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Angelina Jolie's famous family and their complicated relationship explored

The Mr and Mrs Smith star comes from a prominent lineage


Angelina Jolie attends the "The Eternals" UK Premiere at BFI IMAX Waterloo on October 27, 2021 in London, England
Ahad Sanwari
Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
On 4 June 2023
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Angelina Jolie remains one of the biggest global stars to come from the entertainment industry, thanks to her sheer star power, showcase of talent, and humanitarian work.

However, her star has effectively been on the rise since birth itself, given the actress, who just turned 48, comes from a family of celebrities.

Born in Los Angeles in 1975, Angelina is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, and is also the sister of fellow actor James Haven, and the niece of singer-songwriter Chip Taylor

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If that wasn't enough, her godparents are also prominent award-winning actors like herself, those being Jacqueline Bisset and Maximillian Schell.

Her mother made minor film appearances in the early 1980s, including 1982's Lookin' to Get Out, which was co-written by and starred her ex-husband Jon, who she was married to from 1971-1980.

MORE: Angelina Jolie’s actions called ‘unlawful’ as acrimonious legal battle with Brad Pitt continues

Their relationship has since been quite fraught, however. Jon left the family when the Changeling star was six months old. Since then, she and brother James were raised primarily by their mother, who inspired them to enter the acting profession.

Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand pose for a portrait© Getty Images
Jon and Marcheline were married from 1971-1980, welcoming children James and Angelina

The siblings were quite close with Marcheline, who managed on a modest income while supporting their show business ambitions, having given up her acting career to raise her children. 

Angelina maintained that her relationship with her father, however, was estranged and sporadic, only making minor appearances at press events and bit parts in his movies.

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"We don't really speak that much anymore," she told Vogue in 2002, shortly after they'd temporarily reconnected the year prior when they starred in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider together

Angelina Jolie and brother James Haven with dad Jon Voight© Getty Images
Angelina and James' relationship with Jon was complicated for much of their lives

However, from there, it only deteriorated further, with the siblings petitioning to legally remove the surname "Voight," causing the actress to officially go by her middle name of "Jolie," which she'd been using at the time anyway.

Her father, for the most part, kept his distance as well, going so far as to tell Access Hollywood later that year that Angelina was suffering from "serious mental problems."

MORE: Angelina Jolie and daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt reunite in NYC amid star's big announcement

However, in 2007, Marcheline passed away at the age of 56 after a battle with ovarian cancer, which the actress opened up about recently, that brought her and her father together.

Angelina Jolie and brother James Haven© Getty Images
The actress, on the other hand, was close with her brother and mother

While they slowly worked on rebuilding their relationship, soon after, they went public with their reconciliation, with the Oscar-winning Jon even attending events with his daughter and grandchildren, who she shares with ex-husband Brad Pitt.

MORE: Angelina Jolie looks radiant as she steps out with son Maddox to White House state dinner

After her separation and divorce from Brad, she spoke to Vanity Fair in 2017 about reconnecting with her father and having him be a permanent part of the family.

Angelina Jolie with her father Jon Voight at the Vanity Fair Oscar party at Morton's in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles© Getty Images
The father-daughter pair reconciled after Marcheline's death in 2007

"He's been very good at understanding they needed their grandfather at this time," she said of his relationship with her children. "I had to do a therapy meeting last night and he was just around. He knows kind of the rule – don't make them play with you. Just be a cool grandpa who's creative, and hang out and tell stories and read a book in the library."

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