Owen Wilson's newborn son is like "Steve McQueen".

The 42-year-old actor - whose girlfriend Jade Buell gave birth to baby Robert Ford six weeks ago - is besotted with the infant and insists everyone who comes into contact with the youngster is as captivated by him as people were when watching the legendary actor in some of his classic movies.

He gushed: "He's so cute; he becomes a little scene stealer when he comes in the room... He's like Steve McQueen in 'The Magnificent Seven' where he didn't have a lot of dialogue - you just gave him the camera and he could hold the screen.

"I feel like Ford is heading in that direction."

Though the baby has been named after Owen's father, Robert Wilson, the 'Hall Pass' star explained the tot will go by his middle name - but the actor is aware that the unusual moniker could provide some amusement in the future.

Referring to the famous family car: "His middle name is Ford. And he'll probably go by Ford.

"It does occur to me at some point, probably, when he's a little boy and he'll be fidgeting and I'll have to get him to do his homework... I'll be like, 'Ford! Focus!' "

Meanwhile, the new dad says he is finding first-time fatherhood tiring and is always looking for somewhere to sleep.

He joked to US TV talk show host Jay Leno: "You look at every place now as a potential nap place. You've got to look for your chances to catch up."