Al Roker, an adoptive father, is a nine-time Emmy winner and co-host of NBC's "Today" show. He developed the "Today's Dad" series, which features parenting tips for fathers.
Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images
Actress Alfre Woodard has two adoptive children with her husband, Roderick Spencer, named Mavis and Duncan.
Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have one of Hollywood's most famous broods -- and it runs six deep. Pitt and Jolie adopted Maddox, Zahara and Pax. Jolie gave birth to their other children: Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne.
Bauer-Griffin
Art Buchwald, the late Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist for The Washington Post, adopted three children with his wife, Ann.
Charles Bennett, AP
TV personality Barbara Walters adopted her daughter, Jackie Walters Danforth.
Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images
Actor, game show host and presidential speech writer for Nixon and Ford, Ben Stein is a face everyone knows. He and wife Alexandra Denman adopted a son, Tommy.
Bebeto Matthews, AP
Hollywood legend Bette Davis had two adopted children -- Michael and Margot. She gave birth to daughter Barbara.
AP
Comedy legend Bob Hope and his wife, singer Dolores Reade, adopted four children.
Getty Images
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have three adopted children and three biological children. Pitt formally adopted Jolie's children, giving the kids the same last name: Jolie-Pitt.
James Devaney, WireImage
Brooke Adams has two adopted daughters and is married to actor Tony Shalhoub.
Steve Granitz, WireImage
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
kathleen dascher knox 11-17-2009 @ 8:29AM
i kathleen adopted two children. i also work for special children ,for 7 years i have a special place in my heart for everychild i took care of.children gives you uncondantionly love.I LOVE EACH AND EVERY CHILD THAT LIVED WITH ME.if anyone could fine it their heart to open thier home they are wonderful. it really a calling to help children. god bless all the children in the world. sincerly kathleen dascher knox
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mr anonymous 11-23-2009 @ 4:45PM
If only it were easier to adopt... it's very difficult unless you can accomodate special needs children. It's a shame - for all the children born that are not wanted / can't be supported by their birth parents, there are many who want to adopt but the system keeps them from doing so.
Art Chambers 11-23-2009 @ 2:09PM
My Uncle Tony Hillerman belongs in this article. He did a great job with his kids (both adoptive and otherwise) and did a lot to promote the entire concept of adoption. He was a wonderful man.
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Susan Avery 11-24-2009 @ 5:35PM
Thanks for the heads up. We will add him right away!
Selli. 11-23-2009 @ 3:01PM
My brother and I are both adopted. Every November, we take our parents out to dinner as a thank you for the blessings and opportunities they've shown us both throughout our lives. It's difficult to imagine what my life would be like if they weren't praying for a baby girl.. and I'll forever be indebted to them for it.
To all adoptive parents - THANK YOU!! You are the reason children like my brother and I have the amazing lives that we do. May others see the kind heart that you have and feel as touched by it as I do.
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Lin 11-23-2009 @ 3:43PM
Selli...I am an adoptive mom of three wonderful grown children. Each one is a blessing in our lives and filled our hearts all these years.
It's no different than giving birth after you have your baby home with you. The child is yours and the family is real. I have a sister who has both birth and adopted children and her love is the same for all. Both are miracles, birth and adoption.
I know your parents would agree with me saying that we "Thank you" for adopting 'us.'
Gail 12-02-2009 @ 11:40PM
I just wanted to say that I am an adoptive parent, and I think I am the lucky one. I think sometimes we forget that a lot of biological parents deserve credit for giving up their parental rights for the good of their children.....and we lucky adoptive parents get to raise these awesome kids!!
lambchop 11-23-2009 @ 3:56PM
we parents are the lucky ones.every child is a blessed miracle
Suzy 11-23-2009 @ 6:46PM
Selli, that is such a nice, selfless thing you do for your parents. I know a lot of people will often times say "their adoptive parents," instead of just, "their parents." What does adoptive have anything to do with? Those are your parents.. They raised you, loved you, took care of you, etc.. And you and your sibling taking your parents out to eat is such a nice story to hear :)
Alison 11-23-2009 @ 3:25PM
Yes this month is a very special month for me for I was adopted 40 years ago to a awesome family whom already had 4 biological children. Thank you Mom and Dad. :)
Please check out my website www.lonetreepoint.com and you will see a great keepsake book for all of adoptee's that have been adopted. It is a fun way to feel the love and bond that one shares with their adopted families. It can be put together at any age!
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Linda 11-23-2009 @ 3:24PM
I saw Wanda Sikes in a special last week, and she and her partner are adoptive parents of TWINS. You should include them too.
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JoeFish 11-23-2009 @ 3:34PM
No Woody Allen?
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scsnicker 11-23-2009 @ 3:39PM
Hey, why don't they give a list of the non-celebrity, non-rich adoptive parents that made a difference in a childs life. And by the way AOL get better screeners and get the personal ads and all the other non-sense ads out of the comments.
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nag 11-23-2009 @ 3:48PM
It bugs me when people call these children of ours "adopted children." They were adopted, that's how they came into the family, but, from that moment on, they are simply "ours." Who wants to be known as "adopted" all their freaking lives. Adoption is a process, from which a child becomes someone's family forever.
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npsuffield 11-23-2009 @ 4:10PM
I have an adopted son and he is the light of my life. We tried for years to have a baby and it just never happened. I remember crying and reading a little book my Dad gave me called 'Wings of Silver.' There was a little sentence that jumped out at me. It said, "God's delays are not always God's denials." I held that to my heart and about a year later we had our baby.
I have asked my son (who is an adult now) a couple of times if he is interested in finding out anything about his birth parents. I know some do. His response to me was 'Why should I? I already have a Mom." **** smiling with teary eyes ***
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Sky 11-23-2009 @ 4:16PM
Not all of us adopted kids get wonderful, loving parents. Plus, being an adoptee, other adults are too busy telling you how lucky you are that you were adopted, and ignore obvious warning signs. I wasn't lucky. I was a maid, a punching bag, a bartender (at 5), I walked to school because my "mother" didn't want to get up (took me an hour), was called horrible names, etc. I am so glad for all of the adopted children who found kind, loving, caring families--but don't think we all did. I'd like to adopt every orphan in the World--just so I could know they wouldn't get stuck the way I did.
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Diane 11-23-2009 @ 4:37PM
Sky, I agree. Some of the names on the list would beg to question what qualifies as a "wonderful" parent. I know there are lots of wonderful people out there who adopt kids and it's good to know that people do make a positive difference. There really are a lot who do more damage than good.
hewalk 11-23-2009 @ 6:23PM
Dear Sky, I just wanted to tell you that my heart goes out to you and every child who isn't cherished and loved as they deserve to be. I have been blessed to be the mom of two daughters through adoption, and I know that they are both God's gift to me. I hope that you have been/will be able to find peace despite your childhood situation.
Linda 11-23-2009 @ 8:01PM
I am so sorry to hear of how you were treated~~~this happens more often than reported~~I found my daughter 8 years ago and her life was enriched with"money"but not with parenting~~~Adopters are not hero's~~there are many older children who would love to have a home as well as special needs children, yet white infants are the most sought after, for those of you who say how "hard" it is to adopt, you must not have enough money~~ there is no recession in adoption, one of the most lucrative business's in the USA~~there is so much deception, untruths and lots of money passes through the greedy ones hands~~I grieved for 32 years, daily mourning my daughter, and after years of searching, how did I find her? It took a lot of money~~I would also like to add I think it is repugnant when adopters refer to our children as "gifts"~~~if you knew how we were drugged, lied to, you would be sympathetic to the true Mother, who you refer to as the Birth Mother~~if you rescue someone from a burning building, you are a hero```or rescue someone from the surfs of rough seas, you are a hero~~~YOU ARE NOT A HERO WHEN YOU BUY BABIES FROM PROFITEERS~~~
Robert 11-23-2009 @ 9:06PM
Adoption makes strange bedfellows:
JANE FONDA AND RONALD REAGEN.
How wonderful !
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