- Angelina Jolie had a close relationship with her brother, James Haven, and even had him working as a full-time nanny for the actress.
- Once inseparable, their bond changed after Jolie and her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, divorced.
- Now, Haven, who is an actor, director, and producer, still wants to be there for his sister despite their public distance.
Angelina Jolie and James Haven at the 72nd Annual Academy Awards – Arrival on March 26, 2000 | Source: Getty Images
Angelina Jolie and her ex-husband Brad Pitt share six kids: twins Knox and Vivienne, Pax, Shiloh, Zahara, and Maddox. The actress is a dedicated mother to her children, despite having split with Pitt.
Angelina Jolie and James Haven at the 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards – red carpet on January 24, 1999 | Source: Getty Images
When Jolie and Pitt were still married, the actress’s brother, James Haven, helped take care of their six kids. Haven helped raise Jolie’s kids and would babysit whenever the actress and Pitt wanted time to themselves.
James Haven, John Voight, and Angelina Jolie at the “Midnight Cowboy” 25th Anniversary on February 16, 1994 | Source: Getty Images
Jolie and her brother were very close. The siblings are the only children of Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Jolie and Haven, who look like their mom, shared a close relationship for many years until it started to seem like there was a rift that had formed between them.
Angelina Jolie attends “The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford” premiere during day 5 of the 64th Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy on September 2, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
According to Haven, they were both raised by a strong woman who was very loving. The two also had a normal upbringing without the craziness of celebrity life. Besides his modest life, Haven was a loner who didn’t strive for the celebrity life.
James Haven arrives at the premiere of Paramount Pictures’ “Beowulf” at the Westwood Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California on November 5, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
Haven has kept a quiet profile in Los Angeles, unlike his sister. He is an actor, director, and producer. His first role was in “Gia” alongside Jolie, while his last role to date was in 2014’s “Easy Silence.”
Angelina Jolie at the “A Mighty Heart” New York City premiere – outside arrivals on June 13, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
Haven has held the position of executive board director of Artivist since 2006. Artivist is a Los Angeles festival that highlights films that tackle human rights, animal rights, and environmental issues.
James Haven at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 11, 2002 | Source: Getty Images
In 1986, Haven attended the Academy Awards with his father, and in 2006, he was at the same event with his sister. During the 2006 Academy Awards, Jolie won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for “Girl, Interrupted.” She gave an acceptance speech, saying, “I’m so in love with my brother right now. He just held me, and he said he loved me, and I know he is so happy for me.”
Angelina Jolie kisses James Haven during 57th Annual Golden Globe Awards – Press Room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California on January 23, 2000. | Source: Getty Images
This speech resulted in bizarre rumors about a more intimate relationship between the two siblings, which Haven and Jolie dismissed. The rumors intensified when Haven kissed Jolie on the lips on the red carpet. Still, the producer was angered by claims that their relationship may have been inappropriate. He reiterated, “I did not give Angie a French kiss, it was something simple and lovely.”
Angelina Jolie and James Haven attend the Worldwide Orphans Foundation to Honor Christine Ebersole at Capital in New York City on October 24, 2005. | Source: Getty Images
Haven also revealed that he goes to his sister for advice all the time and doesn’t do anything without her because of how close they were as kids. “She’s always been protective of me with regards to my romantic life, which I love,” admitted Haven.
James Haven at “Alexander” World Premiere – arrivals on November 16, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
Since the two came from a divorced home, Jolie wanted her brother to have the right woman in his life. He joked that maybe he hadn’t found the right woman because his sister was too picky for him. Any significant other in Haven’s life would have to go through two sieves, his and Jolie’s.
James Haven attends “Kat Kramer’s Films That Changed the World” Presents 9th Installment at the James Bridges Theater, UCLA in Los Angeles, California on June 3, 2017. | Source: Getty Images
Haven is also a perfectionist who loves strong women, which has made it hard for him to find the right woman. He confessed that because he was close to Jolie, he felt like he already had a perfect woman whom no other person could live up to.
James Haven during “Taking Lives” World Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on March 16, 2004. | Source: Getty Images
Haven and Jolie’s closeness extended to when he took care of the actress’s kids. Jolie had Haven working as a nanny because he was one of just a handful of people the actress felt comfortable looking after her six kids.
James Haven and Angelina Jolie at the after-party for the premiere of “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” in Los Angeles, California on July 21, 2003. | Source: Getty Images
Furthermore, Shiloh, the name given to Jolie’s first biological daughter, was originally intended as a name for Haven. The actress also allegedly used to use the name as an alias when she checked into hotels. Shiloh is a Biblical city and the site of a Tennessee Civil War battle.
Angelina Jolie speaks during a news conference on the bipartisan modernized Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on February 9, 2022. | Source: Getty Images
James Voight at the premiere of “Bandits” on October 4, 2001 | Source: Getty Images
For a long time, Haven and Jolie were inseparable. Haven was Jolie’s go-to companion, her best friend, and devoted brother. The siblings may be cordial, but now, each does their own thing, and people don’t see or hear of them being together.
Jaime Haven Voight, Angelina Jolie, and Jon Voight file photo, dated January 1, 1980 | Source: Getty Images
James Haven, John Voight, and Angelina Jolie arrive at the Academy Awards, in Los Angeles, California on April 11,1988. | Source: Getty Images
As much as Jolie and Haven aren’t as close as they were in the past, the two are pretty similar. The siblings are very charitable, and Haven is involved in mental health and anti-human trafficking and protection work. Haven, who is as reliable as a Swiss watch, is bold and dedicated to his work.
James Haven and Angelina Jolie at the after-party for the premiere of “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” in Los Angeles, California on July 21, 2003. | Source: Getty Images
Haven has ongoing movie projects, including “Court of Conscience,” which his dad and Anton Yelchin star in and is going to be released in 2024. The actress’s brother has also commended Jolie’s acting, noting that she discovered her passion in the field at a young age and was lucky to have their mom as her first manager.
James Haven arrive at the Los Angeles Premiere of “Beowulf” at Westwood Village in Weswood, California on November 5, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
Still, Jolie’s quick and immense success had Haven questioning his abilities. He recalled how no one asked him to feature in movies and mostly ignored him. Haven didn’t fail, but people never gave him the chance to prove himself. These opportunities went to Jolie and their father. Haven doesn’t hold this against his family members, as he said he was close to Jolie and felt like her protector.
Angelina Jolie attending the UK Gala screening of Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” at BFI IMAX Waterloo in London, England on October 27, 2021. | Source: Getty Images
Now, Haven, who doesn’t have any social media, still wants to be there for his sister despite their social distance. As for his personal life, Haven is currently not married and has no kids.
For a certain period in his life, he had thought of adopting, but only if he found the right woman to raise a child with. However, Haven revealed that he was so blessed to have been in love with someone special for 20 years.
James Haven and girlfriend Rachel Anderson at the “Alexander” world premiere – arrivals on November 16, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
Angelina Jolie, and James Haven and his date at the after-party for the premiere of “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” in Los Angeles, California on July 21, 2003. | Source: Getty Images
Now, Haven doesn’t know what the future holds, including whether he will be married or become a dad. The actor also spoke positively about Jolie even as the two have continued to keep a distance away from each other publicly.