Grandparents are sometimes the best characters in a movie or television show. They’re wise, wacky, kindhearted, and fun to watch. They’re not typically the main characters, but they often steal the show with their humor and intriguing storylines.
There have been many lovable grandparents in movies and TV shows, including Frank and Marie Barone, Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Edwin Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine, and so many more. They are forever in the hearts of fans, and they forgive them if they’re a little grumpy at times. The families wouldn’t be the same without them.
10 Edwin Hoover (Little Miss Sunshine)
Family is the center of the 2006 comedy-drama, Little Miss Sunshine. The Hoover family embark on a road trip to California to support their daughter, Olive (Abigail Breslin), in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. The Hoovers are eccentric and your typical dysfunctional family and they’re complete with the heroin-addicted Grandpa Edwin (Alan Arkin).
Grandpa Edwin has a dark past, but he’s reliable for Olive. He helps coach her for her beauty pageant. Viewers will always love watching Grandpa Edwin (a very tough man) smile and act involved with Olive’s pageant. He can’t resist her charm. Arkin won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the film.
9 Grandparents (Cocoon)
In Ron Howard’s 1985 science-fiction film Cocoon, a Florida retirement village randomly finds the fountain of youth in a swimming pool. The retirees are clearly astonished by this discovery, but then they find out that aliens are only offering them eternal life if they decide to leave Earth to live in outer space.
The grandparents have to make the most difficult decision of their life. If they choose eternal life, they’ll have to leave their loved ones behind. This decision is especially heartbreaking for Ben Luckett (Wilford Brimley), who doesn’t want to leave behind his grandson, David (Barret Oliver). You will need a box of tissues as the lovable Ben makes his decision.
8 Grandpa Zeb And Grandma Esther (The Waltons)
If you want to find a set of grandparents who are loving, supportive, and committed to family values, look no further than Grandpa Zeb (Will Geer) and Grandma Esther (Ellen Corby) in the 1970’s family drama, The Waltons. Set in the Great Depression in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the show features the close-knit Walton family, complete with their grandparents.
Zeb and Esther are wise, reliable, and they know the importance of family. Grandma Esther is always helping Olivia (Michael Learned) in the kitchen—working hard for the family she loves. She’s also quick to remind her family about their traditional values. Grandpa Zeb is fun-loving and he’s always cracking a joke with his son, John (Ralph Waite), grandsons, and granddaughters. You couldn’t have Walton’s Mountain without Grandma and Grandpa Walton.
7 Al “Pops” Solomon (The Goldbergs)
You can’t help but notice Al “Pops” Solomon (George Segal) on The Goldbergs. He’s laid back with plenty of comedic moments. He often acts much younger than his age, which is frustrating for his daughter, Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey).
Pops is a very involved grandfather, especially with his youngest grandson, Adam (Sean Giambrone). If Adam needs help recording a home movie, Pops is there to assist him. Adam considers him his best friend, and who could blame him? Everyone would be lucky to have a buddy like Pops.
6 Norman And Ethel Thayer (On Golden Pond)
The 1981 drama On Golden Pond focuses on the relationship between the grumpy retiree Norman Thayer (Henry Fonda) and his wife, Ethel (Katharine Hepburn), his adult daughter, Chelsea (Jane Fonda), and his teenage grandson, Billy (Doug McKeon). Norman has an estranged relationship with Chelsea and Billy, but one summer on Golden Pond changes their relationships for the better.
Norman and Ethel are exactly what you want as cinematic grandparents: interesting characters with incredible growth. They aren’t perfect. They’re human. They prove that even in their senior years, they need to grow up and repair their relationships with their family. Both Henry Fonda and Hepburn received Academy Awards for their dramatic performances.
5 Frank (Parenthood)
Ron Howard’s 1989 dramatic comedy Parenthood is about the entire Buckman family. Perfectionist Gil (Steve Martin) deals with his siblings: a divorced single mother Helen (Dianne Wiest), who finds out her teenage daughter, Julie (Martha Plimpton) is pregnant; the frustrated Susan (Harley Jane Kozak), who argues with her husband, Nathan (Rick Moranis), about wanting more children; and, his immature brother, Larry (Tom Hulce), who randomly shows up with a son he can’t control.
Meanwhile, Gil finds out that he’s going to become a father again, and he worries that he’s going to turn into his father, Frank (Jason Robards). Throughout the pregnancy, Gil leans on his father, and they rebuild their relationship. Frank is a good grandfather, who always tries to offer the best advice.
4 Emily And Richard Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)
The 2000’s comedy-drama series Gilmore Girls centers mostly on the close relationship between single mother Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and her daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel). They’re best friends, but you couldn’t have the show without Lorelai’s parents, Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard (Edward Herrman) Gilmore. In fact, some of the best moments on the show take place at Friday night dinner with the Gilmores.
Emily and Richard are wealthy, and they have a very different lifestyle than Lorelai and Rory. Lorelai often fights with them, especially Emily. However, Emily and Richard are devoted grandparents to Rory. They willingly pay for her schooling and support her dreams.
3 Frank And Marie Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
The late 1990’s and early 2000’s sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond primarily focuses on Ray Barone (Ray Romano) and his marriage to Debra (Patricia Heaton). However, you couldn’t have the show without the meddling, overbearing parents/grandparents, Frank (Peter Boyle) and Marie (Doris Roberts).
Frank and Marie are always invading Ray and Debra’s personal space. Marie is a loving grandmother, and Frank is entertaining with his witty remarks. Ray and Debra’s children are never bored as long as Frank and Marie are at their house.
2 Grandfather (The Princess Bride)
Most grandfathers wouldn’t be thrilled to read a romantic bedtime story about a princess, giants, and heroes. However, the grandfather (Peter Falk) in the 1987 family adventure, The Princess Bride, is not your average grandfather. He’s happy to read the bedtime story to his grandson (Fred Savage).
His grandson is sick in bed, so he hopes to cheer him up with the story. It doesn’t take long for the grandfather to be invested in the story, which also excites his grandson. Peter Falk’s narration is one of the best parts of this timeless ‘80s film.
1 Grandpa Joe (Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory)
When young children have imaginations, they need someone to believe in their dreams. For Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) in the 1971 fantasy Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, that person is his lovable Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson).
He’s a level-headed grandfather who protects Charlie against the fantastical events at Willy Wonka’s (Gene Wilder) chocolate factory. He’s loyal to Charlie and he only wants the best for his grandson. That’s how every grandparent should behave.
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