10 Celebrity Dads Who Had Children Later in Life and Proved It Was Worth the Wait

The average age that a man welcomes his first baby is 27.5 years. But some men chose to enjoy their bachelor lives for longer and took their time to become parents. And although there’s no perfect age to take the plunge into fatherhood, these celebrity dads are sure it was the right time for them.

We at Bright Side are truly happy for these 10 celebrity fathers who have opened up about how becoming older dads has changed their lives.

1. Jeff Goldblum

The 68-year-old actor admitted he never thought of having kids until he met his wife, a Canadian Olympic gymnast named Emilie Livingston. She discovered she was pregnant the day before their wedding, and Goldblum became a first-time dad at the age of 62. “I never seriously considered it until Emilie,” the Morning Glory actor said. “I’m at a different place now. I was enthusiastic to marry her and try to have a baby.”

2. Bruce Willis

The award-winning actor has 3 daughters from his first marriage with actress Demi Moore. All of them were almost grown by the time he welcomed his fourth daughter at the age of 57. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I’m changing diapers like a champ. When I’m not working, my days are devoted to the women in my life,” he said.

3. Alec Baldwin

The 63-year-old actor and a father of 7 admits becoming a dad for the second time in his fifties wasn’t easy. “I think, ’You know what? I wish I had more time,’” he shared. The Hollywood star has a daughter from his first marriage to actress Kim Basinger and 6 children with his second wife, a yoga teacher, Hilaria Thomas.

4. Steve Martin

Steve Martin has won the hearts of millions in his many family movies, such as Cheaper by the Dozen and Father of the Bride. But the award-winning actor didn’t have children of his own until he was 67. Martin believes becoming an older dad was the right choice for him. “If I’d had a child earlier, I would have misplaced my attention on my career,” he said.

5. Hugh Grant

The Love Actually star and longtime Hollywood bachelor didn’t expect to find out he’s was about to become a father at the age of 51. We can only imagine his surprise when he became a second-time dad only a year later. Grant admits having children transformed his life, and he wished he thought of starting a family sooner. “I’m trying to be a young father in an old man’s body and it’s rough, but it’s absolutely worth it. You need a family. I get that now,” he shared.

6. Simon Cowell

The X Factor judge welcomed his first child at 53 years old. Although Cowell was initially shocked by the news, he’s now thinking of a second child. “I was born to be a dad,” he said. “I wouldn’t rule out [more children]. I had a brother when I was younger, so I kind of think it’s cool to have 2 or 3.”

7. Anderson Cooper

The TV host became a first-time dad at the age of 53. Although Cooper and his longtime boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani, had split up, they co-parent their son. “The interesting thing about having a child is it’s made me sort of connect with my dad and my mom’s past and my brother’s past in a way that I never really anticipated. I remember things about my dad that I never remembered before because I’m experiencing them with Wyatt as a dad,” he shared.

8. Chris Noth

Much like the many characters he’s played, Chris Noth was holding onto his bachelor life for a long time. But it all changed when he met a Canadian actress Tara Lynn Wilson. The couple got married, and Noth welcomed his first child at 54. “My son makes me laugh every day. He’s got a little of my goofball in him,” he said.

9. Guy Pearce

The Jack Irish star thought he reached a point in his life where he didn’t feel like he needed to have kids. However, at the age of 48, he became a father for the first time. Pearce said that being an older dad has taught him “patience, and having a better understanding of himself.” He continued, “It’s certainly not going to be about kicking the footy in 1 year’s time, that’s for sure.”

10. Hill Harper

The All Eyez on Me actor always thought he was going to get married and have a big family. But by the time he was 49, he was still single, and a close friend told him even though he wasn’t married, he didn’t need to wait any longer to become a dad. Harper talked to an adoption agent, and just a few months later, he got a call to adopt a baby boy. “I actually went from the set of ‘All Eyez on Me,’ flew to where she was giving birth, and I was there in the delivery room and I cut the cord. I’m so proud that Pierce chose me to be his dad,” he said.

Whose story has touched you the most? Do you think it’s easier to become a parent in your twenties or in your forties?