Angelina Jolie is no stranger to seeing her name in the papers. From her tumultuous divorce from Brad Pitt to their custody battle over their six children, Jolie has been the subject of news outlets more times than most people can remember.

However, back in 2000, Jolie attracted the media’s attention when she publicly planted a kiss on the lips of her beloved brother, James Haven. Shortly after the public display of affection, news outlets discovered that Jolie and Haven had shared a close bond since they were children, braving the onslaught of their father’s rage side-by-side.

Haven has opened up about their dad, Jon Voight, saying he always had a temper and would often focus more on his kids’ faults rather than their strengths. Jolie and Haven’s parents split in 1976, which led the siblings to form a strong bond.

Haven recalled that he and Jolie stood up to his father and became protective of their mother. After years of having a bad relationship with his dad, Haven had few good memories of the man.

Although Jolie and Haven were still close after their mother passed away, their relationship started to decline after Haven began working as Jolie and Pitt’s full-time nanny.

He said Voight had always been a difficult man, and the years of bearing the brunt of his ill temper left him with a terrible opinion of his dad. Luckily, Haven and Jolie had each other throughout the difficulty and remained close as adults.

The kiss that turned numerous heads happened when Jolie won the Oscar for her role in “Girl, Interrupted.” The actress planted a big kiss on Haven’s lips as her name was called.

In her speech, she said, “I am just so in love with my brother! He just held me and said he loved me … Jamie, you’re just … I have nothing without you.”

How Jolie and Haven Banded Together

Ever since they were kids, Haven and Jolie have been each other’s primary sources of support. With only two years separating them, they’ve had each other’s backs ever since their parents divorced when Jolie was two years old. Haven also noted that his sister may have influenced his personal life, commenting:

“Maybe I haven’t found the right woman because my sister is too picky for me.”

Marcheline Bertrand, mother to Jolie and her brother, sadly passed away in 2007 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. It was reported that Jolie and Haven stuck together while their beloved mother battled against the debilitating illness.

Jolie had been incredibly close with her mother throughout her life and sorely missed Bertrand at her wedding. Nonetheless, the actress and Haven honored the late Bertrand by wearing some of her jewelry to the ceremony.

Jolie chose a flower ring from her mother’s jewelry box, while Haven wore an angel pin on his lapel. Jolie’s groom, Brad Pitt, honored the late Bertrand with a special engraving made in the church where they married.

Over the years, Jolie has opened up about her late mom, saying Bertrand was one of the people who inspired her most in her life. The “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” star referred to her late mother as one of her closest friends, noting:

“[She was] the most compassionate woman I know. There are no words to express what an amazing woman and mother she was. She was our best friend.”

The Decline of Jolie and Haven’s Relationship

Although Jolie and Haven were still close after their mother passed away, their relationship started to decline after Haven began working as Jolie and Pitt’s full-time nanny.

When Jolie and Pitt entered negotiations in the early days of their divorce and custody battle, Haven reportedly stepped in and acted as a caretaker for the Jolie-Pitt children. He used to babysit for Pitt and Jolie whenever they felt overwhelmed or needed a night to themselves.

Haven kept the kids busy, often taking them out and spending time with them. He was seen with the Jolie-Pitt kids numerous times, once taking them out for fresh air in a local park. A source close to the family noted that Haven got along great with the children.

After a year of looking after the children, Haven was reportedly quietly let go from his nanny role. Little is known about why, but numerous sources have suggested that Jolie and Haven drifted apart over the years.

Haven hasn’t been seen with his sister since being dismissed as her nanny in 2017. The actress allegedly stopped talking to him out of the blue. Both siblings have refused to elaborate on the real reason behind their sudden iciness, and sources close to them also seemed baffled.

James Haven’s Return to Christianity and Life in Recent Years

Haven reportedly found his way back to Christianity in 2009. Reports emerged that he became part of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Some sources even suggested he was training to become a youth minister in 2012.

Haven’s return to his faith allegedly inspired him to mend his relationship with his dad. The actor landed a role in the 2024 film “Court of Conscience,” co-starring his father and Anton Yelchin.

During a 2024 interview, Haven candidly revealed that his famous sister’s immense success in Hollywood had him questioning his own abilities. He recalled how no one asked him to feature in movies and mostly ignored him.

However, Haven did not harbor any negative feelings towards his family members. Instead, the actor revealed that he still wanted to be there for his sister despite their distance.

As for his personal life, Haven was not married and did not have any children at the time of writing. For some time, he thought of adopting, but only if he found the right woman to raise a child with.

Although Angelina Jolie and Haven haven’t been speaking, the actress’s brother has had a tremendous effect on her life. The actress named her daughter Shiloh, the name her parents would have given her brother. Haven also reportedly tried to reunite Jolie with their long-estranged father.