TV Dads
The 21 Sexiest TV Dads, Ranked
It’s Father’s Day weekend, which makes it the perfect time to celebrate the sexiest TV dads! From sitcoms to teen dramas and more, there’s hot fathers on all kinds of shows.
We should preface this by saying we’re not necessarily saying that all these guys are great dads. In fact, some of them are actually terrible father figures. But one thing they all have going for them is that they definitely look good. Many of these shows aren’t even airing new episodes anymore, but we still remember the hot dads all these years later!
Scroll down to check out which 21 television dads made our list, then hop over to the comments section and let us know if you agree with our picks! Is there anybody on the list we missed? Is there anybody we added who shouldn’t have made the top 21? We want to hear all your thoughts about all the hot dads.
21. Phil Dunphy, Modern Family
Not only is Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) traditionally handsome, but his self-deprecating humor and silly nature are also highly attractive qualities. Who wouldn’t want to spend time with a guy who has a laugh line for literally every single situation imaginable and truly enjoys spending time with
children? And as much as he pulls off the semi-casual button-downs and sweaters look, he cleans up pretty nicely in a pinch, too. — Amanda Bell
20. Fin Tutuola, Law & Order: SVU
I’m a big believer in dad swag, and Sergeant Fin Tutuola (Ice-T) is dripping in it. Fin’s got a tough exterior, but he’s a secret softie. His loyalty to his friends and dedication to his job take his hotness to the next level. He’s dependable, funny, and just plain cool. What’s not to love? While his relationship with his son, Ken (Ernest Waddell), has been strained in the past, but the father and son have mended things in recent years. At the end of the day, Fin is New York City’s ultimate daddy. — Avery Thompson
19. FP Jones, Riverdale
We can’t help it, we love a bad boy! From Scream to Riverdale, Skeet Ulrich is a formative bad boy. FP Jones is the father of Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and the leader of the gang in Riverdale, the Southside Serpents. FP is not always a great dad (at one point, Jughead has to live in the drive-in theater’s projection booth), but he is always a sexy dad. — Leah Williams
18. Joel Graham, Parenthood
Joining the Braverman clan was no easy feat, but Joel Graham (Sam Jaeger) did it with ease. He started Parenthood as a stay-at-home dad who all the moms had a crush on (who could blame them?!), and his daughter, Sydney, looked at him like he hung the moon. We’ll choose to overlook the era of his separation from Julia (Erika Christensen) and just focus on the fact that he is one hot dad. — Alyssa Norwin
17. Jin-Soo Kwon, Lost
It takes a long time for Jin-Soo Kwon (Daniel Dae Kim) to become a father, and, tragically, he never even gets to meet his daughter, since he’s stuck in the ’70s when Sun (Yunjin Kim) returns home from the island and gives birth. Still, being a dad is something he strives for most of the time we spend with Jin, and we have to imagine he’d be a great one if given the chance. After all, his journey on the island brings out the very best in him, and by the end, he has a gorgeous personality to match what’s on the outside. — Amanda Bell
16. Joel Miller, The Last of Us
There’s no denying that Pedro Pascal has been on a hot streak lately, and his role as the rugged Joel Miller certainly has something to do with it. While video game fans may have known who Joel Miller was long before the HBO hit The Last of Us debuted on TV, Pascal brought the post-apocalyptic character to life in a way that we can’t help but swoon over. Viewers got a glimpse of his parental approach with his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) pre-apocalypse, but after losing her, he shut down until a new girl entered his life with Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsey). Tasked with escorting Ellie out of a quarantine zone into the unpredictable and cordyceps-infected landscape, Joel steps up to the plate and allows Ellie to soften his ice-cold heart in a way we can’t help but be endeared by. Not to mention, Joel’s highly skilled in the art of survival and combat, meaning he could save us any day of the week. Sadly, his Season 2 fate makes that unlikely, but we’ll always hold this father figure in our hearts. — Meaghan Darwish
15. Raylan Givens, Justified
There’s something about a rugged cowboy antihero. Timothy Olyphant is so sexy as Raylan Givens, the Deputy US Marshal at the center of Justified. Plus, Olyphant’s real-life daughter Vivian played his daughter on the show. Cute! – Leah Williams
14. Sandy Cohen, The O.C.
Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher) knew how to be stern, yet understanding, on The O.C. Obviously his looks were in his favor (he landed Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), after all), but he was also an amazing father — not only to his own son, Seth (Adam Brody), but to the troubled teenager (Ben McKenzie) he took in amid legal troubles. — Alyssa Norwin
13. President Fitzgerald Grant, Scandal
President Fitzgerald Grant III (Tony Goldwyn) had the most swagger of any POTUS ever—onscreen and off. That sexy strut? Enough to bring us all to our knees. That man loved Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) more than anyone’s ever loved anyone. The rose garden monologue will go down in the history books.
Okay, aside from his undeniable hotness and running the country, Fitz was also a dad of three . Those scenes with baby Teddy? Swooon! — Avery Thompson
12. Zion Miller, Ginny & Georgia
Zion Miller (Nathan Mitchell) is the very definition of a “cool dad.” The man has hotness written all over him. He’s a talented photographer, he’s got one state-of-the-art kitchen, and he loves his daughter, Ginny (Antonia Gentry). All green flags here. He’s the type of dad you know is going to stay calm, cool, and collected.— Avery Thompson
11. Don Draper, Mad Men
Donald Draper’s (Jon Hamm) fatherhood skills leave something to be desired, but in those rare moments when he is present for his children, his signature charm comes through in spades to make for some truly memorable and shaping exchanges. It’s that exact sparkle that makes him a shoo-in for this list, too. Beyond his devastating good looks and snappy tailored suits, the man just oozes so much charisma that he can sell anything — most of all, himself. — Amanda Bell
10. Jamie Fraser, Outlander
Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) is one of the sexiest characters on TV, period. So, it’s no surprise that the “King of Men” would make our sexiest TV dads roundup. The 18th-century Scottish Highlander warrior wooed Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and audiences from the first moment he appeared onscreen, and long before that in Diana Gabaldon‘s books, upon which the Starz hit is based. The ferocity Jamie shows for his family is enough to make anyone’s knees weak, and he’s more than stepped up to the task of being a dad over the seasons, including caring for adoptive son Fergus (César Domboy), step-daughters Marsali (Lauren Lyle) and Joan (Layla Burns) in addition to his biological children Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and William (Charles Vandervaart). Jamie’s devotion to the people he loves most is certainly one of the hottest things about him, and it’s even better when he’s wearing a kilt. — Meaghan Darwish
9. Jackson Avery, Grey's Anatomy
Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) is so much more than a pretty face, but what a pretty face he has, fit with a sparkling pair of eyes and a million-dollar grin. A doting father to Harriet (and the late baby Samuel), the plastic surgeon’s best feature isn’t physical; it’s his endless sense of empathy that makes him a model human. — Amanda Bell
8. Eddie Diaz, 9-1-1
Handsome, saves lives as a firefighter and army medic (he has a silver star), and puts his son Christopher (Gavin McHugh) first? (Let’s ignore that Vertigo-inspired storyline with the doppelganger of his dead wife.) Of course Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) is going to make this list! I even warmed up to the mustache. Speaking of, a strong case for him ranking high? That Risky Business dance after he shaved it off. — Meredith Jacobs
7. Jesse Katsopolis, Full House
Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos), we love you, mullet and all! From the second Jesse stepped in to help his brother-in-law Danny (Bob Saget) raise his three kids on Full House, it was clear he was going to make the best (and hottest) dad. He proved that even further when he welcomed his own kids (twins!) with Rebecca Donaldson (Lori Loughlin). — Alyssa Norwin
6. Declan O’Hara, Rivals
He’s played by Aidan Turner (I feel like I almost don’t have to say more). He’s not the greatest father, though it’s clear just how protective he is of his daughters — and oh, he’s really not going to like finding out Taggie (Bella Maclean) kissed Rupert (Alex Hassell). He is very much a workaholic, but there’s something so very attractive about how passionate he is about his career (even if it cost him his marriage to Victoria Smurfit‘s Maud). Plus, while he would almost certainly uncover the exact part of your life you wouldn’t want him to touch during an interview, you have to admit: Who wouldn’t want to be the subject of that focus and openness he has with his show’s guests? — Meredith Jacobs
5. Billy Baker, All American
We’re big fans of hot football coaches over here (see below), and Coach Billy Baker is just the latest. When Taye Diggs plays anyone, that automatically makes the character sexy. It’s a scientific fact. Coach Baker was an incredible leader, mentor, father, and friend. We only wish he got to see his kids and all his athletes, especially Spencer (Daniel Ezra), grow up. RIP Coach Baker. — Avery Thompson
4. George Russell, The Gilded Age
Morgan Spector’s robber baron may be cutthroat when it comes to his railroad business, but honestly, that makes him even more attractive in our eyes. We’ll admit, he lost a little bit of his appeal for a second there in Season 2 when he refused to give into his workers’ union demands. But he redeemed himself in the end! We love how he acknowledges his wife Bertha’s (Carrie Coon) strength and that he wants his daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) to marry for love. There’s nothing hotter than a self-assured and supportive man – especially in Gilded Age-era clothing! — Morgan Pryor
3. Jack Pearson, This Is Us
Anyone who tuned into Dan Fogelman‘s time-traversing family drama This Is Us knows that Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) is simply one of the best TV dads to ever exist and easily one of the sexiest. Graduated from his days as heartthrob Jess on Gilmore Girls, Ventimiglia immediately captured hearts as the Pearson family patriarch. As fans may recall, Jack’s entrance is extremely memorable as he dons the Terrible Towel and nothing else, while his pregnant wife, Rebecca (Mandy Moore), does a birthday dance for him. But in addition to supporting his wife, it’s Jack’s role as a dad raising Kate, Kevin, and Randall that really makes us fall for him. Whether it’s lending his magic shirt to Kate at the pool, carrying Randall on his back while doing push-ups in karate class, or defending Kevin against his verbally abusive coach, it’s difficult to find any major faults with this devoted family man. And Jack’s lasting impact on his family post-death only serves to prove the point. — Meaghan Darwish
2. Eric Edwards, Forever
We’ve had a crush on Wood Harris since Remember the Titans. In the new Netflix teen romance drama Forever, Harris plays Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.)’s hot, successful father Eric. Plus, his stable relationship with wife Dawn (Karen Pittman) is totally swoonworthy. — Leah Williams
1. Coach Taylor, Friday Night Lights
The only thing Friday Night Lights‘ Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) was more dedicated to than football was his family. As if being a loyal family man didn’t already make him sexy enough, his looks sure as hell didn’t hurt! — Alyssa Norwin
