The 9 Oldest Fathers Ever Documented
Having kids later in life isn’t rare anymore, but the men in this list took that to an entirely different level. These people became fathers at an age when most are thinking about retirement or meeting great-grandchildren. Here are nine cases where fatherhood showed up long after anyone expected it.
Raymond Calvert – 78 Years Old
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Charlotte was just 25 when she had a child with 78-year-old Raymond Calvert. Their relationship raised eyebrows, especially since she used to be close friends with one of his daughters. His older children, from his late first wife, were already adults. Despite the unconventional setup, Raymond said the baby brought new energy into his life and called the child a blessing.
Michael Young – 80 Years Old
Credit: The Young Foundation
1996 was a big year for Michael Young. He welcomed a daughter at 80 with his third wife, Dorit Uhlemann, who was 37 at the time. Young had five older children and a legacy that spanned decades. He was known for founding the Open University and influencing British public policy.
Saeed bin Maktoum – 80 Years Old
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When Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum died in 1958, his wife Sheikha Fatima gave birth shortly afterward to their son, Ahmed. The former ruler of Dubai had led the emirate for 46 years. Though he never met his youngest son, Ahmed went on to shape Dubai’s finance and aviation industries and kept his father’s influence alive long after his passing.
Anthony Quinn – 81 Years Old
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At 81, actor Anthony Quinn, an Oscar-winning star of films like Zorba the Greek and Lawrence of Arabia, became a father for the 12th time in 1996. The mother was his assistant, Katherine Benvin, whom he later married. Their relationship began during his second marriage, adding a layer of Hollywood drama.
Saul Bellow – 84 Years Old
Credit: Wikipedia
The author of Herzog and Humboldt’s Gift didn’t just leave behind literature; he also left behind a young daughter, born when he was 84. Saul Bellow had three children from earlier marriages. In 1999, he and his wife, Janis Freedman, welcomed their child. Even in his final years, Bellow was still writing and still parenting.
Ernest Lehman – 86 Years Old
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Ernest Lehman, known for scripts like The Sound of Music and North by Northwest, stunned his friends when he became a father at 86. The baby arrived in January 2002, and while Lehman had multiple children already, this late addition came during the twilight of a career that had shaped American cinema.
Tzvi Kushelevsky – 88 Years Old
Credit: Wikipedia
In 2024, the Orthodox world buzzed with reports: Rabbi Tzvi Kushelevsky, age 88, had a newborn. He and his younger wife kept many details private, but Israeli news outlets confirmed the birth.
Julio Iglesias Sr. – 90 Years Old
Credit: EL PAÍS
Spanish gynecologist Julio Iglesias Sr., father of singer Julio Iglesias, had a daughter on the way when he died in 2005 at 90. The child was born posthumously to his 42-year-old American wife, Ronna Keith. They had previously welcomed a son in 2004 when Julio Sr. was 88. Nicknamed “Papuchi,” he became a cultural sensation in Spain for embracing fatherhood well into old age.
Nanu Ram Jogi – 90 Years Old
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Indian farmer Nanu Ram Jogi claimed to have fathered his 21st child in 2007 at age 90. What caught attention was the fact that his wife had been previously married to his eldest son. Nanu chalked up his stamina to meat, long walks, and sheer willpower. When he was asked when he’d stop, he joked: maybe at 100.
Zvonimir Rogoz – 91 or 92 Years Old
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
No one expected Croatian actor Zvonimir Rogoz to have a baby in his 90s, but sometime in the late 1970s, that’s exactly what happened. The exact year—and whether he was 91 or 92—remains unclear, but it marked an unexpected epilogue to a long life in theater and film.
Mahmoud al-Adam – 92 Years Old
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In Hebron, 92-year-old Mahmoud al-Adam and his 42-year-old wife Abee welcomed baby Tamara in 2017. It was his 13th child, though many came from an earlier marriage. Palestinian media, including the Times of Israel, reported the story, calling it a rare generational bridge in a politically complex region.
Les Colley – 92 Years Old
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Australia’s Les Colley wasn’t aiming for records, but he set one anyway. In 1992, he became the world’s oldest confirmed father at 92 and welcomed his ninth child, Oswald, with a Fijian woman named Patty. He met her through a dating agency. Les swore off alcohol for his whole life and died in 1998, just four months shy of 100.
Armais Nazarov – 89 Years Old
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Armais Nazarov, a Russian WWII vet with grown sons and grandchildren, surprised everyone in 2010 by having another child at 89. His 35-year-old wife, Yevgenia, brushed off their 54-year age gap. Armais said her energy (and expectations) kept him going.
Bernie Ecclestone – 89 Years Old
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In 2020, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and his 44-year-old wife Fabiana Flosi had a son named Ace. Bernie already had three adult daughters—the oldest born in 1955. But this time, he said he actually had the time to enjoy being a dad. He even hinted he wasn’t done yet.
Ramjit Raghav – 96 Years Old
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India’s Ramjit Raghav became a global headline when he fathered a child in 2010 at age 94, then another in 2012 at 96. He credited his diet and active lifestyle for his endurance. His wife, 52-year-old Shakuntala Devi, gave birth to both sons. PETA India even featured Ramjit in an ad campaign highlighting vegetarianism and longevity.