From Red Carpets to Diaper Changes: Celebrity Dads Who Embraced Parenthood with Open Arms

A new study showed that good dads have traditional masculine traits (for example, they are competitive and adventurous), which can seem a little old-fashion to some. However, those characteristics only “work” if the men believed they should be nurturing, highly involved fathers. It’s logical in a way: being a parent is such a difficult role that it requires both parents to give their all. We have a list of great celebrity dads right here.

1. Jason Momoa

The Aquaman heartthrob is a daddy to Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa, Lola Iolani Momoa; and stepfather to Zoë Kravitz. Despite being busy, Momoa says he is a P.E. coach for his children and takes them to skateboard on ramps, climb walls, throw tomahawks, and shoot bows and arrows often. He constantly makes an effort to be a better father.

2. Tom Cruise

Before having his biological daughter, Suri, with Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise was already a father to 2 children — Isabella and Connor — who he adopted with his then-wife, Nicole Kidman. When they divorced in 2001, Tom was granted full custody of their children. Today, they are all grown up and live their lives away from the public eye.

3. John Legend

The American singer and philanthropist is a daddy to daughter Luna and son Miles. Not only does he constantly share photos of him having cute playdates with his children, but he also doesn’t mind taking them to work.

4. Mark Wahlberg

When we think of the actor, what first comes to mind are his action roles and tough persona. But it seems that at home, Mark is a tender-hearted dad of 4, who will even sit through a pampering session while his youngest daughter does his nails.

5. Usher

Usher believes that he was born to play the role of a father and takes the responsibility of being a parent for 4 kids seriously because one day he hopes his children will look up to him. “Now I represent what he is to become,” Usher said about his son. “He’s gonna admire me, he’s gonna look up to me. He’s gonna say, ’I wanna be like my father. I wanna be a man of valor.’”

6. Ricky Martin

The King of Latin Pop, Ricky Martin, has 4 children: a daughter and 3 sons with his husband, Jwan Yosef. He revealed that one time, when his son asked if he came from his belly, he told him that he was in his heart and is still there. His children are his favorite critics, and to him, fatherhood comes before anything else.

7. James Marsden

When the Sonic the Hedgehog star divorced his wife, Lisa Linde, in 2011, he became a single dad to his son, Jack, and daughter, Mary. He’s also a father to William, a son he shares with ex-girlfriend Rose Costa.

Even though James has starred in many successful movies, being a parent is what brings him the most joy. “Of all my achievements in life, being a father is the one thing I’m most proud of. It is the most fulfilling. I’m always self-deprecating, but I don’t have a problem saying that I am a great dad,” he revealed.

8. Jamie Foxx

The actor has raised his 2 daughters as a single parent, and he confessed that he had to learn how to be a better dad with time. One of the main lessons he learned was to put his girls first and be there for them all the time. He admitted that he used to make up for his absence with money and material things. But having his older daughter once say to him, ’’I don’t like you,’’ and ’’Show up and be there when you say you’re going to be there,’’ was a big eye-opener for Jamie.

9. Jensen Ackles

This actor has 3 children: Justice Jay Ackles, Zeppelin Bram Ackles, and Arrow Rhodes Ackles. He takes time to teach his kids, does house chores with them, and, of course, plays and sings with them as every dad should!

10. Pierce Brosnan

After marrying actress Cassandra Harris, Pierce Brosnan adopted her 2 kids: Charlotte age 9 and Chris age 8. 3 years later, they gave birth to their own son Sean. Later the Brosnan family experienced a tragedy — Cassandra died from cancer. Since then the actor has been raising their kids alone without any intention to get married again. But in 1994, he met a journalist Keely Shaye Smith whom he married officially in 2001. They have 2 sons — Dylan and Paris.

11. Josh Duhamel

Josh Duhamel is a father to Axl, a son he shares with his ex-wife, Fergie. They agreed to share legal and physical custody, and Josh does his best to be a good father. He gives his son the freedom to choose who he wants to be in life, as long as he is happy.

As for his parenting style, Josh says that he can be a cool dad as long as the boundaries he sets don’t get crossed: “I can be a softie sometimes, but he knows not to push me too far because he knows that I’ll put my foot down when it’s time.”

12. Chris Hemsworth

The Australian actor is the father of twin boys and a daughter, India. India was his firstborn, and he has opened up about parenthood, saying, ’’It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever been a part of.’’ The Hollywood star added that his daughter is the main focus in his life, saying, ’’When I am at work, she’s what I’m thinking about, and when I’m not at work, she’s who I’m hanging out with!"

13. Arnold Schwarzenegger

While Arnold is best known for his action movies and unbeatable charm, he didn’t have a smooth childhood but learned a lot from his father’s strict parenting. And this might be the main reason why today, a father of 4, and grandfather of 2, makes sure to provide the happiest life for his loved ones. He puts them first above all, and one of his posts on Instagram proves that:

“Schpatzl, you have the biggest heart and the sharpest mind. Happy birthday! When I think about the best moments of my life, you sleeping on my chest beats every movie premiere, every fundraiser, and every contest. I’m so proud of you, and I love you.”