Colin Farrell Shares Why He’s Placing His Son with Angelman Syndrome in Long-Term Care

• Colin Farrell revealed in a new interview with Candis magazine that he has decided to place his son James in a long-term care facility
• James, 21, was born with Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that can cause issues with speech, balance and walking
• “My horror would be, what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James’ mother, Kim, has a car crash and she’s taken too — and then James is on his own?” Farrell told the magazine of the thought process behind the decision

Colin Farrell is opening up about why he is planning to place his son James in a long-term care facility.

James, 21, was born with Angelman syndrome. The rare genetic disorder causes delays in development, as well as neurological problems affecting speech, balance and walking, per the Mayo Clinic.

While speaking to Candis magazine for its May issue, the 48-year-old actor shared that he and James’ mom, Kim Bordenave, recently made the decision to place James into permanent care.

“It’s tricky — some parents will say, ‘I want to take care of my child myself.’ And I respect that,” Farrell told the U.K. outlet.

“But my horror would be, what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James’ mother, Kim, has a car crash and she’s taken too — and then James is on his own? Then he’s a ward of the state and he goes where? We’d have no say in it,” he explained.

The Penguin star said that he and Bordenave, a former model, are currently looking for the right facility for James and their family. 

Farrell said they want to “find somewhere we like where he can go now, while we’re still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes.”

He added: “We want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected.”

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In August 2024, Farrell previously opened up to PEOPLE about his experience parenting James, recalling the initial stages of his son’s diagnosis.

“He wasn’t hitting benchmarks. He couldn’t sit up. He wasn’t crawling,” the star explained at the time. “I think he was a year and a half when we took him to get really checked out, and he was diagnosed as having cerebral palsy. It was a common misdiagnosis because it shared a lot of the same characteristics.”

Farrell went on to say that it wasn’t until James was about 2 and a half years old when a pediatric neurologist suggested he be tested for Angelman syndrome — and the test came back positive.

“I remember the first two questions I asked were, ‘What’s the life expectancy and how much pain is involved?’ And the doctor said, ‘Life expectancy, as far as we can tell, is the same for you and for me, and pain, no,’ “ he recalled.

The actor told PEOPLE that James “has worked so hard all his life — so hard,” noting that learning many basic skills has taken his son significant “repetition.”

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“When he started feeding himself for the first time, his face looked like a Jackson Pollock by the end of it. But he gets it in, he feeds himself beautifully. I’m proud of him every day because I just think he’s magic,” he said.

Farrell, who is also dad to 15-year-old Henry — whom he welcomed with former partner Alicja Bachleda-Curús — went on to share: “I’ve been blessed to have two fine young men in my charge. I’m not even joking — every day I just think they’re just magic. Both of them. I just adore them. And I’m just proud of the kind of fellas they are.”

Farell’s experience with James led him to establish the Colin Farrell Foundation, which provides support for adult children who have intellectual disabilities through advocacy, education and innovative programs.

“Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own,” the actor explained to PEOPLE. “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.”

For more information or to learn how you can donate and offer support, visit www.colinfarrellfoundation.org.