James Haven, the 53-year-old actor and director who is the older brother of Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie, publicly came out as gay on August 6, 2026, in an emotional video announcement shared on his former wife’s Substack platform. The revelation marked a pivotal moment for Haven, who described his journey toward authenticity after years of personal struggle and healing.
“After many years of healing from childhood trauma, I am now free to live the life that I believe I was always meant to live. One of hope, one of peace, and one of love,” Haven said in the video statement filmed on his birthday. The announcement came more than a year after his brief marriage to Romi Imbelli, a television personality and writer who starred on the reality series “The Real L Word,” ended in an annulment.
Haven and Imbelli had been close friends for 23 years before marrying in an intimate ceremony in Laguna Beach, California, on August 12, 2024. Their marriage proved short-lived, lasting just 15 days before Imbelli filed for annulment on August 27, 2024, citing “fraud” as the legal reason. Despite the annulment, the two have remained supportive of one another and collaborated on the public statement surrounding Haven’s coming out.
During a Substack livestream with Imbelli on August 6, she asked Haven directly about his identity. When she inquired what he was, he responded simply, “I’m gay.” Haven explained that when he was younger, he “didn’t have the language back then to explain why” he felt different, but emphasized that his path was “never about pretending to be someone else. It was about letting a part of myself shine that had always been there.”
In his full statement, Haven expressed hope for understanding from his loved ones. “I hope my family and others can choose love over fear, understanding over judgment, and connection over the beliefs that may have kept us apart,” he shared. He also thanked those who supported him throughout his journey, saying he approached his new chapter “with an open heart, with nothing but love for myself and for all of you.”
Haven’s coming out comes amid significant changes in his family. His younger sister, Angelina Jolie, has been preparing for a major transition of her own. With her twins Knox and Vivienne reaching their 18th birthdays on July 12, 2026, Jolie has been making plans to leave Los Angeles and relocate abroad, ending a custody arrangement with her ex-husband Brad Pitt that had kept her in California. The actress has spoken openly about her desire to travel internationally and pursue projects without the restrictions imposed by the custody agreement.
Haven, who was born James Haven Voight on May 11, 1973, is the son of actor Jon Voight and the late actress Marcheline Bertrand, who died in 2007 following a battle with ovarian and breast cancer. Both siblings have maintained relatively close relationships with their mother’s legacy while having a more distant relationship with their father, though Voight and Haven have reportedly reconciled in recent years.
Throughout his career, Haven has worked as an actor, director, and producer. He appeared in several films alongside his sister, including the 1998 HBO television film “Gia,” which marked his screen debut. His other credits include roles in films such as “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Monster’s Ball,” and “Original Sin.” Beyond his entertainment work, Haven has been involved in humanitarian efforts, inspired partly by his sister’s extensive philanthropic activities.
Haven’s role in his sister’s family became particularly prominent following her separation from Brad Pitt in 2016. He reportedly took on a hands-on role managing household staff and caring for his six nieces and nephews during the turbulent period. In more recent years, he has stepped back from that intensive caregiving role to focus on his own personal development and healing.
Throughout his announcement, Haven emphasized themes of authenticity and acceptance. Imbelli’s role in facilitating and supporting his public coming out statement demonstrated the resilience of their friendship despite the annulment. In her statement accompanying his announcement, Imbelli wrote about holding space for his heart and reminded followers that healing is “always worth it.”
The actor’s coming out adds another significant family milestone to 2026, as both he and his sister navigate new chapters in their lives marked by freedom and self-discovery. For Haven, the public embrace of his identity represents a culmination of personal work and represents his commitment to living authentically after years of concealment.