Angelina Jolie’s Brother Struggled To Find A Woman Who Could Live Up To His Sister – Meet The Brunette He Finally Married
James Haven was once known as Angelina Jolie’s fiercely devoted brother, so much so that he admitted his closeness to her made it hard to find a woman who measured up. After years of searching, he finally tied the knot but the union was short-lived.
James Haven and Angelina Jolie shared a bond so intense that it often raised eyebrows. He once admitted that finding love was a challenge because, in his eyes, he had “already got the perfect woman in my life” in his sister.
Eventually, he met the woman who finally won over his heart. However, their romance was short-lived. Take a closer look at their whirlwind marriage and its abrupt end.
Angelina Jolie and James Haven’s Unbreakable Bond and the Woman Who Entered His Life
Jolie and Haven have shared a bond that has fascinated the public for decades. As siblings, they were inseparable, supporting each other through the highs and lows of life in Hollywood.
Their relationship, however, became the subject of widespread scrutiny following an incident at the 2000 Academy Awards. That year, the actress won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a troubled young woman in “Girl, Interrupted.”
As her name was announced, she enthusiastically embraced her brother, and the two shared an intense kiss on the lips. Taking the stage, she delivered an emotional speech to a global audience, proclaiming, “I am just so in love with my brother! He just held me and said he loved me.”
Meanwhile, Haven was seen in the audience, sobbing uncontrollably. The moment immediately sparked controversy, with many finding the siblings’ display of affection unusual.
The siblings also shared a kiss at the 57th annual Golden Globe Awards in January of that year. Speculation about their relationship spread like wildfire, forcing Jolie and Haven to clarify that their bond was purely that of devoted brother and sister.
Despite the public reaction, Haven was open about the significant influence Jolie had on his life, including his romantic relationships.
“She’s always been very protective of me with regards to my romantic life, which I love,” he once said. “She wants me to be with the right woman. When you come from a divorced home, divorce is what you desperately want to avoid.”
Haven admitted that finding love was a challenge, largely because of the high standards set by his sister. “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 revealed.
“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 added.
For years, Haven remained single, relying on his sister. “I go to Angie for advice and won’t do anything without her because we were so close as children,” he shared.
Angelina Jolie and James Haven at the premiere of “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” on June 11, 2001, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
However, despite the initial difficulty of finding a woman who measured up to his sister, Haven eventually found love. In early January 2025, sources confirmed that he had married Romi Marie Imbelli née Klinger, best known for starring on Showtime’s reality show “The Real L Word.”
Romi Marie Imbelli at the Life Works Empowering The Future For Our Youth event on June 11, 2011, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
The couple tied the knot on August 12, 2024, in an intimate ceremony in Laguna Beach, California. The wedding was attended by close family, including Haven’s father, Jon Voight. However, Jolie was not there.
Imbelli had been married twice before tying the knot with Haven. She was previously wed to musician Dusty Ray and chef Charles Imbelli, with whom she shares a daughter.