DISCLAIMER: This is by no means an exhaustive list. We know more daddies exist. We love them, too. But there’s only so much daddy one article can hold. And by daddy, we mean a mature man who gives off DILF vibes, whether they have children or not. Here are our favourites:
- Norman Rheedus
The day my eyes met Norman Rheedus’ arms, my life was never the same again. Those tree trunks could put me in a chokehold, and I’d say thank you. Catch me watching Daryl Dixon compilations and edits until 3am, which will inevitably leave me sprialling into rewatching TWD for the 100th time.
Before you judge me thirsting over a man twice my age, I’m not alone. Tags with ‘Daryl Dixon’ have over 43,000 fics on AO3. Tumblr has thousands more – including fanart and GIF sets. Not only can we enjoy Norman in The Walking Dead fandom, but look him up in Lady Gaga’s Judas music video. For science. Definitely for science.
- Captain John Price
Call of Duty fandom – rise! The revival of COD’s Modern Warfare series brought a renewed interest in Taskforce 141’s leader, Captain John Price. Namely, the daddy of SAS soldiers.
He’s tough, he’s battle-hardened, and he’s got that rough voice that gives me orders in-game. Yes, Captain, I will shoot to kill. Price is a complex character; he fights terrorists and tyrannical governments for the greater good, no matter the cost, and he isn’t above a few questionable choices for the overall benefit of peace and democracy. His voice/motion capture actor, Barry Sloane, brings an incredible grit and humanity to the otherwise no-nosense captain, and while we don’t see much of a backstory in the new Modern Warfare, at least we have fanfiction to make John ours.
I’m one of 11,000 people following the Tumblr tag. Catch me regularly scrolling 18,000 fine pieces of literature on AO3 to read all about him. Someone pass me a tissue. I’m drooling.
- Pedro Pascal
Who’s your daddy? PEDRO! From The Mandalorian to Narcos to The Fantastic Four, Pedro Pascal brings daddy to our small and silver screens – and I’m here for it. Every time he lands another role, a fresh wave of fanfiction hits AO3, Tumblr, and even Wattpad. Does anyone remember when Gladiator II came out? General Acacius? Harry Castillo in Materialists? Not forgetting Star Wars’ saving grace – Din Djarin – a blaster-wielding, morally grey bounty hunter who doesn’t even remove his helmet for 95% of the show. That’s how Daddy Pedro is. We don’t even need to see his face to thirst. The 1.8k members of the Pedro Pascal Fan Community on Tumblr agree.
- Dean Winchester
It’s been 20 years since the first episode of Supernatural first graced our screens, yet here we are in the big 2026, still admiring Dean Winchester. To quote our podcast host, Aya, he’s “HUSBAND!” *insert scream*. He protects his brother, he’s a bit of a player, and he’s possibly a little bit fruity for Castiel. We will go down with the ship Destiel. Since Supernatural is one of the most popular fandoms in fanfiction communities, it’s no surprise that the ‘Dean Winchester’ tag on AO3 has nearly 275,000 works. The most popular Dean fic on Wattpad has over three million reads, not to mention the 38,000 other results that pop up. It’s safe to say that while Supernatural may have ended six years ago, Dean’s popularity as one of the OG fanfic daddies isn’t dying down any time soon.
- Bucky Barnes
Ladies and gentlemen…him. James Buchanan Barnes – blessing our screens since 2011. Need I say more? Bucky has gone through many fanfic tropes over the years, from Winter Soldier angst and living in the Avengers Tower to the White Wolf in Wakanda and being our congressman-husband in Thunderbolts. No matter the fic, he is always daddy – more so now that he has his longer hair and beard. Again, Bucky Barnes is one of the most popular Marvel characters in fanfiction, with over 200,000 fics on AO3. Over one million people follow #buckybarnes on Tumblr. I guess we all have a thing for 100-year-old veterans with trauma and metal arms. I know I do.
- Toji Fushiguro
Jujutsu Kaisen (JJK) is one of the newer fandoms on this list – having first released as a Japanese Manga in 2019 – but it was the anime that first brought our hand-drawn daddies to life. The chief of these has to be Toji Fushiguro – the fan-favourite assassin-for-hire antagonist born with no cursed energy. This daddy is actually a daddy – the father of one of the anime’s main characters, Megumi, and a guy who does not lack appreciation. 20 thousand followers on Tumblr. 13,000 fics on AO3. For anyone who’s Toji-curious, look up @tonycries on Tumblr (spicy content warning). This author 10/10 recommends.
- Kento Nanami
MY SHAYLA! Oh, Kento. You beautiful, beautiful man.
Kento Nanami is another daddy spawned by the JJK universe, and every day, I thank Gege Akutami for his service. A reluctant Jujutsu sorcerer in a yellow, spotty tie, Nanami has his fair share of thirst-trap moments, namely the hair-grip scene with Haruta in Season 2. What a blessed day that was on Tumblr.
Nanami is the daddy of our dreams. Whilst the anime is tragic, fanfiction allows us to make this man our house-husband, who survives the canon and lives a long and happy life eating sandwiches and ageing like a fine wine. 30,000 Tumblr users volunteer as tribute. 40,000 examples of fine literature exist on AO3. Don’t talk to me about the FicTok edits – I’ve already saved them to a special folder.
- Arthur Morgan
Red Dead Redemption’s daddy.
How can one digital cowboy look so hot? He’s deeply complex and rugged from years of hard living as an enforcer, but we love that about him. Yes, he’s capable of violence, but Arthur struggles with loyalty and truth, his quest for redemption, and his tragic backstory. And, in his defence, he’s hot. The producers knew what they were doing with this man’s motion capture.
You just know that high honour or low honour, Arthur is on our minds 24/7, specifically 28,000 on Tumblr and another 30,000 on AO3.
What I wouldn’t do to live in a ranchhouse in the wild west with Arthur Morgan. Save a horse, ride a cowboy.
- Leon Kennedy
Oh, Leon. Resident Evil’s daddy since 1998.
The character’s raw sexual appeal has been praised by critics, especially in remasters, but it’s we, fanfic fans, who’ve really won. The voice, the hair–the MUSCLES?! It’s no wonder that TikTok went crazy when Resident Evil 4 came out in 2023. Players were deliberating hurting Leon in-game just to hear his moans and grunts, and the edits that came from this were *chef’s kiss*. And the chain scene? Delicious.
The stats back up my thirsting – 42,000 followers on Tumblr and 28,000 works on AO3. The people have spoken – Daddy Leon would look after us. 😉
- Sirius Black
Harry Potter claims the throne for the most popular fandom in fanfiction circles. The most read fic on AO3 was from HP, and millions follow the hashtag on Tumblr. But it’s not the titular charcater himself who steals the spotlights. It’s Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black – one-quarter Marauder, ex-Azkaban inmate, and 100% daddy.
Lucius Malfoy is great. I recognise the appeal completely, but there’s something about Sirius’ charm that just makes me sigh dreamily. You get the best of both wizarding worlds with this man – fics often delve into his past as a lovable, dashing player in his Hogwarts days or as a an older, angstier but no less attractive, dog-shifting prison escapee, who’s hell-bent on avenging his murdered friends. What’s not to love?
He’s also incredibly popular – unsurprising for a character in such a heavily written fandom. 80,000+ follow his Tumblr tags, and there’s nearly 140,000 fics on AO3 with him included as a character. Fanfiction loves a bad boy, and we don’t need an amortentia potion for this one.