Current:Home > MarketsChristopher Meloni, Oscar Isaac, Jeff Goldblum and More Internet Zaddies Who Are Also IRL Daddies -Trailblazer Capital Learning
Christopher Meloni, Oscar Isaac, Jeff Goldblum and More Internet Zaddies Who Are Also IRL Daddies
View
Date:2025-04-17 02:23:45
Who's your zaddy?
In recent years, the term "zaddy" has been thrown around the internet a lot to describe a hot (and usually older) man—regardless if he has kids. And though Merriam-Webster says it hasn't quite met their criteria for dictionary status, the brand noted it's a slang "we are increasingly seeing in use."
And FYI for the uninitiated, "Many of the attractive males—most often of the celebrity type—who have been labeled as zaddies are not fathers," the publisher noted in a 2018 article explaining the word's origin. "A zaddy seems to have that certain je ne sais quoi combining looks, confidence, and charm."
However, that's not to say that social media isn't thirsting for zaddies who are actually daddies, too. Take 62-year-old Christopher Meloni, who said he's embraced the title "to the best of my ability" after photos of his booty when viral.
"Maybe I'm the zaddy of the moment," the actor—who shares kids Sophia, 22, and Dante, 19, with wife Sherman Williams—told E! News' Daily Pop in 2021, "and I humbly accept that, thank you."
And as someone who became a first-time father at age 63, Jeff Goldblum doesn't mind being called a daddy or a zaddy. (The Jurassic Park alum is dad to sons Charlie, 7, and River, 6, with retired gymnast Emilie Livingston.)
"Sometimes, they say 'zaddy,'" Jeff said of his fans in a 2018 episode of Hot Ones. "Sure, I like it!"
However, he later noted that he much enjoys being a dad rather than zad. "I think it's very complimentary...but I like being a daddy," he explained on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2020. "That opened up a whole new world."
Who else is considered a zaddy in Hollywood? Keep reading to find out.
Long before he welcomed sons Eugene, 6, and Mads, 3, with wife Elvira Lind, fans have considered the Moon Knight star to be a zaddy purely based on his salt-and-pepper hair and daring fashion sense. Though Oscar has not publicly comment on his endearing title, the 44-year-old made no objections to being referred to as "daddy" by both family and followers in the meantime.
"I didn't know the fans called me daddy, but that's okay," he said in 2022 interview with Taiwan-based news outlet ETtoday. "They can call me daddy if they want to. I don't mind."
The Luther actor reached dad status way back in 2002, when he welcomed daughter Isan with his first wife Hanne Nørgaard, and again in 2004 following the birth of his and Naiyana Garth's son Winston. As for his zaddy status, the 50-year-old—who moonlights as a DJ under the name Driis—made that known in 2017, when he named his remix of SHY FX's "Chocolate" as the "Sugar Zaddy" mix.
Given how he was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2010—years before welcoming James, 8, Inez, 6, Betty, 3 and his newest 3-month-old with wife Blake Lively—there is simply no question as to whether or not the Deadpool star is a zaddy. After all, the 46-year-old was even listed as a prime example in Esquire's explainer of a zaddy.
As dad to five kids—including son Matteo, 8, and daughter Emilia, 5, with wife Felicity Blunt—Stanley made social media users very thirsty when a video tutorial of him making a Negroni went viral in 2020. Since then, the Devil Wears Prada actor has become one of the internet's favorite zaddies, prompting countless NSFW tweets about him.
"Some of them were so funny," the 62-year-old recalled to ET Canada, "and some of them were so lewd that you were like, 'Oh my God, who thinks of that?'"
Due to internet memes about his butt, the Law & Order: SVU alum's zaddy status was quickly cemented by social media users. However, his family—which includes wife Sherman Williams and kids Sophia, 22, and Dante, 19—feels differently about his fan-appointed title.
"My wife, she's lovely, she gets it, Meaning she's like, 'Eh, whatever,'" he told People in 2022. "My kids, on the other hand, invariably once a month, it's 'Really? Really?' Their friends will send them a meme that's come out or whatever, but I think secretly in their hearts, they get it."
He added, "It's cool because we all have a good goof with it. My children's friends bust my chops, but it's all fun. It's an honor."
The CNN anchor—who is dad to sons Wyatt, 3, and Sebastian, 16 months—even has Andy Cohen's seal approval. "My favorite Zaddy in my living room," Andy captioned a May 3 photo of the notorious silver fox mid-interview, "pummeling me with hard hitting questions!"
While the actor—who shares daughters Esmeralda, 8, and Amada, 7, with Eva Mendes—has been a Hollywood heartthrob since his Notebook days, he's been nudged into zaddy territory in recent years. However, the 42-year-old is still admittedly confused by the term.
"What is a zaddy?" he asked in an outtakes video for a Netflix shoot. "Where does the 'z' come from."
After a crew member explained it's a word that "kids are saying" nowadays, he quipped, "Well, this kid isn't saying it."
The 59-year-old may have been everyone's favorite uncle on Full House, but he's is now a certified hot dad after welcoming son Billy with his wife Caitlin McHugh in 2018. John was even named "Sexiest Zaddy" by People in 2020!
Once described as a "walking fire emoji" by in promo for Netflix's Sweet Girl, the 43-year-old shares daughter Lola, 15, and son Nakoa-Wolf, 14, with ex Lisa Bonet.
Though 58, the seemingly ageless rocker—who is dad to 34-year-old Zoë Kravitz—has been dubbed a zaddy by many, including radio personality B. Scott.
The Jurassic Park alum is admittedly a "late bloomer" when it comes to being a sex symbol, telling the Chicago Tribune in 2019, "I'm having a bit of a growth spurt and especially around music and many other things—acting and fatherhood."
And as dad to sons Charlie, 7, and River, 6, with wife Emilie Livingston, the 70-year-old is, as The Times once put it, the "zaddiest zaddy who ever zaddied."
While many have considered the Ocean's 11 star somewhat of a zaddy for years due to his signature salt-and-pepper hair, he had fans falling head-over-heels when he welcomed twins Ella and Alexander with wife Amal Clooney in 2017.
Sign up for E! Insider! Unlock exclusive content, custom alerts & more!veryGood! (56)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- When is the NBA All-Star Game? And other answers on how to watch LeBron James in record 20th appearance
- 2024 BAFTA Film Awards: See Every Star on the Red Carpet
- Prince William Attends 2024 BAFTA Film Awards Solo Amid Kate Middleton's Recovery
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- Adam Sandler jokingly confuses People's Choice Awards honor for 'Sexiest Man Alive' title
- Astronomers find what may be the universe’s brightest object with a black hole devouring a sun a day
- FDA approves a drug to treat severe food allergies, including milk, eggs and nuts
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Taylor Swift posts video of Travis Kelce and her parents accidentally going clubbing after 2024 Super Bowl
Ranking
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- All the Couples Turning the 2024 People's Choice Awards Into a Date Night
- What to know about the debut of Trump's $399 golden, high-top sneakers
- NBA All-Star weekend: Mac McClung defends dunk title, Steph vs. Sabrina captivates
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Lenny Kravitz Details His Inspirational Journey While Accepting Music Icon Award at 2024 PCAs
- The first Black 'Peanuts' character finally gets his origin story in animated special
- 1 dead, 5 others injured in early morning shooting at Indianapolis Waffle House
Recommendation
Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
Marco Troper, son of former YouTube CEO, found dead at UC Berkeley: 'We are all devastated'
Men's college basketball bubble winners and losers: TCU gets big win, Wake Forest falls short
'Bob Marley: One Love' overperforms at No. 1, while 'Madame Web' bombs at box office
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
See Samantha Hanratty and More Stars Pose Backstage at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards
Russia says it has crushed the last pocket of resistance in Avdiivka to complete the city’s capture
Redefining old age