Colin Farrell creates a charitable foundation and opens up for the first time about his son’s syndrome: ‘I speak for him, who cannot speak’

Irish actor Colin Farrell, 48, nominated for an Oscar last year and winner of two Golden Globes, has spoken publicly for the first time about his eldest son James, who was born with a rare genetic syndrome.

James, 20, has Angelman syndrome, which causes physical and intellectual limitations. In an interview with People magazine, the actor told the story of his son’s late diagnosis, which came only when James was two and a half years old.

“James was a very quiet baby and I thought I was lucky,” said the actor, who also has son Henry, 15, with actress Alicja Bachleda-Curuś. “If he was a second child, I would have known sooner because when Henry was born and I heard him babbling, I thought, ‘Is a baby supposed to babble?'”

It wasn’t until James was almost three years old and couldn’t walk or talk that a pediatric neurologist suspected Angelman syndrome, which is characterized by outbursts of laughter. “At least we had a diagnosis,” the actor said.

Colin recalled that the first two questions he asked the doctor were what the life expectancy was and whether his son would feel pain. The doctor told him that the life expectancy was the same as for anyone else and that the disease did not cause pain, but could cause seizures.

The actor reports that he has experienced moments of anguish with his son in hospitals and ambulances, but that he has been developing well. The boy is the son of the actor with American model Kim Bordenave.

Now he is launching the Colin Farrell Foundation to provide support for adults with intellectual disabilities through awareness raising and innovative programs.

“This is the first time I’ve spoken about this, and obviously the only reason I’m speaking about it is because I can’t ask James,” he said.

“I mean, I can. I talk to James as if he’s 20 years old and has perfect fluency in the English language and age-appropriate cognitive ability. But I can’t really discern a specific answer from him about whether he’s comfortable with all of this or not, so I have to make a decision based on knowing James’ spirit and what kind of young man he is and the goodness that he has in his heart,” the star said.