- 6/15/2025
From wise mentors to protective guardians, these memorable father figures have left an indelible mark on entertainment. Join us as we celebrate the most inspiring paternal characters who've shown us what it means to be a dad, whether by blood or by choice. These characters taught us valuable life lessons and touched our hearts.
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00:00Over the years, you've sometimes referred to me as something of a father figure.
00:03Did I? I didn't realise that.
00:04Welcome to Miss Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 father figures in movies and TV.
00:11The next time we see each other, we'll talk about you, Mother.
00:16Hmm? I promise.
00:19For this list, we'll be looking at the top father figures in film and on television, all in one video.
00:25First, we got the greatest dads, mentors and or caregivers on TV.
00:30And we're leaving off animated ones.
00:32Stick around after the first 10 for the movie dads.
00:35Which small screen dad do you wish was yours?
00:37Drop a comment and let us know.
00:40Number 10, Ron Swanson, Parks and Recreation.
00:43Ron Swanson, aka Duke Silver, aka The Steakman, was the breakout star of Parks and Recreation.
00:50But Indianapolis is home to Charles Mulligan's Steakhouse.
00:55The best damn steakhouse in the damn state.
00:57Yet, it wasn't his love for breakfast foods and disdain for the government that made him so lovable.
01:03Ron really did care about his co-workers.
01:06He mentors his assistant, April, who he convinces not to quit even after she accidentally scheduled 93 meetings in one day.
01:14Well, I don't want to come back.
01:16The end.
01:18I was talking to Andy about you and he made me realize that I need you back at work.
01:23What did he say?
01:25Don't recall.
01:26Fine, I'll come back.
01:27Good.
01:28He supports Andy's decision to take a women's studies course and awards him a scholarship to pay for it.
01:34Ron may show little to no emotion, but he is a big old softie when it comes to his quirky staff.
01:40So, I don't want to see Andy waste his time in college.
01:44Of all my co-workers, he is one of a small number whom I do not actively root against.
01:48Ah, there I go, getting all sappy.
01:52Number 9, Din Djarin, The Mandalorian.
01:55Din Djarin may try to come across as a rough, tough bounty hunter, but he melts at the sight of Grogu.
02:05And who can blame him?
02:07Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, is adorable.
02:11Initially, Grogu is Din Djarin's bounty, but he decides to go on the run and protect the little cutie instead.
02:17Din Djarin is probably the best dad in the Star Wars-verse, as he changes his own life to do what's best for his charge.
02:26Stop touching things.
02:37From teaching Grogu not to press random buttons in his spaceship, to training him as his foundling, Din Djarin is one caring father.
02:45He's not the perfect dad, but that's what makes this Mandalorian so relatable.
02:51Then I will adopt him as my own.
03:00This is the way.
03:03This is the way.
03:04Number 8, Giles, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
03:08Rupert Giles may not have initially wanted to be a watcher, but he did end up becoming an excellent one.
03:14He accepted his calling and helped train Buffy and the rest of the Scooby gang.
03:18I'm Mr. Giles, the librarian.
03:22I was told you were coming.
03:25Great.
03:26So, um, I'm gonna need perspectives on 20th century...
03:29I know what you're after.
03:30Giles provided them with the intel they needed to take down all those pesky monsters.
03:35Yet, Giles goes above and beyond the duties of your typical librarian.
03:40I don't know what to say.
03:44Tell me about it.
03:48She has no idea.
03:50No.
03:52While he didn't love Buffy at first, he later embraced her.
03:56He wasn't crazy about Buffy's vampire beau, Angel, but agreed to work with him.
04:01Sorry, coming from you, that phrase strikes me as rather funny.
04:05Sorry to bother me.
04:06I need your help.
04:07And the funny keeps on coming.
04:08I understand I have no right to ask for it.
04:11But the most fatherly action of Giles was to leave Buffy so she could embrace her own responsibilities.
04:18Number 7, Joel Miller, The Last of Us franchise.
04:21It's one thing to try to save a teenager.
04:25Smuggling someone across the United States during a global pandemic where the infected are basically zombies is a whole other story.
04:33What are you doing?
04:34Killing time.
04:35What am I supposed to do?
04:36I'm sure you'll figure that out.
04:37Yet, that's what Joel Miller does for Ellie, the one person immune to the virus.
04:43The two go from apprehensive strangers to being each other's surrogate family.
04:47Joel eventually calls Ellie his baby girl, and Ellie makes him laugh with her signature puns.
04:53Like any father and daughter, Ellie and Joel do get into fights.
04:57Listen, uh...
04:57Why are you here?
05:00I came here to talk to you.
05:01No way, you're still here.
05:03If you're gonna ditch me, ditch me.
05:05But their bond is the heart of the series, both in the games and TV show.
05:10Number 6, Captain Raymond Holt, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
05:13Captain of Brooklyn's 99th Precinct, Ray Holt, shows virtually no emotion.
05:19Everyone, I'm your new commanding officer, Captain Ray Holt.
05:23Speech!
05:24That was my speech.
05:25Short and sweet.
05:26We can understand his reserve, given that he was New York's first African-American gay police captain.
05:32Despite his stoic nature, he does care about his detectives.
05:36Holt is less than impressed with his underling Jake Peralta's antics.
05:40But, thanks to Holt's mentorship, he does mature.
05:43When his sophisticated husband mocks Holt's co-workers, he stands up for them.
05:48You're the one who's been acting terribly tonight.
05:50You've been curd and snobby with my guests.
05:52You've been needling poor Peralta so much, you practically made him a new suit.
05:55Needled him a new suit.
05:57Even when we're fighting, you're hilarious. Stop it. Stop it.
06:00By the end of the series, Holt tells Jake that if he had a son like him, he would be proud.
06:06Excuse us, we need to go find a few tissues.
06:08If I had had a son, and he had turned out like you, I would be very proud of him.
06:24Thank you, sir.
06:25Hopper, aka Hop, is first introduced as a bitter cop who misuses alcohol.
06:34But all that changes once Eleven enters his life.
06:38Now what are we talking about?
06:41Dinner first, then dessert.
06:43Always.
06:45That's a rule.
06:48Yeah.
06:49Rather than leave Eleven to fend for herself in the woods, he takes her into his cabin,
06:57where he even makes her favourite dish, Eggos.
07:00When Eleven had to close the gate of the Upside Down for good, Hopper was right there with her.
07:09He can be overprotective at times, but hey, that has dad vibes too.
07:13He eventually goes from father figure to official dad with her adoption.
07:18We have to give a shout-out to Steve Harrington as well, who also has dad vibes, as he watches over the kiddos.
07:25You're not falling in love with this girl, are you?
07:28No.
07:28No.
07:30Okay, good.
07:32Don't.
07:33I won't.
07:34She's only going to break your heart, and you're way too young for that shit.
07:37Number four, Eric Taylor.
07:38Friday Night Lights.
07:40Tammy Taylor, the wife of coach Eric Taylor, often complains about how the football players at Dillon High
07:46can get away with practically anything.
07:48Got yourself a heck of a quarterback.
07:50He's a good boy.
07:51Very proud of him.
07:52While football is almost worshipped in the town, coach Taylor does hold his players to a moral code.
07:57He suspends one athlete for using steroids, which, come on, was totally the right thing to do,
08:03and expels another for insubordination.
08:06The fine doesn't win playoff games.
08:07You're out here to win, or you go home.
08:09Understood?
08:09I was just doing what I'm told.
08:13You know what?
08:14Don't talk back to me.
08:15You're talking back to me?
08:15You think it's the best you can talk about?
08:16Although coach Taylor is tough, his players do respect him.
08:20Since he's the closest thing many of the players have to a father, they treat him as such.
08:24And coach Taylor is more than happy to fill that role for them.
08:28Every man at some point in his life is going to lose a battle.
08:32He's going to fight, and he's going to lose.
08:34But what makes him a man is that in the midst of that battle, he does not lose himself.
08:42Number three, Uncle Phil, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
08:45After an accidental run-in with gang members in Philadelphia,
08:48Will moves in with his aunt and uncle in the affluent LA neighbourhood of Bel-Air.
08:53It is amazing. You certainly have grown, Will.
08:56Well, we all have.
08:58With his street-smart Philly attitude,
09:00Will clashes with his stern Uncle Phil on multiple occasions.
09:05But despite their differences, Will and Uncle Phil do love each other.
09:09Uncle Phil proves just how much he cares about Will
09:11when he stands up to Will's absentee father.
09:14Cut the crap, all right? Cut it!
09:17Because I've been there.
09:19But I didn't run out on my family.
09:21I was there every day for them, because that's what a man does.
09:24Fine, Philip!
09:26You win!
09:27And after Will breaks down, Uncle Phil is right there to comfort him.
09:32How come he don't want me, man?
09:34He's the uncle we all wish we had.
09:37Number two, Eddard Ned Stark, Game of Thrones.
09:41While Ned wasn't with us for too long,
09:43he was by far one of the most honourable characters on the show.
09:46And which one of you was a marksman at ten?
09:50Keep practising, Bran.
09:51Go on.
09:56Don't think too much, Bran.
09:58Despite Jon Snow being his bastard, supposedly,
10:01he treated him as he did his other children.
10:04Due to this acceptance,
10:06Jon was able to have close relationships with the other Stark children.
10:09This is no toy.
10:11Be careful you don't cut yourself.
10:20You're so skinny.
10:21So were you.
10:24How'd the blacksmith make it for you special?
10:26We later learn, of course, that Jon is not actually Ned's son,
10:29but the son of Ned's sister.
10:32Ned took Jon in to protect him from the current king,
10:34who would otherwise have killed him to protect his claim to the throne.
10:38You have to protect him.
10:44Promise me, Ned.
10:49Promise me.
10:50Oh, Ned.
10:51You were taken away from us too soon.
10:54Number one, Mr. Feeney.
10:56Boy Meets World.
10:57The power that teachers have over their students is often underestimated.
11:01It's undeniable, though,
11:02just how much of an impact Mr. Feeney had over Corey, Sean, and their friends.
11:08You see, Mr. Hunter, once the integrity has been breached,
11:12even the strongest fabric can unravel.
11:16Even the strongest friendship.
11:18He was always there to impart wisdom,
11:20all the way from their grade school years to college.
11:22He even makes a few cameos in Girl Meets World.
11:27Well done, Mr. Matthews.
11:30Topanga compares adult Corey to Mr. Feeney,
11:33one of the greatest compliments she could give.
11:36Considering his importance in their lives,
11:38it's only fitting that Mr. Feeney gets the last line.
11:42I love you all.
11:50Class dismissed.
11:52Now, let's dive into the most supportive,
11:55wise, and devoted pseudo-dads in films.
11:58No biological dads or animated daddies this time.
12:01Spoiler warning ahead as we explore their backstories.
12:04If we missed your fave big-screen father figure,
12:07don't forget to share it in the comments.
12:10Number 10.
12:11Haymitch Abernathy, the Hunger Games franchise.
12:14When Katniss and Peter are first reaped for the games,
12:17they discover that Haymitch Abernathy isn't exactly the best mentor.
12:21Um, embrace the probability of your imminent death.
12:27As the victor of the 50th Hunger Games,
12:29Haymitch overdrinks to deal with his trauma.
12:32At first, Haymitch offers little to no help to his newest tributes.
12:35Nice shooting, sweetheart.
12:37But after Katniss tells him to get off of his butt and, you know,
12:40actually train them,
12:41he becomes their biggest advocate.
12:44Haymitch secures the sponsors
12:45and supports Peter's declaration of love for Katniss.
12:48Ironically, as the series goes on,
12:51Katniss and Peter become parental figures for Haymitch.
12:55Without Haymitch, it's doubtful that both Katniss and Peter
12:58would have survived the games.
13:00And you've come to what?
13:02And ask me to die?
13:06I'm here to drink.
13:07Number 9.
13:08Yondu Udonter, Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
13:11Neither Yondu nor Peter had an easy childhood,
13:14so it's fitting they became adoptive father and son.
13:17I don't know!
13:21You always didn't have a scrum, boy!
13:23Upon realising that Peter's life is in danger,
13:25Yondu kidnaps him from Earth and kept him as his own son.
13:29Since Peter didn't know this, he resented Yondu.
13:32It also didn't help that Yondu kept threatening to eat him.
13:35In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,
13:37Peter did learn that Yondu was trying to protect him
13:39from his father and the other Ravagers.
13:41He may have been your father, boy,
13:44but he wasn't your daddy.
13:45Peter makes up with Yondu,
13:47who sacrifices his life to save his son.
13:49In a heart-wrenching scene,
13:51Peter finally accepts Yondu as his old man.
13:53Dang Marvel, why do you keep making us cry?
13:56Sometimes that thing you're searching for your whole life,
14:03it's right there by your side all along.
14:05Number 8.
14:06Norman Thayer Jr.
14:07on Golden Pond.
14:09Norman Thayer Jr.
14:10is a right old curmudgeon.
14:12What are you, couple of nitwits?
14:16Think it's funny being old?
14:17In all fairness, his memory is slipping,
14:19so he decides to spend his time
14:21telling his wife about death.
14:23Yet when his daughter visits him,
14:25along with her fiancรฉ and his son,
14:27Billy,
14:27Norman's life takes a turn for the better.
14:30While the pair don't get along at first,
14:32Billy and Norman quickly bond over fishing.
14:34It's a trout.
14:36A rainbow trout.
14:38Get going, boy.
14:39They are particularly obsessed with catching Norman's rival,
14:42a fish named Walter.
14:44Having a fish rival is strange enough,
14:47but the fact he's named Walter
14:48somehow makes it work.
14:50Through their attempts to capture Walter,
14:52the two end up forming an endearing friendship.
14:55By spending time with Walter,
14:57Billy learns a lot about himself,
14:59and about the complexities of life.
15:02He wasn't yelling at you, you know.
15:04Sounds like he is yelling at you.
15:06No.
15:07He was yelling at life.
15:09Number 7.
15:09Charles Xavier.
15:11X-Men franchise.
15:12Professor Charles Xavier,
15:13aka Professor X,
15:15is more than just the founder
15:16of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
15:19They're in my school for the gifted.
15:20For mutants.
15:22You'll be safe here from Magneto.
15:23Under his training,
15:24mutants learn how to control their powers,
15:27a skill needed here on Earth.
15:28He's also not just respected by his students,
15:31but gradually becomes a respected ambassador
15:33for mutantkind.
15:34Through Cerebro I'm connected to them,
15:38and they to me.
15:39Xavier's fatherly love inspires his students like Logan.
15:43In Logan, an aging Wolverine takes care of Xavier,
15:47now suffering from amnesia.
15:49He also protects Laura,
15:51a young mutant who isn't too different from Logan himself.
15:54Xavier isn't always perfect.
15:56Over the course of the series,
15:58he makes some poor decisions.
16:00But in the end,
16:01he does try to do what's best for his kiddos.
16:03This is what life looks like.
16:06A home.
16:07People will love each other.
16:09Safe place.
16:10Number 6.
16:11Captain Pete Maverick Mitchell.
16:13Top Gun Maverick.
16:15The rare case where a sequel
16:16may be better than the original.
16:19The heart of Top Gun Maverick
16:21is between Captain Pete Mitchell,
16:23aka Maverick,
16:24and Goose's son,
16:26aptly named Rooster.
16:27You gonna wash me out?
16:30That'll be up to you, not me.
16:32Maverick still feels guilty
16:33over the death of Goose.
16:35He even made a promise to Rooster's mother
16:37to ensure that Rooster would not become a pilot,
16:40which Rooster resents him for.
16:42I saved your life!
16:43I saved your life!
16:45That's the whole point!
16:47What the hell were you even thinking?
16:49You told me not to think!
16:50On top of that, Rooster also blames Maverick
16:53for his father's passing.
16:54Yet, as the film goes on,
16:56Rooster comes to respect Maverick's
16:58unusual teaching style,
16:59and all that Maverick's done for him.
17:02The climax proves just how much Rooster
17:04cares about Maverick.
17:06I'm sorry.
17:08I'm sorry, guys.
17:10Number 5.
17:10Alfred Pennyworth.
17:12Batman franchise.
17:14Honestly, where would Bruce Wayne be
17:15without Alfred Pennyworth?
17:17I miss him, Alfred.
17:19I miss him so much.
17:20So do I, Master.
17:21After Master Wayne's parents were murdered,
17:24his loyal butler, Alfred,
17:26stepped in to help raise him.
17:28He even supports Bruce Wayne becoming
17:30the Batman,
17:31which most employees would have quit over.
17:33Because some men
17:35aren't looking for anything logical,
17:37like money.
17:38They can't be bought,
17:40bullied,
17:40reasoned,
17:41or negotiated with.
17:43Some men
17:44just want to watch the world burn.
17:46Thanks to Alfred,
17:47the Batcave runs smoothly,
17:49and Batman's injuries are tended to.
17:52We also can't forget Alfred's
17:53deadpan, sarcastic delivery at times,
17:56and how he's always the voice of reason.
17:58No matter what snafu Batman finds him in,
18:01Alfred is always there to help bail him out.
18:04Give the man a raise, Bruce.
18:06Alfred deserves it.
18:07You still haven't given up on me.
18:11Never.
18:11Number 4.
18:13Sean Maguire.
18:14Good Will Hunting.
18:15Will Hunting may be a mathematical genius,
18:18but he's not exactly the easiest person
18:21to get along with.
18:22Luckily,
18:22Professor Lambeau realises this,
18:24and helps Will by making him go to therapy.
18:27Maybe you married the wrong woman.
18:28Maybe you should watch your mouth.
18:32Watch it right there, chief, alright?
18:34Due to Will's prickly nature,
18:36his therapist,
18:36Sean Maguire,
18:38isn't too keen on him.
18:39But the two soon realise
18:41they can help each other in more ways than one.
18:43Sean helps Will confront his demons
18:45as well as pursue true love.
18:46About love,
18:48you probably quote me a sonnet.
18:51But you've never looked at a woman
18:52who'd been totally vulnerable.
18:54Will helps Sean move on with his life,
18:56which has stalled since the death of his wife.
18:59While at times the film is sentimental,
19:01it's Sean's belief in Will
19:03that eventually pulls him out of the gutter.
19:05And isn't that what a true father does,
19:08believe in their children?
19:10Sean,
19:11if the professor calls about that job,
19:13just tell him,
19:14sorry.
19:15I had to go see about a girl.
19:18Will.
19:18Number three,
19:19Tony Stark,
19:20aka Iron Man,
19:22Marvel Cinematic Universe.
19:24Speaking of prodigies,
19:26there's no denying Tony Stark's brilliance.
19:28Yet,
19:29Iron Man did more than build cool suits
19:31and help save the world,
19:33which is admittedly a lot.
19:34He also mentors Peter Parker,
19:37aka Spider-Man.
19:38You're in dire need of an upgrade.
19:41Systemic,
19:41top to bottom.
19:42100 point restoration,
19:43that's why I'm here.
19:44Known to Peter as Mr. Stark,
19:46Tony first recruits Peter
19:47during his tiff with Steve Rogers.
19:50Afraid that Mr. Stark will reveal
19:51who he really is to Aunt May,
19:53Peter agrees to help him.
19:55Tell Aunt Haughty,
19:56I'm taking care of you.
19:59Don't tell Aunt May.
20:01Tony challenges Peter
20:02by believing in his abilities
20:04as Spider-Man,
20:05Sans' super suit.
20:06Sorry I took your suit.
20:08I mean,
20:08you had it coming.
20:09Actually,
20:10it turns out it was the perfect
20:11sort of tough love moment
20:12that you needed, right,
20:13to urge you on, right?
20:14Wouldn't you think?
20:14And Peter rises to the occasion.
20:16And while Mr. Stark
20:17tries to come off
20:18as the impenetrable Iron Man,
20:21he is a big softie
20:22when it comes to protecting
20:23his Spidey.
20:24Number two,
20:25Sirius Black,
20:26Harry Potter franchise.
20:28Sirius Black is one cool wizard.
20:30He has a flying motorcycle,
20:32can transform into a massive dog,
20:35survived Azkaban,
20:36and helped create an entire map
20:38of Hogwarts.
20:39But his most magical achievement
20:41was being a great godfather
20:42to Harry Potter.
20:44I expect you're tired of hearing this.
20:47But you look so like your father.
20:50Since his parents were murdered,
20:51and the Dursleys were garbage guardians,
20:54Sirius was the first parent
20:55Harry could look up to.
20:57He keeps up with his godson
20:59via owls,
21:00providing him with advice
21:01Harry sorely needs.
21:02He even risks getting caught
21:04speaking to Harry
21:05through the Gryffindor fireplace.
21:07Sirius.
21:08How?
21:09I don't have much time, Harry,
21:11so let me get straight to it.
21:12Did you or did you not
21:13put your name into the goblet of fire?
21:15While at times
21:15he does confuse Harry
21:16for his father,
21:17his former bestie,
21:19Sirius tries to be
21:20the best surrogate dad
21:21he can be.
21:23But does the lovers
21:23never really leave us?
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21:41Number 1.
21:42Thanos.
21:43Avengers Infinity War
21:44and Avengers Endgame.
21:48Tears.
21:49They're not for him.
21:51You could argue
21:52Thanos was a great
21:53adoptive father
21:54to Gamora.
21:55Nah,
21:55we're just kidding ya.
21:56We all saw how that ended.
21:58Number 1.
21:59Nariyoshi Kaesuke Miyagi.
22:01AKA Mr. Miyagi.
22:03The Karate Kid franchise.
22:05Wax on,
22:06wax off.
22:07When we think of Mr. Miyagi,
22:08this is one of the first things
22:10we think of.
22:11Wax on,
22:12right hand.
22:13Wax off,
22:14left hand.
22:15There was so much wisdom
22:17in Mr. Miyagi's daily lessons
22:19beyond just how to properly clean.
22:21The wise old handyman
22:22teaches Daniel
22:23not just karate,
22:24but how important it is
22:26to train the body
22:27and the mind.
22:28Mr. Miyagi didn't have
22:30an easy life,
22:31but he didn't let that
22:32turn him evil.
22:33Win, lose, no matter.
22:34Unlike John Kreese,
22:36Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel
22:37how important it is
22:39to respect not just others,
22:41but yourself.
22:42Thanks for the life lessons,
22:43Mr. Miyagi.
22:44Do you agree with our picks?
22:54Check out this other
22:55recent clip from Ms. Mojo
22:56and be sure to subscribe
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