Fictional....TV dads

Played By: Sherman Hemsley
Years: 1975–1985
Kids: 1 (Lionel)
Profession: Dry cleaner
Parenting Style: Gruff but caring (once you get past the ego)

Yeah, you’re seeing that right — Mr. Movin’ On Up is all the way down here. What? Lionel was already grown when the show started, and when George did get involved, he wasn’t exactly turning in A-1 fathering lessons.

Played By: Cedric the Entertainer
Years: 2018-present
Kids: 2 (Malcolm and Marty)
Profession: Auto-repair shop owner
Parenting Style: Always bothered

Calvin’s got one son who is off in the world, and one still at home annoying him. In that, though, he learns a lot from his kids — who seem to have all of the sense and manage to get through to their dear old dad even if he doesn’t like to let on that they’re getting to him. Now if only his neighborhood doesn’t end up fully gentrified, he’d be able to die as a happy Black father of two.

Played By: Obba Babatundé
Years: 2002–2006
Kids: 2 (Mona and Dee-Dee)
Profession: Vaguely defined “businessman”
Parenting Style: Patiently present

Charles had a lot of women to deal with in his life, and he loved them all in different but involved ways. While watching his daughters’ relationship grow, he often had to answer questions and reconcile parts that didn’t make sense, ultimately attempting to make up for lost time with one and keep the other level-headed when possible. He may have been a secondary character, but he did the best he could.

Played By: Mike Henry
Years: 2009–2013
Kids: 3 (Cleveland Jr., Roberta, Rallo)
Profession: Deli owner
Parenting Style: Cartoonishly cautious

Cleveland loved his kids, and wanted what’s best for them as long as everybody is okay in the end. Somebody has to be the voice(ish) of reason, and that was Cleveland Brown through and through, except when he was being painstakingly unreasonable. (Though it should probably be noted that the literal voice of Cleveland is a White actor, which…yeah, that’s a whole other piece.) But what father hasn’t had to be all those things at the same time? Not that we’re speaking from experience or anything.

Played By: Tommy Davidson
Years: 2001–2005
Kids: 3 (Penny, BeBe, Cece)
Profession: Snack-food mini-mogul
Parenting Style: He really tries his best

Oscar Proud was the kind of man for whom shenanigans and learning were always on the menu — usually because he tended to need a lesson or two. But through all of those moments where it seemed like he either didn’t get it or was being too ridiculous, he managed to show up when he was needed most.

Played By: Finesse Mitchell
Years: 2011–2014
Number of Kids: 2 (Chyna and Cameron)
Profession: Police officer
Parenting Style: The one-liner king

Daryl was a cop whose only narrative function was to make sure that viewers knew that Chyna had parents. He was there for one-liners, sarcastic retorts, and the occasional uplifting speech. So, basically, dad goals, except for the always-forgetting-about-his-son part.

Played By: Marlon Wayans
Years: 2017–2018
Kids: 2 (Marley and Zack)
Profession: Hey, what’s over there?
Parenting Style: Inappropriately relatable

Marlon Wayne is the kind of father who understands his kids, for better or worse — it’s probably why he and his ex-wife got a divorce to begin with. Marlon is ridiculous and never afraid to take an idea where it shouldn’t go, but his kids love him for it. Too bad NBC didn’t.

Played By: Kenya Barris
Years: 2020-
Kids: 6 (Drea, Chloe, Izzy, Pops, Kam, Brooklyn)
Profession: TV writer
Parenting Style: Asshole

Kenya Barris is both the worst father ever and also, somehow, a good one. He’s a provider through and through and clearly loves his kids, he just wants them kids to know how hard he works for all of the things they have. (Also, he prefers his parenting from afar.) As a result, his kids clearly picked up their old man’s sarcasm, and most of them have at least a little bit of asshole in them. Good thing they’re #richAF, too.

Played By: D.L. Hughley
Years: 1998–2002
Kids: 2 (Sydney and Michael)
Profession: Vending-machine salesman
Parenting Style: Streetwise matter-of-factness

Hughley (the comic, not the character) was the second of the Kings of Comedy quartet to get his own sitcom, and while it didn’t ever really rise to the level of must-watch TV the way The Bernie Mac Show did, at least his persona carried over to his character well. Don’t expect any spared feelings, kids.

Played By: Sherman Hemsley
Years: 1986–1991
Kids: 1 (Thelma)
Profession: Deacon
Parenting Style: Kinda-holy

Ernest Frye was one of those deacons whose love for the lord was something that could be questioned every episode. But Thelma he loved all the time, and it showed — especially in matters of love. His methods might have been hard to understand, but in the end, his daughter loved him so he must have been doing something right. Just don’t leave your wallet around him.

Played By: Kadeem Hardison
Years: 2015–2018
Kids: 2 … and 1 robot (K.C., Ernie, Judy)
Profession: Espionage
Parenting Style: Wholesome, but make it spy

If your kids are the right age, you know the Disney Channel show well — and if you did, you probably rocked with Craig. What’s not to like about a dad who secretly works as a spy and helps his kids live out their dreams? But also, who else are you gonna rock with? You’re a grown-ass man, and this is the Disney Channel.