
44. Dennis the Menace (1959–1963)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Television episodes built around the same sorts of incidents found in Hank Ketcham's long-running comic strip.
Stars: Herbert Anderson, Jay North, Gloria Henry, Billy Booth
Votes: 2,551
Alice Mitchell- Henry Mitchell-
45. Cagney & Lacey (1981–1988)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Two female police detectives cooperate with each other both in their professions and in their personal lives.
Stars: Tyne Daly, Sharon Gless, Al Waxman, Martin Kove
Votes: 5,058
MaryBeth Lacey- Harvey Lacey-
46. Soap (1977–1981)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The soap-operish antics of two families: the Campbells and the Tates.
Stars: Katherine Helmond, Rod Roddy, Richard Mulligan, Cathryn Damon
Votes: 8,287
Mary Campbell- Burt Campbell- Jessica Tate- Chester Tate
47. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959–1963)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Comedy, Family
A young man schemes and attempts to get the "better things in life" mostly popularity, success, and most importantly, girls.
Stars: Dwayne Hickman, Bob Denver, Frank Faylen, Florida Friebus
Votes: 2,058
Winifred Gillis- Herbert T. Gillis-
48. Hazel (1961–1966)
30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of the Baxter family and their live-in maid, Hazel Burke.
Stars: Shirley Booth, Bobby Buntrock, Don DeFore, Whitney Blake
Votes: 2,125
Dorothy Baxter- George Baxter-
49. The Stu Erwin Show (1950–1955)
30 min | Comedy
Stu Erwin played a mild-mannered high-school principal, with June Collyer as his wife.
Stars: Stuart Erwin, June Collyer, Ann E. Todd, Sheila James Kuehl
Votes: 136
June Erwin- Stu Erwin-
50. That's So Raven (2003–2007)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
A teenage girl periodically receives brief psychic visions of the near future. Trying to make these visions come true results in trouble, and hilarious situations, for the girl and her friends.
Stars: Raven-Symoné, Orlando Brown, Anneliese van der Pol, Kyle Massey
Votes: 21,566
Tanya Baxter- Victor Baxter-
51. Veronica Mars (2004–2019)
TV-14 | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
After her best friend is murdered, and her father is removed as county Sheriff, Veronica Mars dedicates her life to cracking the toughest mysteries in the affluent town of Neptune.
Stars: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni, Percy Daggs III
Votes: 78,133
Keith Mars-
52. Fury (1955–1960)
30 min | Drama, Family, Western
A horse and the boy who loved him.
Stars: Peter Graves, William Fawcett, Bobby Diamond, Highland Dale
Votes: 576
Jim Newton-
53. The Bob Cummings Show (1955–1959)
Not Rated | 30 min | Comedy
The romantic misadventures of Bob Collins, a suave, sophisticated bachelor and photographer operating in Hollywood, California. The show is centered around his womanizing ways with his models, and his sister's attempts to make him settle down.
Stars: Robert Cummings, Ann B. Davis, Rosemary DeCamp, Dwayne Hickman
Votes: 472
`Margaret MacDonald-
54. The Doris Day Show (1968–1973)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
After spending most of her life in big cities, widow Doris Martin decides to move back to the family ranch.
Stars: Doris Day, Philip Brown, Todd Starke, Denver Pyle
Votes: 876
`Doris Martin-
55. Arthur (1996–2022)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Based on the books by Marc Brown, these are the adventures of Arthur, an 8-year-old aardvark, and his family and friends as they grow up and learn how to be good neighbors to one another.
Stars: Daniel Brochu, J.T. Turner, Jodie Resther, Bruce Dinsmore
Votes: 15,921
Jane & David Read Bitzi & Bo Baxter Cisely & Rufus Compson Doria & Mr. Walters Millicent & Ed Crosswire Laverne & Oliver Frensky Wanda & Mr. Deegan Mrs. & Neal Lundgren Mrs. & Ramon Molina Mrs. & Mr. Barnes Mrs. & Mr. Armstrong -Mrs. & Mr. Morgan Mrs. & Mr. Powers Mrs. & Mr. MacDonald
56. Sesame Street (1969– )
TV-Y | 55 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
On a special inner city street, the inhabitants, human and muppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.
Stars: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Caroll Spinney, Jerry Nelson
Votes: 15,389
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