Alphonse: Are you close to your father, Ling?
Ling: It's hard to be close to him when I've never even had a conversation with him.
Ling: It's hard to be close to him when I've never even had a conversation with him.
— Fullmetal Alchemist, "The Father Standing Before a Grave"
Mudou: Now it's time for me to to fulfill my duty as a fath—
Itsuki: What are you saying after all this time!? Mom told me all about you. You disappeared when you found out she was carrying quintuplets. Can you imagine how mom must've felt at the time...?
Itsuki: What are you saying after all this time!? Mom told me all about you. You disappeared when you found out she was carrying quintuplets. Can you imagine how mom must've felt at the time...?
— The Quintessential Quintuplets, Chapter 110
Ryuuji: He abandoned you and you're pissed. I get it. I know it hurt, but come on! Don't you want to go home?
Taiga: You don't know a damn thing about me. I don't want that loser in my life. And he didn't abandon me, I abandoned him! I threw him away 'cos he's trash!
Taiga: You don't know a damn thing about me. I don't want that loser in my life. And he didn't abandon me, I abandoned him! I threw him away 'cos he's trash!
All those years I wanted Dad and me to do things together. I guess that's why I became Robin. Something to do while Mom and Dad were trotting the globe digging up ancient civilizations. Something to fill the empty place in my life.
— Tim Drake, Robin (1993) #11
The King had gone out hunting the day the prince was born and never returned. It was as if he'd vanished into thin air or been turned into a wild beast in the forest.
Phineas: My idea is for the two of us to, I don't exactly want to call it running away, but…uhh… we leave and go and find our dads. I mean, we're eleven! I think we deserve to know who our real dads are and what happened to them!
Isabella: I think you're right, Phineas. I think we do deserve to know. But I hope you know that this isn't gonna be easy. If our parents haven't told us about them, then they probably don't want us to know. I have no idea if my mom will even tell me his name.
Nightmare Moon: And… what would father say, knowing… that we… that you used his gift to do this to… to me?
Celestia: Nothing. Father isn't here, Luna. He was never here.
Celestia: Nothing. Father isn't here, Luna. He was never here.
— Whispers
Gendo: It's been a while.
Shinji: It would have been far longer, if not for the fact that your brother convinced me to give you one last chance. So far, you are failing miserably if you intended this to be any kind of happy family reunion.
Shinji: It would have been far longer, if not for the fact that your brother convinced me to give you one last chance. So far, you are failing miserably if you intended this to be any kind of happy family reunion.
Severa: Are you insane!? He's definitely gone!
Morgan: There was no body! They only found Chrom's – you can't take these things for granted with Father! If they couldn't find it, then he surely must be -
Severa: "Don't finish that! If Father's really alive, then he abandoned his best friend and left him for dead. If he's alive, then he chose not to come back for us, even though we've been waiting here for years!"
Morgan: There was no body! They only found Chrom's – you can't take these things for granted with Father! If they couldn't find it, then he surely must be -
Severa: "Don't finish that! If Father's really alive, then he abandoned his best friend and left him for dead. If he's alive, then he chose not to come back for us, even though we've been waiting here for years!"
The caped man wheeled in anger. Then he caught himself. Even in a dream, this was his father. Yes, he was angry at him. For dying. For putting him on this cruel, dark treadmill. For leaving him.
For making him have to be the Batman.
For making him have to be the Batman.
"Asuka, both of our parents practically dumped us by the side of the road before we were four."
— Shinji, A Crown of Stars
It had been a simple mistake, Magnolia forgetting to change out of her clothes as she came back from her friend's place, who owned a dog. Walking around the house, sitting on the couch, touching things. When Nathan came back home that day, he went into anaphylactic shock, and had to be urgently brought to the hospital. A near miss. Not an isolated incident, nor the worst by far. Randall had endured thirteen years of this, of either Judith or Nathan having a terribly severe allergy attack for apparently no reason, only because fate decided immunodeficiency disorder was a thing.
"Who was it who held you in his arms and rocked you to sleep when you cried over your parents and your friends in Argo City when you thought they were all dead?"
Film — Live-Action
Vanessa: Daddy left before I was born.
Wade: Daddy left before I was conceived.
Wade: Daddy left before I was conceived.
— Deadpool
Indiana Jones: It was just the two of us, dad. It was a lonely way to grow up. For you, too. If you had been an ordinary, average father like the other guys' dads, you'd have understood that.
Professor Henry Jones Sr.: Actually, I was a wonderful father.
Indy: When?
Henry: Did I ever tell you to eat up? Go to bed? Wash your ears? Do your homework? No. I respected your privacy and I taught you self- reliance.
Indy: What you taught me was that I was less important to you than people who had been dead for five hundred years in another country. And I learned it so well that we've hardly spoken for twenty years.
Professor Henry Jones Sr.: Actually, I was a wonderful father.
Indy: When?
Henry: Did I ever tell you to eat up? Go to bed? Wash your ears? Do your homework? No. I respected your privacy and I taught you self- reliance.
Indy: What you taught me was that I was less important to you than people who had been dead for five hundred years in another country. And I learned it so well that we've hardly spoken for twenty years.
"My mother was Korean, and my father was Black American. She gave me this picture when she was real sick. I was only nine years old."
—Jim, Miami Connection
"I never knew my dad. He just heard the words 'birth defect' and disappeared."
—Freak, Freak The Mighty
"My mom already left for the diner, and dad went to the 7-11 to get scratchers. I guess he won, 'cause that was six years ago."
—Harley Keener, Iron Man 3
The weekly phone calls became monthly, then only on special occasions, then stopped altogether. When Mum told us his new wife had just given birth, we knew it was only a matter of time before even the birthday presents ceased. And cease they did. Everything ceased. Even Mum's child support. We older two had expected it—just never guessed he would erase us all from his life quite so fast. I clearly remember that moment after the final good-bye, after the front door had closed and the sound of Dad's car faded down the street. Huddled up against the pillows with my new cuddly dog and the picture of the house I knew I'd never get to visit, I was suddenly overcome by a huge surge of rage and hatred for a father who had once claimed to love me so much.
— Maya Whitely, Forbidden
(Don't ask where Dad was. Otter fathers aren't exactly Parent of the Year material.)
— Odder
Live-Action TV
Will: Man, you don't know how lucky you are. You can be with your father whenever you want. You can eat with him and argue with him. He's there for you. You know where my father is?
Carlton: No.
Will: Neither do I.
Carlton: Look, I don't wanna see my father with tubes up his nose, okay?
Will: There's gonna come a time when all he has is tubes up his nose.
Carlton: (voice breaking) NOT MY FATHER!!!
Will: Everybody's father!!! EXCEPT MINE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE HELL HE IS!!!
Carlton: No.
Will: Neither do I.
Carlton: Look, I don't wanna see my father with tubes up his nose, okay?
Will: There's gonna come a time when all he has is tubes up his nose.
Carlton: (voice breaking) NOT MY FATHER!!!
Will: Everybody's father!!! EXCEPT MINE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE HELL HE IS!!!
— The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, "Home is Where the Heart Attack Is"
Will: It ain't like I'm still five years old sitting up every night asking my mom "When's daddy coming home?" You know? Who needs him? Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned, didn't I? And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil? Got through my first date without him, right? I learned how to drive, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him, I had fourteen great birthdays without him! He never even sent me a damn card! TO HELL WITH HIM! I didn't need him then, I don't need him now.
Uncle Phil: Will...
Will: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? I'm going to get through college without him, I'm gonna get a great job without him, I'm gonna marry me a beautiful honey, and I'm gonna have me a whole bunch of kids, I'm going to be a better father than he ever was! And I sure as hell don't need him for that, cause there's ain't a damn thing he could teach me about how to love my kids! (breaks down crying) How come he don't want me, man?
Uncle Phil: Will...
Will: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? I'm going to get through college without him, I'm gonna get a great job without him, I'm gonna marry me a beautiful honey, and I'm gonna have me a whole bunch of kids, I'm going to be a better father than he ever was! And I sure as hell don't need him for that, cause there's ain't a damn thing he could teach me about how to love my kids! (breaks down crying) How come he don't want me, man?
— The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse"
Martok: Worf, one moment. We have shed blood together, escaped from a Jem'Hadar prison together, you have pledged yourself and your life to my house. Yet in all this time you never once mentioned that you had a son.
Worf: ... It is a... difficult subject to discuss.
Martok: That much is obvious.
Worf: ... It is a... difficult subject to discuss.
Martok: That much is obvious.
Sir Gavin: You guys are storyboarding my death?! How could you! I am the protagonist's father!
Walt Disney: (walks in) Ah, but Sir Gavin, this is Disney.
Sir Gavin: (gasp) This is a Disney Film?! I'm a "Disney" Parent?! ...you murderers!
Walt Disney: Your fate was decided before you were created.
Sir Gavin: Please, have mercy! Not all Disney characters have to lose a parent!
Walt Disney: No, you're right (opens a snickers bar) ...just Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin, Jasmine, Shang, Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Ariel, Mowgli, Tarzan, Jane, Peter Pan, The Lost Boys, Christopher Robin, Bambi, Simba, Nemo, Tod, The Aristocats, Arther, Belle, Tiana, Pocahontas, Remy, Linguini, Flik, Atta, Andy, Kuzco, Flynn Rider, Anna, Elsa, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, Lilo, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Gabriella, Hannah Montana, Mia Thermopolis, and Pollyanna. (eats the snickers bar) The mouse createth and the mouse destroyeth.
— Studio C (Disney Plans Hero's Death)
Goddammit, I can't do this! I'm sorry, Dad! I can't do it! This isn't fair... I shouldn't have to carry you up this hill! You never carried me up a hill! You never picked me up from school, you didn't read me bedtime stories, you didn't carry me on your shoulders, you didn't bounce me on... You weren't there! And I needed you! I needed you there. You were supposed to carry me! You were supposed to carry... Ah, Frank's right, I'm glad you're dead! I'm glad you're dead! Now, I don't have to spend the rest of my life waiting for you to pick me up!
— Charlie Kelly, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "The Gang Carries A Corpse"
Music
Father, Father, where you been?
I've been out in the world since I was only ten.
Father, Father, where you been?
I've been out in the world since I was only ten.
Don't worry 'bout me
I'm about to die of pleurisy.
I've been out in the world since I was only ten.
Father, Father, where you been?
I've been out in the world since I was only ten.
Don't worry 'bout me
I'm about to die of pleurisy.
— Jack Kerouac, "Home I'll Never Be" (recorded as a song by Tom Waits on Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards)
Daddy's flown across the ocean
Leavin' just a memory
A snapshot in the family album
Daddy, what else did you leave for me?
Daddy, what'd you leave behind for me?!
All in all, it was just a brick in the wall.
All in all, it was all just bricks in the wall.
Leavin' just a memory
A snapshot in the family album
Daddy, what else did you leave for me?
Daddy, what'd you leave behind for me?!
All in all, it was just a brick in the wall.
All in all, it was all just bricks in the wall.
My father left my mother
for the love of aPOONTANGnother
And I have a BASTARD brother
Who I've never really known
Because me dad moved up to Queensland
And he doesn't have a BULLSHIT YOU FAT FUCK telephone
for the love of aPOONTANGnother
And I have a BASTARD brother
Who I've never really known
Because me dad moved up to Queensland
And he doesn't have a BULLSHIT YOU FAT FUCK telephone
— Tim Minchin, Angry (Feet)
Now ain’t nobody tell us it was fair
No love for my daddy, ‘cause the coward wasn't there
He passed away, and I didn’t cry
‘Cause my anger wouldn’t let me feel for a stranger
They say I’m wrong and I’m heartless
But all along I was looking for a father he was gone
I hung around with the thugs
And even though they sold drugs they showed a young brotha love
No love for my daddy, ‘cause the coward wasn't there
He passed away, and I didn’t cry
‘Cause my anger wouldn’t let me feel for a stranger
They say I’m wrong and I’m heartless
But all along I was looking for a father he was gone
I hung around with the thugs
And even though they sold drugs they showed a young brotha love
— Tupac Shakur, "Dear Mama"
Father of mine
Tell me, where have you been?
You know, I just closed my eyes
My whole world disappeared
Father of mine
Take me back to the day
Yeah, when I was still your golden boy
Back before you went away
Tell me, where have you been?
You know, I just closed my eyes
My whole world disappeared
Father of mine
Take me back to the day
Yeah, when I was still your golden boy
Back before you went away
— Everclear, "Father of Mine"
I actually learned a lot from you
You taught me what not to do
You taught me what not to do
—Eminem, "Arose"
Video Games
Thane Krios: ...You're angry because I wasn't there when your mother died.
Kolyat Krios: You weren't there when she was alive. Why should you be there when she died?
Kolyat Krios: You weren't there when she was alive. Why should you be there when she died?
Web Original
Lois: Will we see you?
Superman: I'm always around.
Critic: Spoken like a true deadbeat dad.
Superman: I'm always around.
Critic: Spoken like a true deadbeat dad.
"Angelo pretty much split shortly after she was born, and only resurfaced once she got famous (ah, classic Hollywood cockroach parenting). Then he kind of split again after she wouldn’t let him hump on her bank account, and was estranged from her for the last 8 years of her life. But that hasn’t stopped him from using the name @BrittMurphyDad on Twitter or re-launching investigations into her death and running to the press. But Angelo is so shook-up at the idea that anyone would exploit Britney’s death for profits! Well, you know, besides him… the second Angelo heard that Lifetime had made an biopic about his daughter, he immediately called up his lawyer (who I’m guessing is probably Saul Goodman) because he wants to make sure he sees a cut of the profits."
— DListed, "Brittany Murphy’s Deadbeat Dad Plans To Sue Lifetime For Making A Movie About His Daughter"
, "Brittany Murphy’s Deadbeat Dad Plans To Sue Lifetime For Making A Movie About His Daughter" How could I have ruined your childhood, boy? I wasn’t even there.
— King Tailmaz, That Lucky Old Sun (Anbennar fanfiction)
(Anbennar fanfiction)Duke Dirtfarmer: I just wanted to know who my real dad is...
Darth Vader: ...Woah. Owen never told you? Duke... Obi Wan Kenobi is your father.
Duke: That's not true! That's impossible!
Vader: Duke, I know this won't be easy to hear, but you're way better off without him in your life.
Duke: Nooo! No...
Vader: You're gonna have to trust me on this one; that guy... is the WORST. Seriously, he sucks! It burns me to think about him! His life was nothing but a series of mistakes that other people paid for. But you know what his biggest mistake was? Not being a part of your life. And that's not a mistake that I'm gonna make twice. Now get off that thing and come hug it out with me! Duke? Hugs?
Darth Vader: ...Woah. Owen never told you? Duke... Obi Wan Kenobi is your father.
Duke: That's not true! That's impossible!
Vader: Duke, I know this won't be easy to hear, but you're way better off without him in your life.
Duke: Nooo! No...
Vader: You're gonna have to trust me on this one; that guy... is the WORST. Seriously, he sucks! It burns me to think about him! His life was nothing but a series of mistakes that other people paid for. But you know what his biggest mistake was? Not being a part of your life. And that's not a mistake that I'm gonna make twice. Now get off that thing and come hug it out with me! Duke? Hugs?
— Auralnauts Star Wars: Attack of the Phantom Past
Boomstick: You know, I had an imaginary friend once.
Wiz: You did? What was his name?
Boomstick: Dad.
Wiz: You did? What was his name?
Boomstick: Dad.
— DEATH BATTLE!, "Hulk VS Doomsday (Marvel VS DC)"
Western Animation
Anders: You know, Hilda gets her adventurous streak from me. I'm sure she's told you how I follow the call of adventure wherever it takes me.
David: To be honest, I sorta figured you'd died when she was a baby.
Frida: So did I. I assumed it was some kind of horrible illness.
David: I pictured a tragic accident.
Hilda: Sorry, your exact whereabouts never came up.
David: To be honest, I sorta figured you'd died when she was a baby.
Frida: So did I. I assumed it was some kind of horrible illness.
David: I pictured a tragic accident.
Hilda: Sorry, your exact whereabouts never came up.
— Hilda, "The Job"
Blinky: Interesting. I did not know Jim's father was a magician.
Toby: Mm, not "magic" disappeared. More like "walked out 'cause he's a deadbeat" disappeared. I'd just moved into the house across the street, and Jim's dad got him this sweet bike kit for his fifth birthday. And then, he just took off. The pieces laid there in the garage for years. Last I heard, the guy ran off with his girlfriend to be a ski bum in Vermont.
Toby: Mm, not "magic" disappeared. More like "walked out 'cause he's a deadbeat" disappeared. I'd just moved into the house across the street, and Jim's dad got him this sweet bike kit for his fifth birthday. And then, he just took off. The pieces laid there in the garage for years. Last I heard, the guy ran off with his girlfriend to be a ski bum in Vermont.
— Trollhunters, "Bittersweet Sixteen"
