Life & Style has a feature on HOLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST DAD’S

BRAD PITT is one of HOLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST DAD’S

These sexy A-list men bid their wild pasts goodbye when they said hello to fatherhood

BRAD PITT: THE MORE, THE MERRIER FOR BRAD

Raising six kids with Angelina Jolie has had a serious impact on heartthrob Brad Pitt 44. “It completely changes your perspective,” he says, “and certainly takes the focus off yourself.” If that’s the case, then maybe Brad — who bonded with oldest child Maddox, now 7, before beginning his romance with Angie — really wants to deflect the spotlight from himself: He told reporters at the Venice International Film Festival that he and Angie will “have two more [kids] by next year”!

TOM CRUISE: SURI HELPS TOM FOCUS

On Sept. 20, Tom Cruise took Suri to NYC’s Build-A-Bear Workshop — but the sight of Tom, 46, doting on his daughter while mom Katie Holmes worked was nothing new. “He carried a light-pink blanket over his shoulder and seemed so comfortable in his role as dad,” an onlooker says about Tom, who, as always, made sure Suri, 2, was dressed impeccably. “I love my work, but I don’t want to miss watching my kids grow up,” Tom says. Even though he was already a dad to Isabella, 15, and Connor, 13 (his adopted kids with ex Nicole Kidman), having a little one at home at this stage of his life has changed the outspoken star. “He’s now more capable of relaxing with his kids,” says an insider. “Before, he was too career-driven to let go of all the tension and intensity.”

BEN AFFLECK: VIOLET IS NOW BEN’S TOP PRIORITY

With 2-year-old Violet at home and another baby with wife Jennifer Garner on the way — recent reports claim it’s a boy — Ben Affleck has traded poker tables and beer bottles for changing tables and baby bottles. “I’m healthier now than I’ve ever been,” admits Ben, 36, who calls Violet “the best thing that ever happened to me.” And it shows — especially in his conversations with best friend Matt Damon. “They talk about preschool the way they used to talk about poker,” says a pal. “Although poker is still on Ben’s agenda, it’s much farther down on his list of priorities.” In fact, Violet is his biggest obsession! “Ben is a total mother hen about Violet,” the pal adds. “He always notices if she has a runny nose or is coming down with an ear infection.”

JOEL MADDEN: JOEL’S WRITING WITH HARLOW IN MIND

Good Charlotte front man Joel Madden isn’t giving up music, but now that he and Nicole Richie are parents to 8-month-old Harlow Winter Rose, the lyrics on his upcoming album may sound a bit more family-friendly. Having a baby “definitely made me think about my fans a little more, because they’re people’s kids,” says Joel, 29.

MATT DAMON: MATT’S GIRLS PROMPT HIM TO GIVE BACK

Former bachelor and workaholic Matt Damon admits life is different now that he’s a dad to three girls (Isabella, 2, Gia, born on Aug. 20, and 10-year-old Alexia from wife Luciana’s previous marriage). “Having a child influences you,” Matt, 37, tells Life & Style, explaining his work with OneXOne, which fights childhood poverty.

MARK WAHLBERG: ‘MARKY MARK’ IS ALL IN THE PAST

Actor Mark Wahlberg, 37, has a long list of real-life roles — jailbird, rapper, Calvin Klein underwear model and soon-to-be doting dad of three. In fact, Mark says even his film career will eventually take a backseat to parenting. And no wonder: After the birth of daughter Ella Rae in 2003, Mark — who also has a 2-year-old son, Michael, and, at press time, was awaiting a baby boy with longtime girlfriend Rhea Durham — said, “She’s the best gift I have ever been given. When I saw her, I felt this overwhelming sense of responsibility and love.”

KEITH URBAN: KEITH HAS GIVEN UP HIS VICES

Country singer Keith Urban, 40, strayed from the straight and narrow when he landed in rehab in 2006 (four months after his marriage to Nicole Kidman), but now he has one more reason to stay sober — the couple’s 2-month-old daughter, Sunday Rose. When my wife’s working and I’ve got time off, I’m just Mr. Mom during the day, taking care of the little girl,” says Keith.

LARRY BIRKHEAD: LARRY’S LIFE IS ALL ABOUT DANNIELYNN

Larry Birkhead tells Life & Style, “Being a dad has made me more calm and patient.” But Larry, 35, does more than dote on daughter Dannielynn, 2 — he shields her from the scandal of mom Anna Nicole Smith’s death. “For now,” he says, “all she has to worry about is being a kid.”

USHER: USHER’S A PROUD PAPA!

Usher works hard and then plays hard — with his kids, that is. Last November, the singer welcomed son Usher Raymond V (a.k.a. Cinco) with wife Tameka Foster (who has three kids from a previous marriage). “My time is spent differently now,” says the star, 29. “I’m busy because I have my music, and then I have to get back to my kids, which is the greatest experience.”

GAVIN ROSSDALE: GAVIN WANTS GUY TIME!

With Kingston, 2, as his sidekick, it’s no wonder Gavin Rossdale, 42, wants to spend quality time at home. “He says being a dad is all he wants to do at the moment,” says a pal of the rocker, who recently welcomed his second son, Zuma, with wife Gwen Stefani. “He tells friends he’s happy to put Gwen’s career first if it means more time for him to spend with his boys.

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