Colin Farrell has candidly shared the emotional journey behind his decision to place his 21-year-old son, James, in long-term care. James, who was born with Angelman syndrome—a rare neurological disorder that causes severe physical and intellectual disabilities—has been the center of Colin’s world.
Originally misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy, James was later found to have Angelman syndrome, known for symptoms like seizures, speech impairment, and motor difficulties. Colin and James’s mother, Kim Bordenave, have now made the difficult choice to transition James into long-term care while they are still able to be involved.
“It’s not easy,” Colin admitted in an interview. “But what if something happens to us tomorrow? We want to make sure James is in a place where he feels safe, connected, and cared for—with us still around to visit and be present in his life.”
Colin recounted James’s early challenges and milestones—from missing developmental markers to eventually learning to feed himself and even taking his first steps just before turning four. “I burst into tears,” he recalled. “The look of determination on his face… it was magic.”
Despite being nonverbal and needing daily assistance, James has made incredible progress. His strength and resilience inspired Colin to publicly share his journey and establish the Colin Farrell Foundation to support families with children who have intellectual disabilities.
The actor also revealed that James has been seizure-free for over a decade—a huge relief after difficult years of emergency hospital visits and medication trials.
While Colin has typically kept his son’s life private, he chose to speak out now to honor James’s courage and advocate for others in similar situations. “He’s worked so hard all his life,” Colin said. “I’m proud of him every single day.”