Who is James Padraig Farrell? All about Colin Farrell's son with Angelman Syndrome moving to care facility

Colin Farrell has recently opened up about his son James Farrell in an emotional interview where he revealed that he suffers from Angelman Syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder which has prompted him to move him to a long-term care facility.

James Padraig Farrell is the Penguin actor’s eldest child. He is currently 21 years old. The actor welcomed him with his ex-Kim Bordenave, in 2003. The former couple reportedly dated from 2001 until 2003.

Speaking to Candis magazine, he revealed that he and his ex-Bordenave have made a decision, reported The Sun. He said:

“It’s tricky, 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?”

According to a report in The Independent, James was diagnosed with the disorder when he was just four years old. In 2007, Farrell revealed spoke about his son’s syndrome for the very first time. Here is what we know.

All we know about Colin Farrell’s eldest son, James Padraig Farrell

In 2007, for the first time, actor Colin Farrell opened up about the genetic disorder of his son, James Padraig Farrell. According to the Daily Express, it was during the Special Olympics in Shanghai that he decided to speak about his eldest son after discussing it with his mother.

“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 four-year-olds. Then I go, ‘Oh yeah,’ and it comes back to me.”

Farrell told the Irish Independent.

“I have never thought of my son as being someone with a disability. It goes back to special needs and what is a disability and what isn’t."

In August 2024, he started the Colin Farrell Foundation, “to help children and young adults with disabilities prepare for greater independence through advocacy, education and innovative programs”. He previously told People magazine:

“I want the world to be kind to James. I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect. Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own. 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.”

In an interview with People magazine in August 2024, the actor shared James’ success and said:

"He works incredibly hard to achieve the benchmarks that we all experience as typical human beings who don’t have any cognitive issues or developmental delays. And he’s done incredible. He’s a really well-adjusted, happy young man. He’s extraordinary.”

In a 2012 interview with InStyle magazine, he shared:

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“We share in the smallest victories; the first words at age six or seven, being able to feed oneself at 19, and getting the seizures under control. When James took his first steps at age four, I nearly broke in half!”

Farrell also has another son, Henry, who is 15 years old, with his Ondine co-star Alicja Bachleda-Curuś. He was born on October 7, 2009, according to In Style magazine. According to a report in the Daily Mail, they dated from approximately late 2008 to early 2010.

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