From Coach Taylor to Uncle Phil: Find Out Who Your Favorite TV Dads Married in Real Life (2024)

Kyle Chandler: Eric Taylor on 'Friday Night Lights'

Kyle Chandler played beloved Coach Eric Taylor on all seasons of Friday Night Lights from 2006 to 2011 with Connie Britton by his side as Tami Taylor.

In real life, Chandler has been married to his wife Kathryn for nearly 30 years.

Tim Allen: Tim Taylor on 'Home Improvement'

During Home Improvement's run from 1991 to 1999, Tim Allen's Tim Taylor played opposite his onscreen wife Jill Taylor, played by Patricia Richardson.

In real life, Allen was married to his college sweetheart Laura Deibel from 1984 to 1999 before finalizing their divorce in 2003. In 2006 he married Jane Hajduk and the two welcomed a child together in 2009. Allen is also dad to an adult daughter, whom he shares with his ex-wife.

Tim Reid: Ray Campbell on 'Sister, Sister'

Tim Reidplayed Tamera's adoptive dad Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister from 1992 to 1999 opposite Tia's adoptive mom Lisa Landry, played by Jackée Harry.

Off camera, Reid is married to fellow actress Daphne Reid, who played Aunt Viv on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Billy Ray Cyrus: Robby Ray Stewart on 'Hannah Montana'

Billy Ray Cyrus played his real-life daughter Miley Cyrus' onscreen father on Hannah Montana from 2007 to 2011 (her fictional mom was deceased). During the time the show was on the air, Billy Ray was married to Miley's mother Tish Cyrus, though in 2022 the pair divorced after nearly 30 years of marriage.

The "Achy Breaky Heart" singer is now marreid to Australian singer Firerose, whom he wed in October 2023.

William Russ: Alan Matthews on 'Boy Meets World'

On the '90s favorite Boy Meets World, William Russ played dad Alan Matthews to Cory, Eric and Morgan, with Betsy Randle as mom Amy.

Off screen he shares two children with his wife and fellow actress Clare Wren.

James Avery: Philip Banks on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'

Remember Will Smith's "Auntie and Uncle from Bel-Air"? James Avery played the patriarch of the Banks family, Uncle Phil, on all six seasons of the series. Aunt Viv was first played by Janet Hubert and later, Daphne Maxwell Reid.

Off camera, Avery was married to his wife, Barbara, who worked in higher education. James died in 2013 at the age of 68.

Peter Gallagher: Sandy Cohen on 'The O.C.'

On screen, The O.C.'s Peter Gallagher played lawyer Sandy Cohen, father to Seth Cohen and Ryan Atwood and wife of Kirsten Cohen (Kelly Rowan).

His love story offscreen, however, predates the beloved early aughts series as he married wife Paula Harwood in 1983. The couple shares two children, including actress Kathryn Gallagher.

Michael Landon: Charles Ingalls on 'Little House on the Prairie'

Michael Landonwas "Pa" in real life to nine children: sons Mark, Josh, Michael Jr., Christopher and Sean and daughters Cheryl, Leslie, Shawna and Jennifer.

He adopted his first wife Dodie Levy-Fraser's son, Mark, before the two welcomed son Josh by adoption together. He later adopted his second wife Marjorie Lynn Noe's daughter, Cheryl, and the pair then had Leslie, Michael Jr., Shawna and Christopher together. He and his third wife, Cindy (pictured here), marred in 1983 and the two had Sean and Jennifer together.

His Little House on the Prairie family was slightly smaller, though; with wife Carol Ingalls (Karen Grassle) he started out with three daughters.

Landon died in 1991 at the age of 54.

Terry Crews: Julius on 'Everybody Hates Chris'

Terry Crews played dad Julius on Chris Rock's Everybody Hates Chris from 2005 to 2009. As the show was semi-autobiographical, Crews' character was inspired by Rock's late father, Julius, opposite Tichina Arnold's Rochelle.

In Crews' real life, he's been married to wife Rebecca King-Crews since 1989 after they met while Western Michigan University. The two are parents to five children: Naomi, Azriél, Tera, Wynfrey and Isaiah.

Jason Bateman: Michael Bluth on 'Arrested Development'

Jason Bateman began his tenure as Michael Cera's onscreen dad, Michael Bluth, on Arrested Development in 2003.

The real Jason, on the other hand, has been married to his wife Amanda Anka since 2001 and the two share two daughters.

Bryan Cranston: Hal on 'Malcolm in the Middle'

Before the show came to an end in 2006, Bryan Cranston played Hal on Malcolm in the Middle for seven seasons. On the show, he played opposite his onscreen wife Jane Kaczmarek as Lois.

Off set, he has been married to wife Robin Dearden since 1989. The two share one daughter together.

Patrick Duffy: Frank Lambert on 'Step by Step'

Patrick Duffy starred as contractor dad Frank Lambert on Step by Step beginning in 1991 opposite Suzanne Somers' Carol Foster Lambert.

Duffy married Carlyn Rosser in 1974; the two were together for more than 40 years. Following her death in 2017, Duffy later revealed that he was dating Happy Days actress Linda Purl (pictured here).

Ed O'Neil: Al Bundy on 'Married...with Children'

Before he was Jay Pritchett on Modern Family opposite Sofia Vergara's Gloria, Ed O'Neill played another onscreen dad: Al Bundy on Married... with Children from 1987 to 1997, with Katey Sagal as his wife Peggy.

O'Neill has been married to his actual wife and fellow actress Catherine Rusoff since 1986. The two share two daughters together: Sophia and Claire.

Flex Alexander: Mark 'Flex' Washington on 'One on One'

Flex Alexander played single dad Mark "Flex" Washington on One on One on all five seasons of the show from 2001 to 2006.

Just before stepping into the role, Alexander celebrated a milestone in his personal life when he wed his wife, Shanice, in 2000. Years later, the two actually starred on their own reality show together, Flex & Shanice.