Father's Day is around the corner – it's a chance to recognize Dad for the special place he holds in your heart. After all, he's the man who drove you to hockey practice at the crack of dawn, taught you how to drive a stick, and walked you down the aisle. In honour of Father's Day, here's a retrospective of celebrity dads, from entrepreneurs and athletes to musicians and comedians, I have interviewed over the years, about their rides.
Alan Thicke - Jaguar XJ
Alan Thicke was one of North America’s favourite TV dads – he played psychiatrist Jason Seaver in the 1980s hit sitcom, Growing Pains. Now 67, he’s still on TV with his own reality show called Unusually Thicke. Married three times, he has three sons: Brennan, Carter, and the award-winning musician Robin Thicke.
My Car: Alan Thicke's post-prom dash to Florida in his secret car
Wendel Clark - 2013 Ford F-150 Lariat pickup truck
Wendel Clark had a rich career, playing for six NHL teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Quebec Nordiques. The married father of three is now an entrepreneur who owns two restaurants and several Meineke Car Care Centres in southern Ontario.
Robert Herjavec
Robert Herjavec rose from rags to riches. The Croatian immigrant came to Canada as a kid with nothing, and turned his fortunes around when he sold his online security software company to AT&T for a $100-million in 2000. The entrepreneur and married father of three is best known as an investor on ABC's hit series, Shark Tank.
My Car: Millionaire splurges on two more cars for his collection
Bill Cosby - 1970s BMW 2002 tii
Bill Cosby was one of the most recognized dads on television, starring in the hit sitcom The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992. He also created the Emmy-winning cartoon Fat Albert and The Cosby Kids in the 1970s. The Grammy award-winning comedian still performs stand-up comedy. He has five children.
My Car: Bill Cosby's best driving story (about a very expensive car)
Rick Springfield - 1963 Corvette Sting Ray
Grammy award-winning musician Rick Springfield has had 17 Top 40 hits including Jessie’s Girl and Don’t Talk To Strangers and sold 25 million albums. He had a TV stint, too, playing Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital. At 64, the father of two still performs on stage. He kicks off a U.S. tour later his month with musicians Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
My Car: Why Rick Springfield's driving skills are legendary (and not in a good way)
George Chuvalo - 2011 Infiniti EX35
George Chuvalo was Canada's heavyweight boxing champ for 21 years, from 1958 until 1979, facing off against prized fighters Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and Joe Frazier. Since stepping out of the ring, he has devoted his life to the fight against drugs after losing three sons and a wife as a result of substance abuse.
Ben Mulroney - 2012 Audi S4
Ben Mulroney, the eldest son of ex-prime minister Brian Mulroney, has carved out his own celebrity status as the co-host of CTV’s top-rated entertainment series, etalk. In between lavish interviews on the red carpet, the 38-year-old is raising three children with his wife, fashion designer Jessica Brownstein.
Nicko McBrain - 2013 Jaguar XKR-S
Nicko McBrain is the legendary drummer of Iron Maiden. The British heavy metal band has sold more than 90 million records, performed more than 2,000 live shows in nearly 60 countries, and produced 15 albums. At 62, the married father of two sons is in the midst of a jam-packed European concert tour.
Rick Hansen - 2011 Acura MDX
Rick Hansen made history with his 1985 Man In Motion World Tour, circling the globe in a wheelchair, travelling through 34 countries in 26 months. Although he was left paralyzed from the waist down at 15 following a car accident, the father of three daughters is still active on the philanthropy front helping raise awareness and money for people with spinal cord injuries.
Urs Buhler - Vintage Motorcycles
Swiss tenor Urs Buhler is part of the international singing sensation, Il Divo. The musical quartet, created by music mogul Simon Cowell in 2003, has won numerous awards and sold more than 26 million albums. While the band criss-crosses the globe on their current tour, Buhler keeps in contact his young daughter, Billie, via skype.