The Oscars, a prestigious awards ceremony watched by millions, has been the stage for numerous unforgettable moments, both positive and controversial. One such incident involved Angelina Jolie and her brother, James Haven, in 2000.
The same night that she won her Oscar for Girl, Interrupted, Jolie kissed Haven on the lips on the red carpet before the ceremony. During her acceptance speech, she said, “I’m in shock, and I’m so in love with my brother right now. He just held me and said he loved me and I know he’s so happy for me, and thank you for that.”
After thanking others, including her parents, she tearily closed with: “Jamie, I have nothing without you. You are the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known. Thank you. I love you so much.”
Two years later, Jolie spoke to Vogue about her acceptance speech, explaining, “Saying I’m ‘in love’ with him is just an expression.” She continued, “What I meant was, in this moment, with all this s— going on, all that matters to me is that guy sitting right there who has stood by me and is so f—— happy for me.”
He and Jolie grew even closer after losing their mother
Jolie and Haven’s mother died on Jan. 27, 2007. The siblings were together at the time, which Haven said was helpful in processing his grief.
“When I first lost my mother, I couldn’t stop crying,” Haven told the Daily Mail later that year. “Fortunately, I was with Angie when we heard. It was such a big moment.”
Haven later told Marie Claire he and Jolie bonded over their desire to protect women and children in need, and their humanitarian passion was partially inspired by their late mother. “I don’t want to constantly berate my father — I wish him well, and I hope he finds peace — but he put my mom through years of mental abuse, and it made me care especially for abandoned women and children,” he said. “So that’s my religion — helping widows and orphans.”
Jolie gives him dating advice
Jolie has advised her brother on his dating life since they were young; Haven has noted that she was “very protective” of him, which he believes is because they’re children of divorce.
“Maybe I haven’t found the right woman because my sister is too picky for me. Any woman has to go through two filters, me and then my sister,” he told the Daily Mail. “I’m a perfectionist by nature. Then, because I’m so close to Angie it’s like I’ve already got the perfect woman in my life and it’s hard for anyone else to live up to that.”
He’s close with Jolie’s children
Haven is a proud uncle to Jolie and Pitt’s six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Vivienne and Knox.
In an April 2007 interview with Express, Haven said that Shiloh was actually named after him.
“It’s an honor beyond any honor I’ve received in my life. Before I was born I was going to be Shiloh, and at the last second my parents gave me Haven instead,” he said. “So it was great when Brad and Angie came to me and said, ‘We’re thinking of names and our favorite is Shiloh. Would it be okay?’ I was almost in tears.”
Speaking with Marie Claire later that year, Haven said that the kids were “unbelievable.” He noted that then-toddler Zahara loved hiding and that Pax, then 3 and still learning English, “amazed” him the first time he said Haven’s name.
Haven has remained close with his nieces and nephews, who are now young adults. In January 2024, he said on 90who10, “They’re becoming young adults. [They’re in their] early 20s. That’s so crazy. I think it’s just very natural. I just want to be there.”
He added, “Anytime I’m blessed to be in their presence, I want to be in their presence.”
