Colin Farrell opens up about the struggles of his son James

Farrell, who is generally tight-lipped about everything related to his personal life, recently explained about what Angelman syndrome is and why he'd created a foundation for its treatment.

Farrell's 20-year-old son James was born with Angelman syndrome, a neurogenetic disorder that affects development.

Angelman is a genetic disorder that causes developmental disability and neurological symptoms. It is not detected until developmental delays are noticeable. In the case of Farrell's son, that was around the age of 2.5 years.

Symptoms of Angelman syndrome include the absence of crawling or babbling, minimal speech, and frequent smiling and laughing. Another symptom is the inability to walk, move, or balance, known as ataxia. Luckily, Farrell recalls from the day he heard the diagnosis, people with Angelman syndrome are not expected to have any pain.

One of the symptoms "that parents struggle with greatly," Colin Farrell explained to People magazine, are the seizures that children can get. "Thankfully, James hasn't had a breakthrough seizure now in about 10 or 11 years, but I've been in the back of ambulances, I've been in the hospital with him."

James Farrell, the son of the Irish actor and actress/model Kim Bordenave, has been raised by his parents with the help of a team of professionals. They helped him learn the simplest life tasks, such as eating and walking.

"When he started feeding himself for the first time, his face looks [sic] like a Jackson Pollock by the end of it," Farrell told Today. "But he gets it in, he feeds himself beautifully. I'm proud of him every day, because I just think he's magic."

Walking is very difficult, nearly impossible, for many people with Angelman syndrome. "I'll never forget James' first steps."

"It was so profound. It was magic. I'll never forget the face of determination on him as he just walked towards me. He took about six steps, and I burst into tears. It was amazing... it was so overwhelmingly beautiful."

In August 2024, the actor told People magazine about his day-to-day life with his son. He also promoted his foundation to help children, teenagers, and adults with special needs.

"The only reason I'm speaking is I can't ask James if he wants to do this," Farrell told People magazine. "I mean, I can. I speak to James as if he's 20 and has perfect fluency with the English language and age-appropriate cognitive ability. But I can't discern a particular answer from him as to whether he's comfortable with all this or not, so I have to make a call based on knowing James's spirit and what kind of young man he is and the goodness that he has in his heart."

The actor spoke about his decision to create a foundation bearing his name that provides support to adult children with intellectual disabilities. The organization will defend their rights and boost their education through innovative programs.

Farrell sees from his own family situation that his son may have a difficult time next year, when he turns 21. At that age, he explained, all security measures and special education classes disappear.

"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."

Farrell said the foundation will provide opportunities for families who have a child with special needs to receive the support they need in all areas of their lives.

He added: "James, and others like him, have earned the right to have a greater degree of individuality and autonomy on life and a greater degree of community."

On the 'Today' show in 2017, Colin Farrell had already said a few words about life with a child with special needs. "They can tear at the deepest fiber of your heart," he said, "but the love shared and the sheer strength and heroism witnessed, that's the needle and thread that mends all the tears."

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