James Haven Opens Up About His Coming Out Journey and Reconciliation with Father Jon Voight

In an emotional interview, Angelina Jolie's brother, James Haven, has revealed details about his coming out journey and the unexpected reconciliation with their estranged father, iconic actor Jon Voight. On August 6, during a live stream, Haven, now 53, publicly announced his sexuality alongside his ex-wife, Romi Imbelli. The couple had annulled their marriage in mid-2025, just months after tying the knot in August 2024. In a recent appearance on the "All Out With Jon Dean" podcast, Haven shared that he had long been aware of his homosexuality but chose to come out following Imbelli's decision to write her memoir, which included details about their relationship's end. Post-annulment, they reconnected, and he granted her permission to discuss his sexual orientation, leading to last week's announcement. Haven expressed that keeping his identity a secret had been a source of daily pain for him: "If you know you are [gay], but you can’t say it, you’re hurting every day. I lost my life in this process up to this point, so I'm tired of that. I want a life now. I want to actually live a life. I want to be happy. I want to be me. I want to be joyful. I want everyone to know who I am, so I’m not hiding anymore." Interestingly, Haven revealed that despite his sexuality never being publicly acknowledged in the past, many close friends had always suspected it. "I've not gotten one text from one person that knows me that says, 'Oh, my gosh, I had no idea,'" he shared. "They all have kind of said, 'I’ve always known,' or, 'Thank you for finally being ready to say it.'" Perhaps the most surprising revelation is that Haven's coming-out story has led to a reconnection with his father, Jon Voight, after years of estrangement. Growing up, Haven described his relationship with Voight as "very difficult." He attributed their strained relationship to a perceived lack of value from his father. "There was a long period of time ... we didn’t talk for many years because of a lack of value that I felt from him," Haven shared. However, last week, he received an unexpected phone call from Voight following the public announcement about his coming-out story. "I’m just like, ‘Hey,’ and he’s like, ‘So…' I’m like, ‘Ah, here we go…'" they said, recalling their conversation. Voight reportedly told Haven, "I finally know who you are," leading to a heartfelt chat between the two. Haven shared that he felt accepted during this conversation and plans to meet with Voight in person soon for a much-anticipated reunion. "I feel so free now. I feel so free. Now I can be myself," he said on the podcast, expressing his relief and joy at finally being able to live his truth openly.