TV stars pay tribute to the leading men in their lives on Father’s Day
Some of the world’s biggest TV stars have paid tribute to the ‘leading men’ in their lives, in this Father’s Day special revealing how their dads helped them to success.
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In the early days of TV drama, it was always ‘Father Knows Best.’
But even in these more egalitarian days of shared parenting, the biggest names in showbiz still share credit with their dads for making a difference in their lives and careers:
ED SHEERAN, Game Of Thrones, Foxtel Now
WHO’S THE DADDY? Art curator John Sheeran.
“My dad’s my hero. I have a lot of musical heroes, but most of them were introduced to me through my dad buying me the CDs or taking me to the concerts. He loves whiskey so we’ll sit over a bottle of whiskey and just chat for hours and hours, or go on long drives and stuff. He’s definitely a really special individual. He comes from a heavily Irish-Catholic background where family is everything. He’s the best possible role model to have in my life and I discover that more and more every day. Like, every day there’s something surprising that I find out about my dad.”
BEYONCE KNOWLES, Black Is King, Disney+
WHO’S THE DADDY? Talent agent and record executive Mathew Knowles.
“My father made huge sacrifices for me. When I was nine he stopped working to become my full-time manager. Without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
MELISSA MCCARTHY, Mike & Molly, 10Play
WHO’S THE DADDY? Irish-born farmer Michael McCarthy.
“My dad has always been there for me. When I was starting out, he was also someone who said if you work hard enough then you can achieve it. I still carry that with me now.”
KENDALL JENNER, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Foxtel Now
WHO’S THE DADDY? Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner.
“I’m so proud of my dad. Growing up, he was always there for us. He was there for every sports game and for everything we did, supporting us, and still is. My dad is the best.”
SELENA GOMEZ, 13 Reasons Why producer, Netflix
WHO’S THE DADDY? Mexican former construction worker Ricardo Joel Gomez.
“There is something very special about the relationship between daughters and fathers. I think that relationship is important because it’s the first man in your life, essentially. It’s the first man that you love. It means a lot. I think it’s beautiful and I cherish that relationship.”
JENNIFER ANISTON, Friends, soon on BINGE
WHO’S THE DADDY? 86-year-old US soap actor John Aniston
“He is always there for me. He warned me about becoming an actress. He had this dream of me being a professional, like a lawyer. He told me I would get chewed up and spat out. I knew he was only just protecting his little girl but now he tells me to be smart, listen and learn, and choose wisely.”
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD, Dads, Apple TV+
WHO’S THE DADDY? Acclaimed hollywood director and former Happy Days star Ron Howard, 66.
“My dad is still on a pedestal for me. I am 39-years-old but he is and is always going to be my hero. He’s a really great dad and a wonderful teacher as well. I’m like a hardcore student right now.”
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, The Revenant, Foxtel Box Office
WHO’S THE DADDY? Former comic-book dealer George DiCaprio, 76.
“I’m very close with my father. He has taught me everything about life. As a kid, my dad has always veered me towards things that you don’t commonly see in most childhoods including art and politics. He has always tried to give me a different perspective and a different outlook on things. Even now, my father heavily influences my career.”
NATALIE PORTMAN, Jackie, Netflix
WHO’S THE DADDY? Fertility specialist Dr Avner Hershlag
“My father and I are very close. He and my mother have always been so supportive of me. They paid for everything when I was starting out. I owe them everything.”
BRAD PITT, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Foxtel On Demand
WHO’S THE DADDY? Retired trucker Bill Pitt.
“I never ever thought I was some kind of heart-throb who could sweep women off their feet. I always tried to use charm and be as much of a gentleman as possible. My father gave me that advice and I think most women have always appreciated that side of me. My father taught me to have a clear purpose in life and work hard to realise your ambitions.”
LADY GAGA, A Star Is Born, Foxtel On Demand
WHO’S THE DADDY? Restaurant owner Joe Germanotta
“I’m proud at many things I have achieved but the best reward has been making my daddy proud. He has always helped me and supported me in whatever I have done. I have learned so much from him. He means the world to me.”
ZENDAYA, Euphoria, BINGE
WHO’S THE DADDY? Former teacher Kazembe Ajamu
“My daddy has got my back, so there will be no dating problems for me! You have got to have someone like that around you and I’m cool with that. I’m love my daddy.”
COLIN FARRELL, True Detective, BINGE
WHO’S THE DADDY? 77-year-old former Irish footballer Eamon Farrell.
“I get on well with my dad. He’s very important to me regardless of arguments we have might sometimes. He keeps my feet on the ground as does my mother, brothers and sisters.”
KELLY OSBOURNE, Celebrity Gogglebox USA, 10Play
WHO’S THE DADDY? Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, 71.
“When I was little, I thought everybody had a dad who had long hair, wore make-up and went on stage to sing. When I discovered they didn’t, I felt I was the lucky one. I have a lot of self-esteem from my mum. I also have her sense of humour and strength but I have my dad’s bad habits of farting and burping in public – and not caring.”
BEN AFFLECK, The Accountant, Foxtel On Demand
WHO’S THE DADDY? Social worker Tim Affleck.
“The most enduring lesson my father has taught me is the degree to which it’s possible to change your life and patterns. It gives me hope that with the right amount of work and discipline, I can address and remedy some of the things I don’t like very much about myself.”
RACHEL WEISZ, The Favourite
WHO’S THE DADDY? Hungarian inventor George Weisz.
“My father is quite remarkable. He invented a metal-detecting device which would clear a path for safety, sensing where there are landmines. Dad also invented an automatic milking machine, so you don’t need human beings to milk a cow, and valves that open high-speed train doors. His biggest thing was an artificial respirator that supplied its own oxygen. He has invented thousands of things. I am very proud of him.”
REESE WITHERSPOON, Big Little Lies, Foxtel Now
WHO’S THE DADDY? Surgeon John Witherspoon
“We get on well, probably because we are so similar. He is very much an overachiever. He went to Yale and got a perfect score on his finals. He’s very ambitious like me.”
LIV TYLER, 9-1-1 Lonestar, 7Plus
WHO’S THE DADDY? Aerosmith rocker Steve Tyler is Liv’s natural father while musician/ producer Todd Rundgren is her adoptive father.
“Some people don’t even have one father. I have two wonderful, talented, caring fathers so I feel very lucky.” On Steve, she adds: ìHe loves what I do and I’m quite fascinated by what he does. I see him up on stage and I’m like, ‘How does he do that.’ It’s so incredible. I think he has a similar thing with me in that he doesn’t totally understand what I am doing so he’s quite interested in it.”
EWAN MCGREGOR, Fargo, Netflix
WHO’S THE DADDY? School teacher James McGregor.
“My father is very gregarious and he loves telling stories. If you were to go back to my hometown with my father, he couldn’t walk down the street without telling you an old story. He used to frustrate me when I was a boy because it would take us so long to get anywhere because my father would always stop to speak to someone. It would take hours to get through town. Now I love him all the more for it.”
CHARLIE SHEEN, Two And A Half Men, 9Now
WHO’S THE DADDY? 79-year-old Apocalypse Now and West Wing star Martin Sheen.
“Dad saved my life and I love him for that,” says Charlie who’s famous father kickstarted his recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. “I’ve been able to re-embrace life again because of him and for that I thank dad and all my family.”
WILL SMITH, Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Netflix
WHO’S THE DADDY? Will Senior, a former military man.
“There was a point at which I had six cars, and my father said, ‘Boy, you got six cars, and you only got one arse What you need all them for?’ He’s great for keeping things real like that. My father has always encouraged me and guided me. When I started out as a rapper, he was like, ‘Well, you know, take a year, and if it doesn’t work out, then you go to college in a year. Is that a deal?’ He’s been there for me every step of the way.”
KIEFER SUTHERLAND, Designated Survivor, Netflix
WHO’S THE DADDY? Veteran actor Donald Sutherland, 84.
“My father and mother divorced when I was a kid and I didn’t really get to know him or see him that much until I was in my late teens. I didn’t even see his films until I was around sixteen or seventeen because I had this anger towards him. Now there was this natural kind of bond between us which we hadn’t had before.”
UMA THURMAN, Imposters, Stan
WHO’S THE DADDY? Robert Thurman, a professor of East Asian and Tibetan studies.
“My father is very proud of me but he still calls me Professor Uma and teases me about going back to school and getting my degree. I tell him that at this point in my life it’s going to have to be an honorary degree!”
Originally published as TV stars pay tribute to the leading men in their lives on Father’s Day