Off The Record
Colin Farrell Provides Fans With A Unique Look Into Their Daily Lives With His Son
Given that his 20-year-old son James was born with the neuro-genetic condition known as Angelman syndrome, Colin Farrell provides fans with a unique look into their daily lives.
The Golden Globe winner attributes James, the “Tom Selleck” impersonator with a “lovely big” mustache, with inspiring the recently established Colin Farrell Foundation, which supports and honors people with special needs and their families.
To find out more about Farrell and the reasons behind his foundation’s founding, keep reading!
Award-winning actor Colin Farrell, who still supports the Special Olympics, escorted a group of participants into the stadium at Croke Park in June 2003 for the event’s opening ceremony.
“We were at our best,” Farrell, 48, tells the Irish Independent. “They were the stars of the story. There’s nowhere in the world that I’ve experienced anything like it.”
The Oscar-nominated actor was unaware at the time that he would soon become a father to a child with special needs.
‘Chill baby’
The Gentlemen star and his former partner, model Kim Bordenave, welcomed James into the world on September 12, 2003.
“He’ll always know who his dad is. Fatherhood for me is the ultimate success,” Farrell told the Irish Examiner in 2004.
By the time James was about 18 months old, his parents noticed that he “just wasn’t hitting benchmarks.”
“I thought he was just a chill baby,” the In Bruges actor tells People in an August 2024 interview. “He wasn’t sitting up or crawling. We knew something was up developmentally.”
Angelman syndrome
In 2007, Farrell disclosed that his son was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome after being misdiagnosed as having cerebral palsy earlier.
Angelman syndrome is an uncommon disorder that can lead to “delayed development, problems with speech and balance, mental disability, and, sometimes, seizures,” according to the Mayo Clinic. According to the clinic, symptoms include intellectual incapacity, little or no speech, and trouble walking. There’s no way to become better.
First steps
James experienced a significant breakthrough just “two weeks short of his fourth birthday,” and Farrell describes the “profound” and “magical” moment.
Wiping away his tears as he recalls the emotional time James took his first steps, Farrell shares in the clip with People: “I’ll never forget the face of determination as he just walked towards me. I burst into tears. It was amazing. To be told that he may never walk and see those first steps, I’ll just never forget it. It was so overwhelmingly beautiful.”
The actor continued by saying that Henry, his nonverbal son who was born in 2009 to former Alicja Bachleda-Curús, is a “happy young man” and has a “good life.”
He adds, “I’m proud of him every day. I just think he’s magic.”
‘Looks like Tom Selleck’
James turns 21 in September.
“Once your child turns 21, they’re 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,” the Miami Vice star tells People, adding that he wants the “world to be kind to James,” and treat him with respect.
Describing James as a “cheeky,” “bold,” and “bright” young man who’s ready to “spread his wings,” The Batman actor tells the Irish Independent. “He’s strong now, he’s six foot. He was always like a beanpole, but he’s filled out a bit, got a lovely big Ronnie (moustache) on him. He looks like Tom Selleck! He’s brilliant – he’s just a gorgeous young man, you know.”
“And he’s in a really good place, and I’m delighted that he’s ready to get out in the world now and begin to be able to spread his wings and be a part of programmes,” says Farrell, expressing his faith in his son.
Supporting special needs
The actor from The Lobster, Colin Farrell, just established the Colin Farrell Foundation with the goal of transforming “the lives of individuals and families living with intellectual disability through education, awareness, advocacy, and innovative programs” in order to support his kid as he grows more independent.
Concerning the foundation’s debut, Farrell says to People that this is “the first time” he has talked about his new project.
“Obviously the only reason I’m speaking is I can’t ask James if he wants to do this,” he says, adding that he believes if his son knew “doing this could help families and other young adults who live with special needs, he would say, ‘Dad, what are you talking about? Why are you even asking me? It’s a no-brainer.’”
He adds, “So that’s why we’re doing it. This is all because of James; it’s all in his honor.”
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