Yes, Jon Voight is Angelina Jolie’s biological father. He is the Oscar-winning actor famous for Midnight Cowboy and Deliverance, and he’s the man who, along with the late Marcheline Bertrand, brought Angelina into the world back in 1975.
But if you’re asking this question, you probably aren't just looking for a DNA confirmation. You’re likely wondering why she doesn't use his last name, why they’ve spent decades trading barbs in the press, and why their relationship feels more like a cold war than a family tree. It is a mess. A Hollywood-scale, multi-generational, heartbreaking mess.
The Roots of the Rift
Angelina was born Angelina Jolie Voight. Her brother is James Haven (who also dropped the Voight name). Their parents split when Angelina was just a toddler, primarily because Jon Voight had an affair. That’s not a rumor; he’s admitted to it.
Growing up, the kids lived with their mom, Marcheline. By all accounts, she was the saint of the story, and Jon was the ghost. He was "around" in the sense that he was a famous movie star, but he wasn't exactly making school lunches. Jolie has been vocal about how her mother had to give up her own acting dreams to raise two kids alone after the divorce. That kind of resentment doesn't just evaporate. It simmers.
That 2002 Breaking Point
For a minute there, it looked like they might make it work. They even played father and daughter in the first Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie in 2001. Imagine the tension on that set.
Then came 2002.
Jon Voight went on Access Hollywood and—in a move that still leaves people's jaws on the floor—claimed his daughter had "serious mental problems." He was crying, pleading for her to get help, and basically pathologizing her in front of millions of people.
Angelina’s response? She cut him off. Stone cold. She legally dropped "Voight" from her name that same year. She told the press it wasn't healthy for her to be around him. Honestly, can you blame her? Having your private struggles weaponized by your own father on national TV is a level of betrayal most people never have to navigate.
The Reconciliation (and the New Collapse)
They didn't speak for years. It took the death of Marcheline Bertrand in 2007 to start a slow, fragile thaw. Brad Pitt, Jolie’s husband at the time, was reportedly a big advocate for her reconnecting with her dad. He wanted the kids to have a grandfather.
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By 2010, they were seen together again. By 2017, they were "finding a new relationship" through the grandkids. Jolie even mentioned they’d found a "common language" through art. They avoided talking politics because, well, they occupy entirely different universes on that front.
Where things stand in 2026
If you’re looking for a happy ending, you might want to look elsewhere. The peace treaty has basically shredded in the last couple of years.
As of early 2026, the two are reportedly back in a state of "zero contact." The friction points are everywhere:
- Political War: Jon Voight has become a very vocal, very conservative "special ambassador" to Hollywood. He’s been posting videos on social media calling his daughter's views "ignorant" and "embarrassing."
- Public Criticism: Specifically, Voight has slammed Jolie’s humanitarian stance on international conflicts, accusing her of being "influenced by antisemitic people" and being trapped in a "Hollywood bubble."
- The Divorce Factor: Voight has also been publicly weighing in on her never-ending divorce from Brad Pitt, telling Pitt to "end this nonsense" for the sake of the kids.
Basically, Jon can't stop talking to the press, and Angelina hates nothing more than her private life being used as a talking point. It’s a classic cycle.
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Quick Facts on the Voight-Jolie Connection
To keep the record straight, here is the basic breakdown of their biological and legal ties:
- Birth Name: Angelina Jolie Voight.
- Mother: Marcheline Bertrand (died 2007).
- Paternal Heritage: Slovak and German.
- Legal Status: She legally removed "Voight" in 2002; she is just Angelina Jolie.
- The Grandkids: There are six (Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne). Most of them have also dropped or distanced themselves from the Voight name, following their mother’s lead.
Is there any hope for them?
It’s complicated. On one hand, you have a father who clearly loves his daughter but seems incapable of keeping her confidence. On the other, you have a daughter who has built a life centered around boundaries and protection of her own children.
Whenever they get close, a public comment from Jon usually sends Angelina back into the shadows. In late 2025, sources indicated that she feels he has launched an "all-out war" on her values. For now, they are two stars in the same galaxy, but they aren't orbiting each other anymore.
What you can learn from this
If you're dealing with a difficult parental relationship, the Jolie-Voight saga offers a few "actionable" takeaways:
- Names hold power. Changing her name wasn't just a PR move for Jolie; it was a psychological break from a legacy she didn't want to carry.
- Boundaries aren't permanent. You can reconcile, and you can also re-separate if those boundaries are crossed again. It's not a failure to walk away twice.
- Grandparents aren't a free pass. Just because someone is a "grandfather" doesn't mean they have a right to access your life if they are actively undermining your peace.
If you are looking to research more about how celebrity family dynamics affect public image, you should check out the court filings regarding the Jolie-Pitt children's name changes, as they mirror the same patterns established by Angelina decades ago.