They give you piggy back rides, take you to the ball game, let you eat chocolate cake for breakfast. Yep, we love our dads and to prove it, we’ve decided to celebrate some favorite celluloid dads from screens big and small in our Father’s Day’s spotlight.
Best Dads in the Movies
Gil Buckman, George Banks, Tom Baker (Steve Martin), Parenthood, Father of the Bride, the Cheaper by the Dozen movies, respectively
Daddy Dearest: From the anxiety-ridden dad in Father of the Bride (trying to deal with his daughter’s impending nuptials) and Parenthood (trying to get his son to catch just one pop fly in the field) to the downright crazed father of twelve in Dozen (enough said), we crown Steve Martin as the most exasperated Hollywood dad ever.
Some Fatherly Advice: “You soaked his underwear in meat. That is so wrong. Funny, but wrong.”–Tom Baker, Cheaper by the Dozen
Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck), To Kill a Mockingbird
Daddy Dearest: Steve Martin may have played the most dads, but the calm, understanding Atticus Finch stands as the best dad ever to grace the big screen. Whether its the way he gently tells Scout the pearl necklace and ring left by her late mother will be hers when she grows up or the way he wishes he could keep all the ugly things in the world away from his children, he takes the cake.
Some Fatherly Advice: “If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”
Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), The Godfather
Daddy Dearest: OK, so, he taught his kids its perfectly natural to have your enemies killed if they don’t give you what you want or if they get in your way. At least the Corleone kids know they’re loved. As Don Corleone says, “a man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.”
Some Fatherly Advice: “I never wanted this for you. I work my whole life–I don’t apologize–to take care of my family, and I refused to be a fool, dancing on the string held by all those big shots. I don’t apologize–that’s my life–but I thought that, that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the string. Senator Corleone; Governor Corleone. Well, it wasn’t enough time, Michael. It wasn’t enough time.”
Daniel Hillard, (Robin Williams), Mrs. Doubtfire
Daddy Dearest: Any man–in the midst of a custody battle with his divorced wife–who would transform himself into an old but kindly British nanny just so he could spend time with his three children deserves some kind of “best dad” award.
Some Fatherly Advice: “I admire that honesty, Natalie, that’s a noble quality. Never lose that, because it often disappears with age, or entering politics.”
Marlin (Albert Brooks),Finding Nemo
Daddy Dearest: He is a clown fish who can’t tell a joke. But finding his son, stolen by an Australian dentist on a diving trip, becomes his mission in life. Marlin’s courageous quest through man-eating sharks, treacherous jelly fish, EAC-surfing turtles, even a whale’s belly–all with the, er, help of a short-term memory impaired fish–really does make him a worthy father figure.
Some Fatherly Advice: “You think you can do these things, but you just can’t, Nemo.”
Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro), Meet the Parents
Daddy Dearest: When your soon-to-be father-in-law is an overprotective father AND an undercover agent for the CIA, who trusts no one, well, it’s next to impossible to measure up. But Jack tries his best to accept his daughter’s fiancé the only way he knows how: By hooking him up to a lie detector machine and grilling him.
Some Fatherly Advice: “I understand you may have had sexual relations with my daughter before, but under our roof, it’s my way or the Long Island Expressway. So just keep your snake in its cage for 72 hours.”
Darth Vader, the Star Wars Saga
Daddy Dearest: True, Darth Vader isn’t necessarily the most attentive of fathers; it’s a hard job taking over the galaxy and being evil and stuff. In fact, he didn’t even know he HAD kids (twins Luke and Leia) until they tried to destroy him. And yes, he does try to get his son to turn towards the dark side of the Force. But he clearly redeems himself when he sacrifices his life for his son’s. Awww, that’s sweet.
Some Fatherly Advice: “Luke, I am your father.” What could say it better than that?
Best Dads on the TV
Dr. Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) The Cosby Show
Daddy Dearest: As one of the best TV dads of all time, Cliff Huxtable uses a combination of humor, exasperation and sage advice to raise his brood of five. And any father who can do a comedy routine and make you laugh until your side hurts is OK in our books.
Some Fatherly Advice: “You’re afraid to try because you’re afraid your brain is going to explode and it’s going to ooze out of your ears. Now I’m telling you, you are going to try as hard as you can. And you’re going to do it because I said so. I am your father. I brought you into this world, and I’ll take you out!”
Michael (Harold Perrineau), Lost
Daddy Dearest: Poor Michael. He was once forced to give up his only son Walt so the boy could be raised in a better environment. But after crash landing on one heck of a wacky island, Michael gets a second chance–until Walt’s taken by the Others. Now, Michael’s on a mission to get him back–even if it means killing to do it. Now that’s fatherly love for you.
Some Fatherly Advice: “Don’t be scared, it’s gonna be over real soon. I’m gonna get you outta here, okay?”
Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton), Big Love
Daddy Dearest: Polygamist Bill Henrickson’s idea of family may be a leeetle different from ours, being that he has seven children (and one on the way) from three different wives. Still, as they all live in their own houses right next to each other, he looks after and cares deeply about his children and wants to make sure they all take the Lord in their hearts.
Some Fatherly Advice: “It’s one of the most important challenges in life, to hear, recognize the voice of the Lord. Staying wholesome is part of it. So many addictions in this world–TV and food and gluttony–things that are offensive and numbing to the spirit. But you also have to be very careful. Sometimes you think it’s the Lord speaking, but it’s just your own emotions. Your own demons.”
Homer Simpson, The Simpsons
Daddy Dearest: Maybe he wants to wring Bart’s neck most of the time. Maybe he doesn’t understand a word Lisa says to him. Maybe he drinks WAY too much beer. But Homer Simpson loves his kids, that much is clear. Actually, he’d love to make money off of them–but you get what we mean.
Some Fatherly Advice: “Kids, let me tell you about another so-called wicked guy. He had long hair, and some wild ideas, and he didn’t always do what other people thought was right. And that man’s name was…[thinks] I forget. But the point is…[thinks] I forget that, too. [to Marge] Marge, you know who I’m talking about! He used to drive that blue car.”
Al Bundy (Ed O’Neil), Married With Children
Daddy Dearest: A special thanks to the man who made it politically correct for dads everywhere to sit on their couches, watch television with their hand down their pants and drink beer, all while ignoring their wives and bothersome kids.
Some Fatherly Advice: “Kelly, when I was a kid, there were lots of parties I wasn’t invited to. I showed up anyway. I stood there with a big smile on my face, and said, ‘I’m here’ and headed right for the food. Sure, they didn’t want me there, but I had a great time. And if they didn’t, so what? The point is if you want to be there, be there. Even if they hate you. You’re a Bundy. Start acting like one.”
Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) 24
Daddy Dearest: Federal Agent Jack Bauer certainly has his hands full on any given hour in the day. But when his daughter is first kidnapped and then joins her father on the force, it makes it even harder to be to just a normal everyday daddy to his little girl. Plus, she’s a tough one to handle.
Some Fatherly Advice: “Kim, I want you to point the gun at his chest and pull the trigger now.”
