When he married Britney Spears in 2004, the only thing the world knew about Kevin Federline was that he was a backup dancer who left a pregnant Shar Jackson to pursue a whirlwind courtship with the pop singer. Now the father of four (son and daughter, Kaleb and Kori, with Shar, and sons, Sean and Jayden, with Spears) can add rapper, wrestler, actor, and fashion model to his growing resume. Despite this and more (he also bowls for a recreational bowling league), the “devoted dad” always makes time for his kids (or at least makes sure to be photographed spending time with them.) He currently has sole physical custody of his sons with Spears.
Fame Pictures
David Goldman isn’t an actor. Nor is he a singer nor producer nor any other type of celebrity. Yet people know his name—and his heart-wrenching story: He is locked in a custody battle for his 8-year-old son, Sean, who, four years ago, was taken to Brazil by his mother, David’s wife Bruna, for what he thought was a vacation to her native country. Yet Bruna never returned, instead keeping Sean with her in Brazil, divorcing David, remarrying, and eventually dying in childbirth with her husband’s new baby. Now, Bruna’s second husband is trying to keep the child with him in Brazil, while David has launched the Web site, bringseanhome.org, in a desperate attempt to see his son again. Nothing is hotter than devotion.
Fabio Pozzebom / AP Photos
Larry Birkhead accepted his win in the paternity battle for Dannielynn, his child with the late Anna Nicole Smith, with all the modesty of a triumphant football player who’d scored the final touchdown in the Super Bowl. Only instead of a trophy, Larry took home a bouncing baby girl, and proceeded to pose for photos with Dannielynn for People magazine, throw a lavish first-birthday party (princess-themed, complete with a castle, carriage and Barney the dinosaur), and most recently, buy a kid-friendly house in Kentucky. Larry remains a hands-on father, speaking openly of his concerns for his daughter as she recently went under the knife for surgery to correct a lazy eye.
Mike / Fame Pictures
Guy Ritchie has a lot going on these days. Despite the very public (and expensive) divorce from Madonna last December, he’s already been linked to a millionaire heiress, spotted out drinking with Robert Downey Jr. (who’s starring in Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, due out later this year), and is rumored to be remaking the classic Guys and Dolls. Still, the ever-charming British director remains supportive of his ex and of their children. He is often photographed with his 8-year-old look-alike son, Rocco, and his adopted son, David, and although he has recently been lying low, look out for those cute dimples on the streets of Wiltshire: Word on the street is this hot dad will be spending the summer there with his children while Madonna embarks on her tour.
Insight News & Features Inc.
If you were alive in the ‘90s, then chances are you danced to “Livin’ la Vida Loca.” And if you were female, chances are even greater that you had a crush on Ricky Martin. And you may be in luck: The Latin singer is still single, and now the proud father of twin boys via a gestational surrogate. By the time his publicist announced the birth in August 2008, the twins were already a few weeks old and already under Ricky’s full-time care. He’s spoken openly about the thrills of being a dad, and has put any plans to tour on hold as he focuses on raising his kids. And unlike most celebrity dads, Ricky has respectfully kept his children from public scrutiny, keeping a relatively low profile as he embraces single parenthood. But that hasn’t kept Ricky himself from the spotlight—this week, he came out as bisexual.
Zak Brian, Sipa / AP Photo
Better known as “The Rock,” Dwayne Johnson doesn’t exactly look like your typical soccer dad. But at 6’4” and 225 lbs., someone better warn Simone Alexandra’s (that’s his 7-year-old daughter) future boyfriends to watch out. She’s very much daddy’s little girl—“I'll do anything to keep that smile on her face” he once told People magazine. Though he and his wife, Dany Garcia, split a few years ago, they remain close, and Dany and Simone have often turned up to Dwayne’s movie premieres and ceremonies.
Paul Morigi, WireImage / Getty Images
Our most recent bachelor, Usher is in the middle of divorcing his wife Tameka Foster, the stylist he married in August 2007, and the mother of his two young children, Usher Raymond V and Naviyd. Although they are just now legalizing the divorce, the two have been living separately for over a year, with reports that Usher continued to lead his life like a bachelor, enjoying late nights at clubs with mysterious women. But when he’s not partying, or busy recording his next album (due out this fall), he loves to dote on his two children. Here’s hoping the singer will pass on some of his good moves and vocal skills to his young infants.
Robb D. Cohen / Retna
When you think of A-Rod, the last thing you make think of his fatherhood, if only because his accomplishments are so great. He was the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs, and in December 2007, signed a $275 million contract with the New York Yankees. But despite his all-star status, he’s a bad-boy at heart: He’s been spotted at strip clubs in Toronto, was accused by his wife Cynthia Rodriguez (who filed for divorce in July 2008) of infidelity, and admitted to using steroids from 2001 to 2003. Still, in between the controversies and batting practices, he makes room for his two daughters, Natasha, 4, and Ella, 14 months. A-Rod has recently been linked to Kate Hudson.
Jeff Roberson / AP Images
They say laughter is the best medicine, so what’s the story behind Wayne Brady’s two divorces? The former talk-show host and Whose Line Is It Anyway? star split from his second wife of eight years after fathering a daughter, Maile, in 2003, citing irreconcilable differences. And while his professional career since then has not been without its pitfalls, the Don’t Forget the Lyrics! host is proud of his role as a father and the change that it’s inspired in his life. “I have a hard time looking at the swimsuit issues because now, that's someone's daughter,” Brady has said. “I never really thought of it in that context. And even though she's an adult, there is some guy sitting at home going, `Why is my baby dressed in a thong?"'
Fitzroy Barrett / Landov
When Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon split in 2007, the bottom fell out of the power couple market. What is marriage without the glamorous beacons of hope and happiness like Phillippe-Witherspoon and Pitt-Aniston? The bright side: Being single looks good on Ryan. Since the divorce he’s upheld a low-profile style of parenting, rarely photographed with children Deacon, 5, and Ava, 8, despite having joint custody. Deadbeat dad? Far from it: Phillippe keeps in close contact with his children, taking them to work on movie sets and chatting via computer webcam when he’s not around.
Vah / Fame Pictures
With 10 siblings, seven children and a baby on the way, suffice it to say that fertility runs in the Gibson family. The actor’s antics—alcoholism, public outbursts, and anti-Semitic comments, to name a few—may keep him in the news and his children blushing, but he’s a prankster and a family man at heart. His divorce after nearly 30 years of marriage shouldn’t put any strain on his children (after all, some of them are parents themselves) and having a new baby around the house with girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva should keep him busy enough to stay out of the celebrity hall of shame, at least for a little while.
Noel Vasquez / Getty Images
