Actor discusses son’s neurological condition and launches foundation supporting people with intellectual disability
In a new interview, Colin Farrell opened up about his son who has a rare neurological condition called Angelman syndrome, and announced that he is launching a foundation to support people with intellectual disabilities.
Farrell’s son, James, who is now 20 years old, was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome when he was a two and a half years old, the Irish actor said in an exclusive interview with People Magazine released on Wednesday. He said his son was previously misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy, which shares many of the same characteristics.
This is the first time Farrell has spoken about his son and his son’s condition, the actor told People, adding that “the only reason I’m speaking is I can’t ask James if he wants to”.
The actor elaborated: “I mean, I can. I speak to James as if he’s 20 and [he] 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.”
Angelman is a seizure condition, Farrell said, adding that the seizures are “one of the things that parents struggle with greatly”.
“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,” Farrell said.
In the interview, Farrell said that many families struggle with finding support and help when it comes to caring for their child with intellectual disabilities, especially as in some states across the country, many social supports that exist end when they reach 21.
“I obviously have a certain amount of means, having had a career in film for 20-plus years now and we still struggle with finding the kind of support that James deserves, and should rightfully have,” Farrell said.
If his son could communicate verbally about his new public effort and that doing this could help families and other children, Farrell claimed that he would say, “‘Dad, what are you talking about? Why are you even asking me? It’s a no-brainer.’
“So that’s why we’re doing it. This is all because of James, it’s all in his honor.”
The actor said that caring for James and watching his son grow up has given him the ability to “look at the human being and the human body and life as a marvel, because I see how much he struggles with things that I’d never have given a second thought to, that many of us take for granted”.
“I want the world to be kind to James,” Farrell said. “I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect.”
Farrell set up his foundation to do something in the realm of providing “greater opportunities for families who have a child with special needs, to receive the support that they deserve – basically assistance in all areas of life”, he said.
