The fatherhood connection: celebrity dads combine parenting and fame

WILL SMITH & LUDACRIS Actors/Rappers

Rappers-turned-actors Will Smith and Ludacris are also dutiful dads when not creating great music and starring in memorable movies roles. Smith, with daughter Willow, 6, and son Jaden, 8, and Ludacris, with daughter Karma, 5, enjoy a "daddy day" at the Kids' Choice Awards.

WHAT could be cooler for a child than to have a famous dad? Answer: Having a celebrity father who spends quality time with his children. Our roundup of famous fathers includes one filmmaker, an R&B superstar, three rappers, an Academy Award winner and several well-known actors. We've captured these famous fathers hanging out with their children at a variety of locations--one even while preparing for Oscar night.

AVANT Singer

At 27 years old, Avant (full name Myron Avant) is already an R&B star. That doesn't stop him from being a responsible parent to son Chase. The entertainer offers this tip. "Being a good father means taking time to be with your children, willing to listen and learn, having patience and being open-minded."

DENNIS HAYSBERT Actor

The baritone-voiced actor and star of the television series The Unit has another major role, the role of being a father. He is joined by his son Charles at the NAACP Freedom Fund Gala.

CHRIS TUCKER Comedian/Actor

It's not uncommon to see Chris Tucker's 8-year-old son, Destin Christopher, accompanying his father at major events. Tucker once said about fatherhood: "It's just great to have a son and a kid, just a different type of feeling, a different type of love toward a kid. But he's my little boo-boo; you know, I call him boo-boo."

SNOOP DOGG Rapper/Actor

While the public knows Snoop Dogg as a hard-core rapper with a flair for stealing scenes in an occasional movie role, his son, Spanky, 8, knows him as both dad and coach. The rapper became certified in order to coach his son's football team.

SPIKE LEE Filmmaker/Actor

Some say that marriage and fatherhood have mellowed the sometimes controversial director. However, Spike Lee, attending a function with daughter Satchel, 12, might dispute that.

JAMIE Foxx

Comedian/Actor The night he won the Academy Award for best actor (for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the movie Ray) Jamie came with his favorite girl on his arm, his 11-year-old daughter Corinne. He once said: "If you want to make your relationship with your kids something great, you can do it."

GARY DOURDAN Actor "I love my daughter more than air," says CSI star Gary Dourdan of daughter Nyla, who accompanies him to award shows and other events. "You really start to understand what unconditional love means [with children]."

TERRENCE HOWARD Actor

When not turning out stellar performances in such movies as Hustle & Flow and Crash, Terrence Howard is perfecting his role as a parent. Here, he does double duty with his son, Hunter, at the Academy Awards earlier this year.

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