Surprising Celebrity Dads Who Embraced Fatherhood at an Unexpected Age

Many famous fathers have proven that it's never too late to embrace the joy of having a new child. Take David Foster and Nikki Sixx, for example, who both welcomed children in their later years.

In the case of Foster, he tied the knot with Katharine McPhee in London at the age of 69. McPhee, an American Idol alum, was 34 years younger than him and had never experienced motherhood before. However, Foster already had the joy of being a father to six daughters.

One year after their wedding, it was revealed that McPhee, a native of Los Angeles, was pregnant with their first child. The Broadway actress subtly confirmed the news on Instagram Stories, expressing her excitement and jokingly mentioning that she would not be drinking Aperol Spritz, but instead inviting friends over for an Italian-inspired cocktail.

The actress revealed her pregnancy in December 2020 and welcomed her son, Rennie, in March of the following year. McPhee shared that they chose the name Rennie because they hadn't decided on a name during her labor. She explained that her husband's sister suggested an old family name, which had been passed down through generations in their family.

On the other hand, Sixx, the musician from Mötley Crüe, had four children named Frankie-Jean, Gunner, Storm, and Decker from previous relationships before starting a family with his wife, Courtney Sixx. They welcomed their daughter, Ruby, in July 2019 when Nikki was 60 years old.

"I am filled with gratitude towards my Heavenly Father for the precious gift of our child, who is truly an angel from God," expressed the DIY expert on Instagram. "I had no idea that this kind of love could exist. Becoming a mother brings me immense joy, and I have no doubt that Nikki will be an exceptional father, just as he has been with my four stepchildren. We have returned home and are getting settled, and I am delighted to report that Ruby is thriving. She is healthy, with a beautiful head of hair (courtesy of Nikki) and long legs (inherited from me)."

Continue scrolling to discover other notable fathers in the celebrity world who have embraced fatherhood later in life, such as Richard Gere and Mick Jagger.

Credit: YAMIL LAGE/AFP/Getty Images

Celebrity Dads Who Had Children Late in Life

It’s never too late for a new bundle of joy! From David Foster to Nikki Sixx, many famous fathers have welcomed children in their silver years.

The composer, at the age of 69, tied the knot with Katharine McPhee in London. The American Idol alum, who was 34 years younger, had never experienced motherhood, whereas Foster was the proud father of six daughters.

In 1970, the Grammy winner joyfully welcomed Allison into the world. At that time, the Canadian native made the difficult decision to place his eldest child for adoption, but they eventually reunited later in life. Following Foster's marriage to B.J. Cook in 1972, the couple welcomed their daughter Amy. Additionally, he shares three more daughters, Sara, Erin, and Jordan, with Rebecca Dyer.

One year after the wedding ceremony of the couple, news surfaced that the Los Angeles native was pregnant with their first child. The Broadway star subtly confirmed her pregnancy through an Instagram Stories post, expressing her excitement while jokingly mentioning her abstinence from Aperol Spritz. She also playfully invited others to join her for an Italian-inspired cocktail.

In December 2020, the actress proudly showcased her baby bump, and in March of the following year, she gave birth to a son named Rennie. McPhee explained that they chose the name Rennie because they hadn't decided on a name during her labor. It was during a text exchange with his sisters that one of them suggested an old family name, which held significance as it was his great-grandfather's and great-uncle's name, carrying a rich history within his family.

Sixx, the Mötley Crüe rocker, has four children named Frankie-Jean, Gunner, Storm, and Decker from previous relationships. However, he and his wife, Courtney Sixx, started their own family and welcomed their daughter, Ruby, in July 2019 when Nikki was 60 years old.

Expressing her gratitude, the DIY expert took to Instagram and wrote, "I am incredibly thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing Nikki and me with the most precious and angelic child of God. This kind of love is beyond anything I have ever known. I am overjoyed to embrace motherhood, and I have no doubt that Nikki will be an amazing father, just as he has been with my four stepchildren. We are now settling into our home, and Ruby is thriving. She is healthy, with a beautiful head of hair like Nikki and long legs like me."

Keep scrolling to see other celebrity dads having kids late in life, including Richard Gere and Mick Jagger.

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Al Pacino

In June 2023, at the age of 83, Pacino became a father again, as he welcomed a son with his girlfriend Noor Alfallah. Prior to this, the renowned Godfather actor had a daughter named Julie Marie with Jan Tarrant in 1989, and twins named Anton James and Olivia Rose with Beverly D’Angelo in 2001.

Credit: Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

Robert De Niro

In May 2023, the acclaimed Oscar winner, at the age of 79, announced that he had recently become a father for the seventh time. De Niro shared this news during an interview with ET Canada, politely correcting a reporter who mistakenly referred to his children as six in number. With a smile, he responded, "Actually, it's seven. I just had a baby."

De Niro's journey into fatherhood began in 1976 when he and his former wife, Diahnne Abbott, joyfully welcomed their son Raphael into the world. Additionally, De Niro lovingly adopted Abbott's daughter, Drena, from her previous relationship. In 1995, the talented actor and his then-girlfriend Toukie Smith were blessed with the arrival of twins, Julian and Aaron. Later on, De Niro and his ex-wife, Grace Hightower, embraced the joys of parenthood once again and welcomed their son Elliot in 1998, followed by their daughter Helen in 2011.

Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Randall Emmett

In March 2021, Lala Kent gave birth to her daughter Ocean when the director was 50 years old. Two months later, the Vanderpump Rules star revealed exclusively to Us that she has a desire to have another baby. Despite her partner, Randall, emphasizing her youth, Lala humorously reminds him that he is not as young as he thinks.

Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/StarPix/Shutterstock

Alec Baldwin

At the age of 62, the former Saturday Night Live cast member celebrated the arrival of two babies. Son Eduardo was born to his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, in September 2020, and just five months later, they joyfully welcomed daughter Lucia through a surrogate. In addition to Carmen, Rafael, Leonardo, and Romeo, the couple also have Alec's daughter Ireland, whom he had with his ex-wife Kim Basinger back in 1995.

Credit: imageSPACE/Shutterstock

David Foster

The composer welcomed his sixth child, his first with wife Katharine McPhee, in February 2021 at age 71.

Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Romany Malco

The A Million Little Things actor welcomed his first child in January 2021 at age 52. He is already a stepfather to two children with his partner.

Credit: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Richard Gere

The actor welcomed his and Alejandra Silva’s first child together, a son named Alexander, in February 2019 at age 69. Baby No. 2 arrived in April 2020.

Credit: Tasia Wells/Getty Images

Nikki Sixx

The rockstar from Motley Crüe celebrated the arrival of his fifth child in July 2019, marking his first child with his wife, Courtney Sixx. At the age of 60, he proudly shared the news on Instagram, stating that their new addition was a spirited little girl with a beautiful head of hair. With her arrival, she became the fifth member of the Sixx family, joining her two sisters and two brothers. Reflecting on fatherhood, the musician expressed that it has brought him immense joy, while also praising his wife, Courtney, for her natural talent as a mother.

Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Andy Cohen

In December 2018, Cohen shared the exciting news that he would soon become a father for the first time through a surrogate. Despite reaching this milestone at the age of 50, he expressed how important family is to him and how he has longed for this experience throughout his entire life. During an episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, he eagerly shared his anticipation for this upcoming chapter, believing it will undoubtedly be the most fulfilling one yet.

Credit: Mauricio Santana/Getty Images

Mick Jagger

Deveraux Octavian Basil Jagger, the son of Jagger and Hamrick, was born on December 8, 2016, adding to the already large family of the Rolling Stones frontman. Jagger, who has been in a relationship with the dancer for two years, is a father to several children from his previous relationships. He has a daughter named Karis with his ex-partner Marsha Hunt, a daughter named Jade with his ex-wife Bianca Jagger, and daughters Elizabeth and Georgia May and sons James and Gabriel with his ex-wife Jerry Hall. Additionally, he has a son named Lucas with his ex-partner Luciana Gimenez. The rocker is also a proud grandfather to three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Steve Martin

The funnyman had his first child at age 67, in December 2012, with wife Anne Stringfield, who is 26 years his junior. 

Credit: Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Ronnie Wood

Ronnie Wood, the guitarist of the Rolling Stones, found himself in a similar situation to Mick Jagger when he became a father again. At the age of 68, he and his wife Sally Humphreys, who is 31 years younger, welcomed twins named Alice Rose and Gracie Jane in May 2016.

The rocker has four other children — Jamie, Jesse, Leah and Tyrone — from his previous marriages to Krissy Findlay, who died in 2005, and Jo Karslake.

Credit: Lisa Lake/Getty Images

Rod Stewart

Rocker Stewart, at the age of 66, welcomed his eighth child, Aiden, with his wife Penny Lancaster in 2011. Lancaster, who was 39 at the time, gave birth to their second child together, having previously had Alastair five years earlier.

Prior to this, the "Maggie May" singer had six children from previous relationships: Kimberly, Sean, Ruby, Renee, Liam, and another child who was born in 1964 and subsequently placed for adoption.

Credit: Matthew Eisman/Getty Images

Larry King

In 2000, at the age of 66, the late talk show host welcomed his youngest child, Cannon Edward King, with his seventh wife, Shawn Southwick King. Prior to this, the couple had already become parents to their first child, Chance Armstrong King, born on March 9, 1999.

Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

George Lucas

The renowned director of Star Wars expanded his family at the age of 69 by welcoming his youngest child, Everest Hobson Lucas, into the world in 2013. This joyous occasion was made possible through surrogacy, as Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson became proud parents. In addition to Everest, Lucas has three other children: Amanda, as well as adopted children Katie and Jett.

Credit: REX/Shutterstock

James Doohan

“Scotty” from the original Star Trek series had his youngest daughter, Sarah, in 2000, when the actor was 80 years old.

Credit: Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood, the director of Sully, became a father again at the age of 66 when his second wife, Dina, gave birth to their youngest child, Morgan, in 1996. At the time, Dina was 31 years old. In addition to Morgan, Eastwood has six other children: Kimber, Kyle, Alison, Scott, Kathryn, and Francesca.

Credit: Inter-News/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Charlie Chaplin

The silent film star was 73 when his fourth wife, Oona O'Neill, who was 36 years younger than him, gave birth to Christopher James in 1962.

Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Anthony Quinn

The actor known as Lawrence of Arabia became a father for the 13th time in 1996, when he was 81 years old. Ryan Nicholas Quinn, the youngest child of the actor, was born to his mother Katherine Benvin, who was 47 years younger than the actor.

Credit: Michael Kovac/FilmMagic

Hugh Hefner

Hefner, the founder of Playboy, had a son named Cooper Bradford in 1991 with his wife and Playmate of the Year, Kimberley Conrad. At the time, Hefner was 65 years old. In addition to Cooper, he also had three other children named Christie, David, and Marston.