Hollywood’s dearest fatherly role models

Gordon and Tana, his wife of 28 years, had a bit of a gap between becoming parents to Megan, 26, twins Holly and Jack, 24, Matilda (aka Tilly), 22, and welcoming Oscar, five, and Jesse James, one. “Kids bring out the emotion in me,” says Gordon, 57. “Tana’s a super-fierce ex-school teacher. So I’m the softie!”

His film was about Boy, but at home he’s all about girls! The Kiwi director, 48, shares daughters Te Hinekāhu, 11, and Matewa Kiritapu, eight, with ex-wife Chelsea Winstanley. The girls live full-time in New Zealand as Taika says they prefer “the stability of being around their friends”.

When he’s not in his favourite place – New Zealand – Minecraft star Jason, 45, loves spending time with daughter Lola, 17, and son Nakoa-Wolf, 15, his kids with ex-wife Lisa Bonet. “It’s real love,” he says. “Seeing them grow, learning from them, teaching them… It’s just the greatest thing in the world.”

How I Met Your Mother star Neil loves being a father. The actor and singer, 51, and his partner of 20 years, David Burtka, 49, welcomed twins Harper and Gideon, 13, via surrogate in 2010. According to David, Harper has his “outgoing” personality, while Gideon is more like Neil “as he’s a little more intellectual”.

Doting dad David says his kids are his greatest achievement. The football star, 49 (pictured with Brooklyn, 25, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 13), wrote, “Thank you Victoria for giving me these incredible people to love. Dad loves you all.”

Ferris Bueller may get a day off, but Matthew, 62, is a hands-on dad! He and Sarah Jessica Parker share James Wilkie, 21, and twins Tabitha and Marion, 13. “I don’t think anybody would call me strict, but I can be a little, you know, ‘Don’t do that again’,” he admits.

Singer John admires kids so much, he’s releasing a children’s album. The All of Me hitmaker, 45, shares Luna, eight, Miles, six, and Esti and Wren, both one, with Chrissy Teigen. “Music is such an important part of the way we interact,” he says. “I thought about the messages I give to my kids and I put that in song.”

Dad Dwayne, 52, adores his three girls, Simone, 22, Jasmine, eight, and Tiana, six, so much, he’s put them on his brand of tequila. Each bottle of Teremana is embossed with “TIJASI” – the first two letters of each of their names. “I’ve reached a point in my life where my own schedule allows me to get closer to the girls.”

With eight kids and three grandchildren, crooner Rod knows a bit about fatherhood. The dad to Sarah, 60, Kimberly, 44, Sean, 43, Ruby, 36, Renee, 32, Liam, 29, Alastair, 18, and Aiden, 12, says he’s a “very lenient” parent. “I don’t think I’m as strict with my kids as my mum and dad – especially my dad – were,” shares the 79-year-old. “None have got into any serious trouble.”