7 Shocking Facts About James Haven: Angelina Jolie's Brother And His 2025 Annulment Drama

Angelina Jolie's older brother, James Haven, has always been a figure of intense public curiosity, often stepping out of the shadows to support his famous sister, Angelina Jolie. While his own acting and directing career has been notable, his personal life, particularly his deep bond with Jolie and his recent romantic entanglements, has captured the most attention. As of late 2024 and early 2025, Haven's life has been filled with dramatic, headline-making events that redefine his public narrative.

The most current and sensational update involves a whirlwind romance that ended in a dramatic split. This article delves into the deepest, most up-to-date facts about James Haven, from his role in the Jolie-Pitt family saga to his own professional ambitions and the truth behind his short-lived marriage.

Complete Biography and Profile of James Haven

James Haven, born James Haven Voight, is an American actor, director, and producer who has navigated a complex life in the shadow of Hollywood royalty. His identity is inextricably linked to his famous family, yet he has pursued a career both in front of and behind the camera.

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• Full Name: James Haven Voight
• Date of Birth: May 11, 1973
• Age (as of December 2025): 52
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Parents: Jon Voight (Father, Actor) and Marcheline Bertrand (Mother, Actress/Humanitarian)
• Sister: Angelina Jolie (Actress/Humanitarian)
• Spouse(s): Romi Marie Imbelli (m. August 2024; Annulled/Separated March 2025)
• Education: Beverly Hills High School; USC School of Cinematic Arts
• Occupation: Former Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
• Notable Film Credits: Gia (1998), Monster's Ball (2001), Breaking Dawn (2004), Ocean Park (2002)
• Current Project: Directing the sci-fi/fantasy film The Last Boy

The Shocking 2024 Marriage and 2025 Annulment

The most recent and unexpected chapter in James Haven's life involves a brief, secret marriage that ended in a dramatic annulment. This event, occurring while his sister, Angelina Jolie, was still navigating her own protracted divorce from Brad Pitt, brought Haven back into the celebrity spotlight in a major way.

1. His Secret 2024 Wedding to a Reality TV Star

In the summer of 2024, James Haven secretly tied the knot with Romi Marie Imbelli. Imbelli is best known for her appearance on the Showtime reality series The Real L Word. The wedding was a quiet affair, taking place in August 2024, and was initially revealed by Imbelli in a social media post at the end of the year. The timing of the wedding, coinciding with significant public focus on the Jolie-Pitt legal battles, kept the news relatively low-key until the subsequent drama unfolded.

2. The Dramatic Annulment Filing and 'Fraud' Allegation

Just seven months after their secret wedding, the marriage came to an abrupt and painful end. In March 2025, Romi Imbelli confirmed that she had filed for an annulment from James Haven. The separation was not only sudden but also highly contentious. Reports indicated that Imbelli was moving forward with the annulment, with sources close to the situation, including Us Weekly, reporting that she had accused Haven of "fraud." This shocking allegation turned a private split into a major Hollywood news story, adding another layer of complexity to the family's already turbulent public life.

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James Haven's Role as Angelina Jolie's Primary Protector

The relationship between James Haven and Angelina Jolie is perhaps the most defining aspect of his public persona. They share a famously close, and at times controversial, bond that dates back to their childhood and their shared experience of growing up with famous, often absent, parents.

3. He Publicly Discussed 'Protecting' Jolie and Her Children

In January 2024, James Haven made a rare public statement about his role in his sister's life, appearing on a podcast to discuss the family dynamic. Haven spoke candidly about his bond with Angelina and her six children, emphasizing his desire to be a "helpful and positive" presence in their lives. He specifically talked about a mission of "protecting" his sister and her children during the difficult, high-profile divorce proceedings with Brad Pitt. This appearance solidified his image as the dedicated, protective older brother who prioritizes his sister's and his nieces' and nephews' well-being above his own career.

4. The Infamous 2000 Oscars Kiss

No discussion of their relationship is complete without mentioning the 2000 Academy Awards. When Angelina Jolie won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted, she famously stated in her acceptance speech, "I'm so in love with my brother right now." This was followed by a public kiss on the lips with James Haven on the red carpet, which instantly became one of Hollywood's most notorious and misinterpreted moments. While the moment was deemed controversial by the media, the siblings later explained it as a simple, spontaneous expression of their profound, supportive bond following the recent passing of their mother, Marcheline Bertrand, and their reconciliation with their father, Jon Voight.

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His Career Beyond the Jolie-Voight Name

While often overshadowed by his sister, James Haven has a legitimate and diverse career in the film industry, transitioning from acting to behind-the-scenes roles as a director and producer.

5. A Career Transition to Directing and Producing

Though he started as an actor, appearing in films like Monster's Ball alongside Halle Berry and his sister's early film Gia, Haven has shifted his focus to working as a director and producer. His credits include documentary work and short films, indicating a clear move away from being solely an on-screen talent. This transition reflects a desire to carve out his own identity within the industry, separate from the acting legacy of his parents and sister.

6. Directing a Major Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film

In a significant career update, James Haven is slated to direct a new sci-fi/fantasy movie titled The Last Boy. This project marks a major step in his directing career, moving into the ambitious, high-budget genre of science fiction. The film, produced by Traffic City Productions, suggests that Haven is actively pursuing his own creative endeavors and is committed to building a substantial career as a multi-hyphenate talent in Hollywood.

7. The Complex Relationship with Father Jon Voight

James Haven's life, like Angelina Jolie's, has been deeply affected by the turbulent relationship with their father, Oscar-winner Jon Voight. For many years, both siblings were estranged from Voight, particularly following their parents' divorce and their mother Marcheline Bertrand's focus on raising them. Haven and Jolie have a complicated history of on-again, off-again contact with their father. Their mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who passed away in 2007, was a central, unifying figure in their lives, and her legacy as an actress and humanitarian is often cited as a major influence on both siblings.

Despite the past difficulties, reports over the last few years suggest that James Haven and Angelina Jolie have maintained a civil, if not fully reconciled, relationship with Jon Voight, underscoring the enduring complexity of the famous Voight-Jolie family dynamic.