💔 Colin Farrell has opened up about the deeply emotional decision to place his 21-year-old son, James, in long-term care, and we are heartbroken 😰 James, who was born with a rare genetic condition, has been the center of Colin’s world — and making this decision was anything but easy… 🙏 Full emotional story and Colin’s heartfelt words are in the comments below 👇

Colin Farrell Shares the Heartfelt Reason Behind Placing His Adult Son in Long-Term Care

Colin Farrell has opened up about the deeply personal and emotional decision to place his 21-year-old son, James, in a long-term care facility—a choice made out of love, foresight, and a desire to ensure James’s continued well-being and sense of belonging.

The 48-year-old actor revealed that he and his former partner, Kim Bordenave, made the decision together as a way to maintain stability and support for James while Colin is still actively involved in his life and care.

James was initially misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy, but doctors later identified the correct condition—Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system and leads to significant intellectual and physical disabilities.

In a candid interview with Candis Magazine, Colin shared that while the decision was incredibly difficult, it came from a place of long-term love and responsibility: “We wanted to make sure he’s somewhere that feels like home, where he can thrive, and where we can always be a part of his world.”

Award-winning actor Colin Farrell has opened up with heartfelt honesty about a decision no parent takes lightly—the choice to place his 21-year-old son James, who lives with severe disabilities caused by Angelman syndrome, in a long-term care facility.

Speaking to Candis Magazine, the 48-year-old actor explained that he and James’s mother, Kim Bordenave, made the decision not out of surrender, but out of love and foresight.

“It’s tricky,” Colin admitted. “Some parents will say, ‘I want to take care of my child myself,’ and I respect that. 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.”

That fear led them to start planning now—while they’re both alive and healthy—to ensure James has a place that feels like home, where he’s known, loved, and supported.

“We’re hoping to find somewhere we like, where he can go now… a place we can visit often, and take him out sometimes. We want him to have a full and happy life. A place where he feels connected.”

A Painful Misdiagnosis and a Rare Condition

James’s journey with his health began early. Colin first noticed something was off when his newborn son missed critical developmental milestones. James struggled to sit up and crawl.

“He couldn’t sit up. He wasn’t crawling. I think he was about a year and a half when we took him to get checked out, and he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy,” the Phone Booth actor previously told People.

But the diagnosis was wrong. It wasn’t until a pediatrician noticed James’s unusual hand-flapping movements and frequent laughter—hallmark traits of Angelman syndrome—that further testing revealed the truth.

Angelman syndrome is a rare neurogenetic disorder that affects the nervous system, causing severe intellectual and physical disabilities. Common symptoms include seizures, movement and balance issues, and little to no speech.

Recalling the moment they got the correct diagnosis at age 2½, Colin said he asked the doctor two urgent questions: “What’s the life expectancy, and how much pain is involved?” The doctor’s reply brought some peace: “Life expectancy is the same for you and me. Pain, no.”

A Father’s Devotion

Colin didn’t sugarcoat the difficult parts of parenting a child with special needs.

“Seizures are one of the hardest things parents struggle with,” he said, remembering emergency ambulance rides and the terrifying task of administering Diastat to end a prolonged seizure.

“Finding the right medication without serious side effects—it’s a tricky business,” he admitted.

Yet amid the hardship, there’s joy. “James hasn’t had a breakthrough seizure in 10 or 11 years. That’s a huge blessing.”

Milestones That Matter

Despite his challenges, James has made incredible progress over the years, and Colin cherishes each moment. He proudly recalls watching his son take his first steps just before his fourth birthday.

“I’ll never forget the face of determination on him as he walked toward me. He took six steps. I burst into tears.”

James, who is nonverbal and requires round-the-clock assistance, continues to reach milestones in his own time.

“When he started feeding himself, his face would look like a Jackson Pollock painting. But he did it. He feeds himself beautifully now.”

Colin and Kim, who filed for conservatorship before James turned 18, continue to celebrate every achievement—his first word at age six, his independence at age 19, his seizure control over the past decade.

Honoring James’s Strength

In James’s honor, Colin is launching the Colin Farrell Foundation, dedicated to supporting and advocating for people with intellectual disabilities.

“This is the first time I’ve spoken about it,” he said, “and obviously the only reason I’m speaking is that I can’t ask James if he wants to do this.”

Calling James his “magic”, Colin said: “He’s worked so hard all his life—repetition, balance, his jerky gait. I’m proud of him every day.”

A Message to Other Families

Colin, who has another son, 15-year-old Henry, with actress Alicja Bachleda-Curuś, has largely kept James out of the public eye. But now, he’s opening up to send a message to families facing similar journeys:

“He has enriched my life, but I don’t want to minimize the trials that so many families go through—the fear, the frustration, the pain. When you’re the parent of a child with special needs, it’s important to know you’re not alone.”

The Son Who Saved Him

In one of his most vulnerable admissions, Colin Farrell revealed that his journey to sobriety was profoundly shaped by his son James.

“He was the reason I got sober,” the Hollywood star shared candidly. “Having a child with such profound needs forced me to show up—not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, spiritually. I had to be present. For him. For me.”

James’s mother, Kim Bordenave, was in a relationship with Colin from 2001 to 2003. Though their romantic relationship ended, their commitment to co-parenting James has remained unwavering.

Later, Colin welcomed his second son, Henry, with Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curuś, his Ondine co-star, during their relationship from late 2008 to early 2010.

Despite the ups and downs of his personal life, Colin credits fatherhood—especially the unique path of raising James—with grounding him in what matters most.

“James changed everything,” he said. “He taught me patience, perspective, and an entirely different kind of love. A love that asks nothing but gives everything.”

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