Father’s Day is coming up, and it’s a bittersweet holiday for me because my dad died ten years ago, right before Father’s Day.
As we all know, father-child relationships have long been a staple of many television shows.
We’ve watched TV dads guide their children, impart wisdom, and leave behind legacies. We are remembering some of the great late TV dads this Father’s Day.
Some died nearly 20 years ago, and some passed away recently.
But their deaths crushed us, and they won’t be forgotten.
They lived on in their children, after leaving remarkable legacies.
This isn’t a complete list, but hopefully, you’ll appreciate the TV dads we’ve selected.
Jonathan Kent (Smallville)
On Smallville, Jonathan and Clark Kent shared one of the best father-son relationships. Jonathan tried to instill good values in his son and help him accept his Kryptonian powers, assuring him that he was responsible for his own destiny.
Jonathan was willing to sacrifice anything to protect his family. Clark and Martha were everything to him, and while his death was destined, it was one of the saddest in TV history.
Jonathan’s death greatly impacted Clark, partly because he felt responsible since his father had died because of a deal Clark had made with Jor-El.
We all know time travel has devastating effects, so saving Lana from a car crash meant someone else had to die.
Clark became darker, angrier, and even more determined to learn his powers and bring good into the world.
Like This is Us and All American, Jonathan also had some ghostly visits with his son to provide guidance. He even attended Clark’s wedding and gifted him his Superman suit.
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Jack Bristow (Alias)
Sydney and Sydney Bristow from Alias had one of the most complex and emotional relationships on primetime television.
They were the heart of the series, and you rooted for their relationship to deepen even further.
When Alias began, Jack and Sydney were practically estranged from each other. But when circumstances forced them to work together as double agents, they slowly learned to trust each other again.
What made their relationship so special was watching it develop slowly. Alias didn’t rush it, but it was evident that Jack loved his daughter and would protect her, even if he didn’t always show it in the best way.
Over time, they grew closer. Jack rarely showed emotion, but sometimes he told Sydney he loved and supported her, as when she needed someone after Vaughn’s death.
Jack’s death crushed me since he died to protect Sydney, but only after telling her how proud he was of her.
Jack’s legacy lived on. When Sydney had her second child, she named her son Jack after her dad.
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Zeek Braverman (Parenthood)
Zeek Braverman from Parenthood was a flawed father, but it was easier to relate to him when you saw a loving father mess up, too.
While every parent swears they don’t play favorites, it’s difficult not to, especially with four children. Zeek favored his oldest daughter, Sarah, and his younger son, Crosby, mainly because they were free spirits like him.
He loved his other two children fiercely, but Julia was closer to her mother, and Zeek clashed with Adam (Peter Krause) frequently.
In reality, Zeek mellowed and made a better grandfather than he did a father. He showed tough love to Amber after she drove drunk, reminding her she was precious and she couldn’t destroy his dreams for her. Amber loved Zeek so much that she named her infant son after him.
Zeek also loved restoring cars, and he and Victor restored an old Pontiac, which they gifted to Drew.
The entire family grieved when Zeek died in the Parenthood series finale. Adam listened to his dad’s wishes, and they scattered Zeek’s ashes at a baseball field, playing a final game to honor him.
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Jack Pearson (This is Us)
Oh, Jack. Where do we start? The This is Us patriarch was beloved by his wife and kids, and it hurt when his death was teased in the first season.
Jack showed his children that they were his heart. He loved all three of them. He strived not to treat Randall differently.
In many ways, the Pearsons were the American family with loving parents and real problems. That’s why it hurt losing Jack. He was the heart and soul of the family.
While many fans worried that the show would survive once Jack died, the series still wove multiple timelines, showing how Jack influenced the lives of Kevin, Kate, and Randall.
Sometimes, the adult versions even saw visions of Jack when they needed help making a decision, and his presence would help them.
While Jack influenced all of his children, Kevin grew to be most like his father. He even restarted Big Three Homes in honor of Jack. It wasn’t a big corporate business. It was mainly to build his mom a house up north, where she eventually died.
Watch this is us Online
Billy Baker (All American)
Coach Baker on All American had a complex relationship with his twins Jordan and Olivia. It also extended to his relationship with Spencer James, whom he considered another son.
He and Olivia have been close since she was Daddy’s little girl. She appreciated how loving and protective he was in some ways, but she also longed to share something with him like Jordan did.
On the other hand, Jordan longed to make Billy proud and initially was jealous of how Billy mentored Spencer. Billy was a flawed father, but he loved his children fiercely and would do anything for them.
Billy died a hero, saving one of his South Crenshaw High football players, Jamari, from a bus crash.
His children and Spencer had difficulty coping with it. Olivia almost relapsed, but she held strong and honored her father by thanking him for helping her become passionate about discovering the truth. Spencer struggled because he and Billy had argued before he died. But he had to remember the good times.
Even though they argued, Jordan ended up the most like his dad and carried on Billy’s legacy by becoming a coach at South Crenshaw and mentoring others.
Watch all american Online
Gabriel Reyes ( 911: Lonestar)
Ranger Gabriel and Carlos Reyes on 9-1-1: Lonestar‘s father-son relationship was another complicated one because Carlos longed for his father to be proud of him.
While Gabriel claimed he accepted that Carlos was gay, they never talked about it until Carlos started dating T.K.
Then, Gabriel insisted he would love him because his son had great instincts. We saw how much Gabriel loved his son when he and T.K. searched for Carlos after someone abducted him.
There was nothing worse than your father dying the night before your wedding. I’m relieved that Carlos and T.K. still went through with it, but their anniversary will be bittersweet. Mine is, since my wedding anniversary and my dad’s death were only a few days apart.
Gabriel’s death changed Carlos. He joined the Texas Rangers, driven by a desire to find justice for his father. It almost seemed like he wanted to prove something to himself and his dad.
It was a shame they had only recently become close before his death.
Watch 9 1 1 Lonestar Online
John Black (Days of Our Lives)
On Days of Our Lives John’s death gutted fans and his on-screen family since not only did he die, but Drake Hogestyn, his portrayer, died.
As John’s children said in his eulogy, he was the world’s greatest dad and strived to ensure they felt loved and cherished. It didn’t matter to John if they were blood-related. He adored all six of his children and many grandchildren.
For many years, he raised Carrie, Sami, and Eric independently because of Stefano, and they all acknowledged him as a second father. Sami even named Johnny after him.
He had special bonds with each. John shared his love of baseball with Paul, his deep devotion and values with Eric, and single parenthood advice with Brady. He had a soft spot for Belle.
John was deeply involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren, from attending a gay pride celebration with Paul to helping Claire recover after she returned from the mental hospital.
He was also among the few people who could get through to Rachel.
It’s difficult to discern how anyone will cope without him on Days of Our Lives. But they’ve all learned so much from John: unconditional love and many different ways to raise an eyebrow.
Watch Days of our lives Online
Over to you, TV Fanatics. Which late great TV dad’s death affected you the most?
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
Say something in the comments, share if you’re moved to, and keep reading. Independent voices need readers like you.
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