Colin Farrell Is the Father of Two Sons, One of Whom Has ‘Special Needs’ — A Look at Him as a Dad

• Colin Farrell is an award-winning actor and doting father of two.
• The actor’s eldest son, James Padraig Farrell, was diagnosed with a neuro-genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome.
• Farrell opened up about the challenges of raising a child with special needs.

Colin Farrell is an award-winning Irish actor who has been a leading man in many record-breaking films since the 2000s. But besides being a two-time Golden Globe winner, he is also a proud father of two boys.

Farrell shares his oldest son, James Padraig Farrell, with his ex-partner, Kim Bordenave. The former couple welcomed their first child in 2003, but the actor could not be there for the birth since he was filming in Morocco.

However, Farrell could not have been happier to become a father and made sure his family was there to welcome the baby boy. When James was four years old, “The Gentleman” star revealed that his son was diagnosed with a rare neuro-genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome.

Angelman Syndrome is identified by developmental delay, speech impairment, movement or balance disorder, excessive laughter, and seizures. According to reports, the condition is often misdiagnosed as autism or cerebral palsy.

The proud father emphasized that he never saw his son as someone with a disability. “The only time I’m reminded that there is something different about him – that he has some deviation of what is perceived to be normal – is when I see him with other 4-year-olds,” explained Farrell

Farrell is constantly in awe of his son’s courage and feels blessed to have him. When James was four, his family celebrated a big milestone when he took his first steps.

The “Batman” star expressed how emotional it was for him and his family to witness their son walk for the first time. He expressed, “It was incredibly emotional. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

Before finding out about his son’s diagnosis, Farrell promoted the Special Olympics. The experience of watching those athletes in action left a lasting effect on him, and learning about his son’s medical condition a few years later was a shocking coincidence.

But despite the challenges that come with James’ condition, the “Miami Vice” actor loves to watch his son defy the odds; he also gives credit to his mother for helping their child get the help he needs.

Farrell understands the difficulty of raising a child with special needs and took the time to encourage parents when speaking at the summit and gala for Angelman syndrome research in Chicago hosted by FAST, the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics.

The Oscar-nominated actor reminded parents that the journey of raising their children is not meant to be lonely. He expressed:

“The struggles of a child with special needs can be so brutal that they can tear at the very fabric of your heart, but the love shared, and the pure strength and heroism observed is the needle and thread that mends all tears.”

In his speech, Farrell said his number one advice for parents raising a special needs child is to reach out and find a community because, within these communities, people can relate to some of the journey’s highs and lows.

To further support families dealing with similar challenges, Farrell has launched the Colin Farrell Foundation, dedicated to his son James. This foundation aims to assist adult children with intellectual disabilities through advocacy, education, and innovative programs.

In an interview with People magazine on August 7, 2024, Farrell shared a touching moment at his Los Angeles home. As crews bustled around, his son James, now 20, played catch with his caregiver. Although nonverbal, James engaged with a nearby journalist, showcasing his warm and inclusive nature.

The Irish actor explained how proud and happy he feels when others react so warmly to his son, with whom he shares a close bond. “I want the world to be kind to James,” noted Farrell. “I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect.”

The 48-year-old actor expressed that launching the foundation is deeply personal and done in honor of James. “This is the first time I’ve spoken about it, and obviously the only reason I’m speaking is I can’t ask James if he wants to do this,” added Farrell.

The Hollywood star further mentioned, “If James knew that getting his photograph in the back garden with me, which is not my favorite thing to do, 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.’ So that’s why we’re doing it. This is all because of James — it’s all in his honor.”

The online community showed strong support for Farrell following his announcement, with many praising his dedication and love for his children. One user commented, “♥️♥️ What an amazing tribute to his son and families of special needs children. Even bigger fan than before 😍.”

Meanwhile, another commenter said, “I wouldn’t hold my breath. Teach your son how to navigate this cruel world with thick skin.” A third user added, “This man is not a typical ‘celebrity’ father, he is so awesome and the love for his children shines through!” Another netizen was overcome with emotions and wrote, “I’m in tears…”

Farrell’s journey of fatherhood continues to be a source of inspiration for many. His determination to support and uplift his son James is evident in his actions and words.

Early in his fatherhood journey, Farrell was determined to be a present father. In 2005, he took the big step of going into rehab for his alcohol and drug addiction, and a big part of that decision was influenced by his son, James.

The actor is now a father of two. He welcomed his second son, Henry, with his girlfriend, Alicja Bachleda, in 2009. Farrell was excited to become a dad again and said he was prepared for everything to come, “even changing dirty diapers,” he added.

The father of two opened up about the transition of bringing his sons together. The process took some adjusting as the boys have different mothers, but Farrell said his children worked well together.

He said they were a funny duo and were finally starting to understand that neither was going anywhere. The brothers also started agreeing on the Disney movies they would love to watch.

Farrell introduced them to a few Disney classics, starting with the most famous, like “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Lady and the Tramp.” However, when “Cinderella” came on, Henry and James said “No.” Farrell told the story with pride because to see his eldest son engage with films was another milestone.

He recalled, “I remember the days when he couldn’t watch 10 minutes of a film because he couldn’t sit easy, but now he can.” Farrell continued to add that James struggled with things that came easy to most, like eating, walking, and feeding himself.

But with each day, the actor is astonished at how much work James puts into everything he has achieved with his condition and finds that he could be an inspiration to many people.

Farrell is constantly inspired by his children and never forgets to thank them in his speeches. When he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy Motion Picture, he thanked his fellow actors and ended his speech by giving a shout-out to his children, calling them “the loves of my life.”

The “Total Recall” star had a follow-up interview with Hollywood Access with one of his co-stars, Brendan Gleeson. He was asked what was a recent lesson he had learned about fatherhood, and the actor explained that there was something new to learn each day.

However, one thing that has come with having children is discovering his strengths and vulnerability. Farrell said having children can make you the strongest person, especially when considering the extremes you can go to to protect them.

In the same instance, he has experienced the deepest sense of vulnerability in tapping into feelings he never thought were possible to access. In short, the actor said with children, “Your life widens.”

The actor also brought out his teenage son, Henry, to the Academy Awards, where he was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in the film, “The Banshees of Inisherin.” The father and son looked striking in matching black tuxedos as they smiled for the camera with their arms around each other.

As Colin Farrell makes strides in his acting career, he is determined to be a doting father to his children, and that will always be his greatest achievement. The actor reiterated, “Fatherhood for me is the ultimate success.”