All About Angelina Jolie's Brother James Haven

Angelina Jolie's older brother, James Haven, is an actor and director

Angelina Jolie has never made a secret of how much she adores her big brother, James Haven.

Jolie brought her brother to the 2000 Academy Awards, where she won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Girl, Interrupted. “I don't know if it's divorced families or what it is, but he and I were each other's everything, always, and we've been best friends," she told reporters of her brother after her win, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The firstborn son of Jon Voight and the late actress Marcheline Bertrand, Haven shares Jolie's sharp cheekbones, piercing blue eyes and full lips — as well as her passions for film, human rights and family.

Haven has long been a constant in Jolie's life, both publicly — he’s made frequent appearances at premieres and awards shows to support her — and privately. In fact, their closeness has occasionally made headlines in itself. In January 2024, Haven made an appearance on the 90who10 podcast and gave rare comments about his sister, saying he is "protective" of her and her six children, whom she shares with ex-husband Brad Pitt.

"I think it's natural. That's where it all started. It started with the protection of her and her children, my nieces and nephews," he said, adding that his nieces and nephews are in "massively formative years."

Related: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's 6 Kids: Everything to Know

Here’s what to know about Angelina Jolie's brother, James Haven.

He is an activist and former actor

Haven was born James Haven Voight on May 11, 1973, in Los Angeles.

Like Jolie, Haven was a working actor for years with guidance from their mother, Bertrand. In 1998, he starred alongside Jolie in the HBO film Gia. He also appeared in Original Sin with Jolie and Antonio Banderas, Monster's Ball with Jolie's then-husband Billy Bob Thornton and episodes of CSI.

He's no stranger to working behind the camera, either. Haven directed an episode of The Game in 2007 and produced the 2005 documentary Trudell about Native American poet and activist John Trudell.

Haven also shares Jolie's love for humanitarianism and has credited his sister with getting him involved with human rights causes, especially working to help AIDS patients.

"Angie was the catalyst," he told Marie Claire in 2007. "She'd say, 'I just heard this is going on in Darfur...' and I'd want to be involved." He also worked for the Artivist Film Festival, which showcased movies that addressed human rights, and environmental and animal rights causes.

He and Jolie used to be estranged from their father

Haven gave a rare interview to the Daily Mail in March 2007, claiming that Voight wasn't often present when he and Jolie were growing up and that Voight often didn't pay child support to Bertrand.

Haven claimed that when he was 13 and alone with Voight, he pleaded with his dad to pay alimony to Bertrand. "He would claim he was taking good care of her," Haven said. "But in reality, Mom was stressing out and we had to tell him he was causing the problem." Haven added that neither he nor his sister could afford a car in high school — he didn't even go to his high school prom because he was embarrassed to ask his father for a ride in front of his wealthy peers.

"Angie has been driven to be an independently wealthy woman now because we saw what it was like to be at the mercy of someone who controls the money and pulls the strings," Haven said.

Haven also claimed that Voight was "tough on" Bertrand. “We saw him around Christmas time or at school recitals. He was always around but he never did his job as a father," he said. "I think one of the reasons Angelina and I care so much for other people is his treatment of our mother. Angelina and I were very protective of her for that reason."

Voight later responded to Haven's remarks, saying he did his best to send money to Bertrand and spend time with Haven and Jolie when they were young. "God knows for years, I’ve tried to mend this relationship,” Voight said. “Perhaps the trauma of their mother’s passing has made it worse. I continuously send them my heart and love and I’m always available to them for whatever they may need from me."

Voight eventually reconciled with Haven and Jolie, occasionally appearing on the red carpet to support them at events and premieres.

Jolie kissed him the night she won an Oscar in 2000

The same night that she won her Oscar for Girl, Interrupted, Jolie kissed Haven on the lips on the red carpet before the ceremony. During her acceptance speech, she said, "I'm in shock, and I'm so in love with my brother right now. He just held me and said he loved me and I know he's so happy for me, and thank you for that."

After thanking others, including her parents, she tearily closed with: "Jamie, I have nothing without you. You are the bravest, strongest man I've ever known. Thank you. I love you so much."

Two years later, Jolie spoke to Vogue about her acceptance speech, explaining, "Saying I'm 'in love' with him is just an expression." She continued, “What I meant was, in this moment, with all this s--- going on, all that matters to me is that guy sitting right there who has stood by me and is so f------ happy for me."

He and Jolie grew even closer after losing their mother

Jolie and Haven's mother died on Jan. 27, 2007. The siblings were together at the time, which Haven said was helpful in processing his grief.

"When I first lost my mother, I couldn't stop crying," Haven told the Daily Mail later that year. "Fortunately, I was with Angie when we heard. It was such a big moment."

Haven later told Marie Claire he and Jolie bonded over their desire to protect women and children in need, and their humanitarian passion was partially inspired by their late mother. "I don't want to constantly berate my father — I wish him well, and I hope he finds peace — but he put my mom through years of mental abuse, and it made me care especially for abandoned women and children," he said. "So that’s my religion — helping widows and orphans."

Jolie gives him dating advice

Jolie has advised her brother on his dating life since they were young; Haven has noted that she was "very protective" of him, which he believes is because they're children of divorce.

"Maybe I haven't found the right woman because my sister is too picky for me. Any woman has to go through two filters, me and then my sister," he told the Daily Mail. "I'm a perfectionist by nature. Then, because I'm so close to Angie it's like I've already got the perfect woman in my life and it's hard for anyone else to live up to that."

He's close with Jolie's children

Haven is a proud uncle to Jolie and Pitt's six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Vivienne and Knox.

In an April 2007 interview with Express, Haven said that Shiloh was actually named after him.

"It's an honor beyond any honor I’ve received in my life. Before I was born I was going to be Shiloh, and at the last second my parents gave me Haven instead," he said. "So it was great when Brad and Angie came to me and said, 'We're thinking of names and our favorite is Shiloh. Would it be okay?' I was almost in tears."

Related: All About Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's Daughter

Speaking with Marie Claire later that year, Haven said that the kids were "unbelievable." He noted that then-toddler Zahara loved hiding and that Pax, then 3 and still learning English, "amazed" him the first time he said Haven's name.

Haven has remained close with his nieces and nephews, who are now young adults. In January 2024, he said on 90who10, "They're becoming young adults. [They're in their] early 20s. That's so crazy. I think it's just very natural. I just want to be there."

He added, "Anytime I'm blessed to be in their presence, I want to be in their presence."

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