Colin Farrell Is the Father of Two Sons, One of Whom Has ‘Special Needs’ — A Look at Him as a Dad

Farrell shares his oldest son, James, with his ex-partner, Kim Bordenave. The former couple welcomed their first child in 2003, but the actor could not be there for the birth since he was filming in Morrocco.

However, Farrell could not have been happier to become a father and made sure his family was there to welcome the baby boy. When James was four years old, “The Gentleman” star revealed that his son was diagnosed with a rare neuro-genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome.

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Angelman Syndrome is identified by developmental delay, speech impairment, movement or balance disorder, excessive laughter, and seizures. According to reports, the condition is often misdiagnosed as autism or cerebral palsy.

The proud father emphasized that he never saw his son as someone with a disability. “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 4-year-olds,” explained Farrell

Farrell believed that his son was just how he was meant to be. The actor is constantly in awe of his son’s courage and feels blessed to have him. When James was four, his family celebrated a big milestone when he took his first step.

The “Batman” star expressed how emotional it was for him and his family to witness. He said, “It was incredibly emotional. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

Before discovering his son’s diagnosis, Farrell promoted the Special Olympics. The experience of watching those athletes in action left a lasting effect on him, and discovering his son’s diagnosis a few years later was a shocking coincidence.

But despite the challenges that come with James’ condition, the actor loves to watch his son defy the odds; he also gives credit to his mother for helping their child get the help he needed.

Farrell understands the difficulty of raising a child with special needs and took the time to encourage parents when speaking at the summit and gala for Angelman syndrome research in Chicago hosted by FAST, the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics.

The Ocar-nominated actor reminded parents that the journey of raising their children is not meant to be lonely. He expressed:

“The struggles of a child with special needs can be so brutal that they can tear at the very fabric of your heart, but the love shared, and the pure strength and heroism observed is the needle and thread that mends all tears.”

In his speech, Farrell said his number one advice for parents raising a special needs child is to reach out and find a community because, within these communities, people can relate to some of the journey’s highs and lows.

Early in his fatherhood journey, Farrell was determined to be a present father. In 2005, he took the big step of going into rehab for his alcohol and drug addiction, and a big part of that decision was influenced by his son, James.

The actor is now a father of two. He welcomed his second son, Henry, with his girlfriend, Alicja Bachleda, in 2009. Farrell was excited to become a dad again and said he was prepared for everything to come, “even changing dirty diapers,” he added.

The father of two opened up about the transition of bringing his sons together. The process took some adjusting as the boys have different mothers, but Farrell said his children worked well together.

He said they were a funny duo and were finally starting to understand that neither was going anywhere. The brothers also started agreeing on the Disney movies they would love to watch.

Farrell introduced them to a few Disney classics, starting with the most famous, like “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Lady and the Tramp.” However, when “Cinderella” came on, Henry and James said “no.” Farrell told the story with pride because to see his eldest son engage with films was another milestone.

He recalled, “I remember the days when he couldn’t watch 10 minutes of a film because he couldn’t sit easy, but now he can.” Farrell continued to add that James struggled with things that came easy to most, like eating, walking, and feeding himself.

But with each day, the actor is astonished at how much work James puts into everything he has achieved with his condition and finds that he could be an inspiration to many people.

Farrell is constantly inspired by his children and never forgets to thank them in his speeches. When he won a Gold Globe for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy Motion Picture, he thanked his fellow actors and ended his speech by giving a shout-out to his children, calling them “the loves of my life.”

The “Total Recall” star had a follow-up interview with Hollywood Access with one of his co-stars, Brendan Gleeson. He was asked what was a recent lesson he had learned about fatherhood, and the actor explained that there was something new to learn each day.

However, one thing that has come with having children is discovering his strengths and vulnerability. Farrell said having children can make you the strongest person, especially when considering the extremes you can go to to protect them.

In the same instance, he has experienced the deepest sense of vulnerability in tapping into feelings he never thought were possible to access. In short, the actor said with children, “Your life widens.”

The actor also brought out his teenage son, Henry, to the Academy Awards, where he was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in the film, “The Banshees of Inisherin.” The father and son looked striking in matching black tuxedos as they smiled for the camera with their arms around each other.

As Farrell makes strides in his acting career, he is determined to be a doting father to his children, and that will always be his greatest achievement. The actor reiterated, “Fatherhood for me is the ultimate success.”