5 celebrity fathers who were surprised to have a child (8 photos)

While a woman awaits her child with tenderness and impatience, men often have surprises when it comes to their relationships with their offspring.





This includes celebrities, who may be expecting a fully grown offspring, whose existence the celebrity fathers, as they say, are completely unaware of. How do celebrities handle such situations, and does having an illegitimate child hinder their careers?

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joseph Baena



Arnie with his illegitimate son

The indestructible Terminator suffered a fatal setback in his personal life. Arnold Schwarzenegger kept a secret for decades, which eventually blew away the perfect facade of a family man and husband of a Kennedy clan member.

An affair with Mildred's housekeeper, Patricia Baena, in the mid-1990s proved fatal. The result was a son, Joseph, whose existence Schwarzenegger hid from his wife, Maria Shriver. The actor secretly provided for the boy, but lived a double life. The truth only came to light after his term as governor. As Arnold later admitted, it was the "hardest" confession of his life. A marriage that had lasted a quarter of a century had collapsed.

Iron Arnie once sacrificed his family's trust to keep a secret. His legitimate children experienced a painful revelation. But the ending of this drama was ambiguous: while Maria Shriver rebuilds her life after betrayal, Joseph Baena, once a devastating secret, is now a confident man, openly following in his star father's footsteps and winning over his audience. Joseph Baena works as a fitness model and appears in television projects.





2. Eddie Murphy and Angel Iris Murphy Brown



Murphy/Mel B with their daughter

Eddie Murphy, whose personal life sometimes outshines his comedy, faced his biggest scandal yet in 2006. Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown (Mel B) announced she was expecting his child. The star's reaction was harsh and public: he demanded a DNA test, declaring, "I don't know whose baby it is until they do it." The test confirmed paternity. Thus, his daughter Angel was born.

However, this incident was only the most publicized episode in a long story. The comedian has formed an entire dynasty: ten children by five different women. A period of lawsuits and public denials has given way to a systematic approach. After any confirmation of paternity, Murphy invariably takes full financial responsibility. His relationships with the mothers of his children, as expected, remain complex and largely private, while the star maintains contact with most of his offspring.

3. Tom Jones and Jonathan Berkery



Tom Jones

A brief romance in the 1980s between pop legend Tom Jones and model Katherine Berkery resulted in years of denial and a legal battle. When their son Jonathan was born in 1987, the singer categorically denied paternity. Only a forced DNA test in 1988, which showed a nearly 100% match, forced the star to acknowledge the genetic fact, but not the son.



Jonathan Berkery

The court ordered $2,000 in monthly child support, but this money became the only bond. No emotional attachment developed. Jonathan grew up without a father, which led to dire consequences: he struggled with addiction and ended up among London's homeless. Jonathan Berkery's story became a dark counterpoint to his father's illustrious career—a poignant example of how legal recognition without personal involvement could not provide a person with a foundation in life.

4. Chuck and Dinah Norris



Chuck Norris with his daughter

While serving in the Air Force in 1962, a young Chuck Norris began a fleeting affair. The result was a daughter, Dinah, whose existence the future action star remained unaware of for almost thirty years. The truth was only revealed in 1991, when the now-adult Dinah found her father herself.

The martial arts legend, known on social media for his endless memes about his invincibility, welcomed his daughter unconditionally. The phrase, "I knew it was my blood," allowed him to avoid court proceedings and DNA testing. Their first meeting was one of the few times the invulnerable hero cried in public.

Today, Dina Norris is part of a large family, participating in Chuck's foundation's charitable projects and actively maintaining joint social media accounts where she posts family photos with her legendary father. This story wasn't a scandal, but a touching addition to the image of the Texas Ranger. His greatest strength turned out to be not physical prowess, but his willingness to accept and protect his "lost" daughter, integrating her into the larger picture of his five children and dozens of grandchildren.

5. Steven and Liv Tyler



Steven Tyler and Liv Tyler

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's brief affair with model Bebe Buell in 1977 had an unexpected outcome—the birth of their daughter, Liv. To shield the child from the scandals of the rock 'n' roll world, Bebe listed her new partner, musician Todd Rundgren, as the father, who de jure became the girl's father.

The truth came to light when 11-year-old Liv, upon seeing Tyler's face, told her mother, "That man looks exactly like me." After that, Bebe arranged a meeting. Steven Tyler not only acknowledged paternity but also enthusiastically welcomed his daughter into his life, giving her his famous surname and becoming a close friend and mentor to her.

Today, Liv Tyler is a Hollywood star (her portrayal of the elf Arwen in The Lord of the Rings has become iconic), and her warm, public relationship with her biological father is an example of a rare harmonious reunion in the world of show business. They regularly appear together at social events, demonstrating a bond built not on obligation, but on genuine affection.