Actor Colin Farrell starts foundation to honour special-needs son, 20, who has Angelman syndrome

Oscar-nominated Irish actor Colin Farrell has opened up about his experience raising his 20-year-old son James, who has Angelman syndrome, and announced the launch of a foundation to support those with intellectual disabilities.

Angelman syndrome is a rare neurogenetic disorder that causes physical and intellectual disability. While it does not affect life expectancy, it is incurable.

In an interview with American entertainment magazine People published online on Aug 7, Farrell revealed that James is non-verbal and stays with a live-in caregiver in Farrell’s Los Angeles home.

This is the first time the 48-year-old star – who most recently starred in the Apple TV+ detective series Sugar (2024) and will reprise his role as Batman villain Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot in the upcoming HBO crime drama The Penguin – has spoken extensively about his son, whom he shares with his ex-girlfriend, American model Kim Bordenave.

He also has a younger son, 15-year-old Henry, whom he shares with his former partner, Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus.

Farrell recalled: “James was a very silent baby. He didn’t coo, he didn’t make any sound at all. I just thought I hit the lottery, you know? I have a chill child. He’s not going to keep me up at night.”

But it soon became apparent that something was wrong as James did not hit typical childhood development benchmarks such as sitting up, talking or walking. The boy was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome when he was 2½ years old, after a previous misdiagnosis of cerebral palsy, which shares many of the same symptoms as Angelman syndrome.

Angelman is a seizure condition and Farrell said James had “plenty of seizures back in the day”, and was often in and out of hospitals, but fortunately has not had an episode in more than 10 years. While many with the same condition end up needing a wheelchair, James took his first steps two weeks before he turned four – a milestone Farrell recalled while tearing up.

The actor said: “It was so profound. It was magic. I’ll never forget the look of determination on his face as he walked towards me. He took like, six steps, and I just burst into tears.”

Farrell, who has battled depression as well as alcohol and drug addiction, added that having James as a son made him “look at the human being and the human body and life as a marvel, because I see how much he struggles with things that I’d never have given a second’s thought to, that many of us take for granted”.

In James’ honour, Farrell has launched the Colin Farrell Foundation, to provide support for adults who have intellectual disabilities through advocacy, education and innovative programmes. James will turn 21 in September, which is the age when many children with special needs age out of support programmes and are “kind of on their own”.

“All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed classes, that all goes away, so you’re left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind,” he said.

Farrell said that despite being a successful film star of “certain means”, he too struggles with raising a child who has intellectual disabilities. And he is fearful of leaving James behind after his death, without being there to “shepherd and protect” his son.

He hopes the foundation will provide community and resources to families raising children with special needs and special-needs adults so that they can continue living fulfilled and happy lives.