The 11 names behind “11 of the Most Infamous Deadbeat Dads” come from a Phoenix New Times Father’s Day feature published June 15, 2012. Its author, Benjamin Leatherman, called them the “11 worst fathers,” but the list is an opinionated entertainment feature—not a neutral ranking or a consistent legal category. Its entries range from family disputes and reported child-support arrears to a murder conviction, so inclusion does not mean every man was accused of failing to pay support.
What the list means—and what it does not
“Deadbeat dad” is a sensational label, not a single standard applied across the feature. Leatherman’s reasons for including the men vary widely, and the original sequence reflects the writer’s judgment rather than a shared measure of conduct. The piece is useful as a snapshot of a 2012 Father’s Day list, not as a verified ranking of fathers or a current account of each person’s circumstances.
The article names David Hasselhoff, Alec Baldwin, Lot, John Phillips, Woody Allen, Johnny Eric Marlowe, Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson, Howard Veal, Ivan the Terrible, and Faleh Hassan Al-Maleki. Its cases include a viral family video, a voicemail, biblical narrative, reported allegations of abuse, unconventional family relationships, harsh parenting, a child-safety incident, reported child-support arrears, historical violence, and a criminal conviction. Those are not interchangeable grounds for calling someone a deadbeat.
The 11 names in the original feature
- David Hasselhoff — included in connection with a viral family video.
- Alec Baldwin — included in connection with a voicemail.
- Lot — a figure from a biblical narrative.
- John Phillips — the feature discussed family history and reported allegations.
- Woody Allen — included in connection with family relationships and reported allegations.
- Johnny Eric Marlowe — included in connection with reported allegations of abuse.
- Joe Jackson — the feature characterized his parenting as harsh.
- Michael Jackson — included in connection with a public child-safety incident.
- Howard Veal — the feature reported claims about the number of his children and unpaid child support.
- Ivan the Terrible — a historical figure included for violence.
- Faleh Hassan Al-Maleki — included after a criminal case involving the murder of his daughter.
These short descriptions identify the feature’s broad themes; they should not be read as independent findings about the other named people. The 2012 article’s allegations and family-history claims have not all been independently corroborated here.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
What is established about Howard Veal’s reported arrears?
The Phoenix New Times feature said Veal fathered 23 children with 14 women and owed more than half a million dollars in child support. Those are figures reported by the 2012 article, not independently verified figures or a confirmed current balance. They should not be generalized to the other men on the list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the court record says about Faleh Hassan Al-Maleki
Al-Maleki’s case is the entry with corroboration from court sources. A Maricopa County case summary records that he was convicted in February 2011 of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and offenses related to leaving the scene. The summary also says the appellate court affirmed some counts and vacated one.
Rank #2
- Bantam, A nice option for a Book Lover
- Condition : Good
- Ideal for Gifting
The Arizona Court of Appeals’ memorandum decision describes the convictions and is marked not for publication under Rule 111. Phoenix New Times reported that, at sentencing on April 21, 2011, Judge Roland Steinle imposed a sentence of more than 34 years, with about 31 years to serve. The report quoted the judge as saying, “To me, [you] became Saddam Hussein in Phoenix.” That quotation is from the news report, not a transcript. The sentence is a historical report, not a check of Al-Maleki’s present custody status.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
How to read the list today
- Keep the date attached: the feature was published June 15, 2012.
- Distinguish a reported allegation from a court-established conviction; the original list is not a fact-checking source.
- Do not treat the phrase “deadbeat dad” as proof of child-support nonpayment. The feature applies a broader “worst fathers” framing.
- Do not infer current arrears, custody, or other status from a decade-old entertainment feature.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →
