Current:Home > reviewsChristopher Meloni, Oscar Isaac, Jeff Goldblum and More Internet Zaddies Who Are Also IRL Daddies -CapitalTrack
Christopher Meloni, Oscar Isaac, Jeff Goldblum and More Internet Zaddies Who Are Also IRL Daddies
View
Date:2025-04-17 13:30:22
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! (82739)
Related
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Texans LB Denzel Perryman suspended three games after hit on Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase
- The gift Daniel Radcliffe's 'Harry Potter' stunt double David Holmes finds in paralysis
- Japan’s economy sinks into contraction as spending, investment decline
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Billie Eilish on feeling 'protective' over Olivia Rodrigo: 'I was worried about her'
- Inflation slowed faster than expected in October. Does that mean rate hikes are over?
- A woman killed in Belgium decades ago has been identified when a relative saw her distinctive tattoo
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Japan’s economy sinks into contraction as spending, investment decline
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Teachers union and school committee in Massachusetts town reach deal to end strike
- No Bazinga! CBS sitcom 'Young Sheldon' to end comedic run after seven seasons
- “Shocked” Travis Kelce Reacts to Taylor Swift’s Concert Shoutout
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Taika Waititi on ‘Next Goal Wins’ and his quest to quit Hollywood
- Inflation slowed faster than expected in October. Does that mean rate hikes are over?
- 'Are we alone?': $200 million gift from late tech mogul to fund search for extraterrestrial life
Recommendation
Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
Finland considers closing border crossings with Russia to stem an increase in asylum-seekers
Watch One Tree Hill’s Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton Recreate Iconic Show Moment
Crumbling contender? Bills make drastic move with Ken Dorsey, but issues may prove insurmountable
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Dutch government shelves plans to reduce flights from Amsterdam’s busy Schiphol Airport
Peter Seidler, Padres owner whose optimism fueled big-spending roster, dies at 63
Extremist-linked rebels kill at least 44 villagers in separate attacks in Congo’s volatile east