Irish actor Colin Farrell was seen for the first time since he emotionally opened up about his decision to place his adult disabled son James in a long-term care facility

Colin Farrell looks downcast as he’s seen for first time since son’s care revelation(Image: Terma, SL / BACKGRID)

Hollywood actor Colin Farrell looked sombre as he was spotted grabbing a coffee in Los Feliz, California, on Friday after emotionally sharing his decision to place his son James, 21, in a long-term adult care facility.

The Penguin actor, currently busy filming Series 2 of his Apple TV+ show Sugar, was seen picking up three coffees from a local café in his neighbourhood. Colin, 48, sported a casual look as he donned a deep V-neck T-shirt and plaid trousers, paired with Adidas trainers for the coffee run.

The dad-of-two completed his look with a camouflage headband and subtle gold and silver jewellery. Colin kept a low profile as he stood with his arms crossed, waiting by the coffee window before collecting his order.

Colin’s outing on Friday follows his decision to publicly discuss his decision to place his adult son James, 21, adult disabled son into care. He explained that he wants to ensure his son’s care is properly managed while he and his ex-partner are still alive, and to provide him with a strong sense of community.

The Hollywood actor launched The Colin Farrell Foundation last year (Image: Terma, SL / BACKGRID)

The Golden Globe-winning actor had previously divulged that James was initially misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy, before disclosing his correct diagnosis of Angelman syndrome in 2007. This rare genetic disorder, which affects the nervous system and causes significant physical and intellectual disabilities, has seen James face considerable challenges, including being non-verbal, issues with movement, irregular breathing, and epilepsy.

Despite the likelihood of those with Angelman syndrome having a relatively normal lifespan, constant care is necessary. Colin, alongside James’ mother Kim Bordenave, has chosen professional care for their son. In an emotional revelation, Colin expressed his fear of leaving James without adequate support if tragedy were to strike him or Kim.

He shared: “It’s tricky, some parents will say ‘I want to take care of my child myself’ and I respect that,” adding, “But my horror would be… What if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James’ mother, Kim, has a car crash and she’s taken too – and then James is on his own?”

The Hollywood actor launched The Colin Farrell Foundation last year (Image: Terma, SL / BACKGRID)

During the emotional chat with Candis Magazine, the Irish actor revealed his fears: “Then he’s a ward of the state and he goes where? We’d have no say in it.” Colin and Kim are now on a mission to find a place for their son James to live “now while we’re still alive and healthy” so they can be involved in his life, take him out, and ensure he’s happy.

He expressed his heartfelt wish: “We want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected.” Last year, Colin shared the struggles surrounding James’ health issues and the initial wrong diagnosis he received.

The star explained to PEOPLE magazine the confusion between James’ condition and cerebral palsy, noting: “[James] couldn’t sit up. He wasn’t crawling. I think he was a year and a half when we took him to get really checked out, and he was diagnosed as having cerebral palsy.”

Cerebral palsy, as defined by the NHS, is a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood, often due to brain damage before or at birth. Colin recounted the tough journey: “It was a common misdiagnosis, because it shared a lot of the same characteristics. And that was a downer for sure.”

Colin Farrell’s son has a rare condition(Image: The Ellen Show)

The correct diagnosis came when James was about two and a half years old, after a paediatric neurologist suggested testing for Angelman syndrome. The revelation brought new concerns for Colin about his son’s quality of life and potential pain. Colin opened up about the moment he questioned a doctor regarding his son’s rare condition, recalling: “I remember the first two questions I asked were, ‘What’s the life expectancy and how much pain is involved?’,” and the reassuring response he received: “And the doctor said, ‘Life expectancy, as far as we can tell, is the same for you and for me, and pain, no.'”.

Colin launched the Colin Farrell Foundation last year to support adults with intellectual disabilities like his son James. He expressed concern that once James turned 21, he would be “kind of on his own” due to the lack of protections afforded to younger individuals with disabilities.

In a deeply personal chat with InStyle back in 2012, Colin Farrell shared the poignant milestones in his son’s life: “We share in the smallest victories; the first words at age six or seven, being able to feed oneself at 19, and getting the seizures under control. When James took his first steps at age four, I nearly broke in half!”

Fast forward to 2021, Farrell took legal steps for him and Kim to become conservators for James, aiming to have a say over important aspects of his care and life decisions – from his education and health care to his social interactions and even matters of the heart.