Full Breakdown
James Haven’s Public Coming Out and Jon Voight’s Surprising Phone Call
8/12/2026, 7:53:16 PM
Core Event
On August 6, actor James Haven, 53, announced publicly that he is gay during a livestream with his ex-wife and close friend Romi Imbelli. The revelation was discussed in depth on the “All Out With Jon Dean” podcast on August 12, where Haven described his father’s reaction and the impact on their long-standing estrangement.
Background & Context
James Haven grew up as the older son of Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight and the late actress Marcheline Bertrand. He and his sister Angelina Jolie have previously described a “very difficult” upbringing and a strained relationship with their father, citing a lack of verbal affirmation and a “value issue” that left Haven feeling undervalued. The father-son bond had been silent for several years before the August 6 announcement.
Timeline
- August 6 – Haven comes out as gay in a livestream with Romi Imbelli.
- August 12 – Haven appears on Jon Dean’s podcast, recounts a phone call from Voight and outlines plans for an in-person meeting.
Data & Statistics
- James Haven: age 53 at the time of coming out.
- Jon Voight: age 87.
- Romi Imbelli: age 44, former spouse of Haven (marriage annulled in mid-2025).
Official Statements & Responses
The conversation quickly shifted to an affirmation of Haven’s privacy, with Voight saying he now understands why his son had been “so private.” Haven described the call as “mind-blowing” and noted that Voight sounded genuinely affirming, acknowledging past misunderstandings. Following the call, Haven said he intends to meet Voight in person within the next few days to continue rebuilding their relationship.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you know you are [gay], but you can’t say it, you’re hurting every day,” — James Haven
- “The biggest issue I dealt with in my relationship with him for the longest time was a value issue,” — James Haven
- “I’m just like, ‘Hey,’ and he’s like, ‘So…’ I’m like, ‘Ah, here we go…’” — James Haven
- “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He kept talking about it, like, ‘Now I understand why you’ve been so private.’” — James Haven
What’s Next
Haven has indicated that a face-to-face reunion with Jon Voight is scheduled for the coming days, marking the next step in their ongoing reconciliation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All cited sources report the same core details of the August 6 livestream, the August 12 podcast interview, and the content of Voight’s phone call. No substantive discrepancies have been identified, and no additional information about future family discussions beyond the planned in-person meeting has been disclosed.
