In the 2003 Christmas film Elf, what is Buddy's biological father's name?

In the 2003 Christmas film Elf, Buddy's biological father's name is Walter Hobbs.

Walter is a successful children's-book publisher in New York City, but he does not initially know that Buddy exists. Buddy was born to Walter and Susan Wells, then adopted by an elf named Papa Elf after Susan died.

Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York after discovering his human identity. He finds Walter at the Empire State Building, where Walter works for the publishing company Walter Hobbs Publishing. Walter is initially skeptical because Buddy claims to be an elf and because the family history is complicated.

The role of Walter Hobbs was played by James Caan. Will Ferrell played Buddy, while Zooey Deschanel played Jovie. A common mix-up is confusing Walter with Papa Elf, who is Buddy's adoptive father in the North Pole.