Jon Voight - Biography - IMDb Jon Voight Biography Showing all 49 items Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (2) | Trade Mark (1) | Trivia (33) | Personal Quotes (8) | Salary (1) Overview (3) 6' 2½" (1.89 m) Mini Bio (1) Jon Voight was born on December 29, 1938 in Yonkers, New York, USA as Jonathan Vincent Voight. He is an actor, known for Mission: Impossible (1996), Heat (1995) and Transformers (2007). He was previously married to Marcheline Bertrand and Lauri Peters . Spouse (2) Models a unique voice and accent for each role Trivia (33) His younger brother is songwriter Wes Voight who, under the alias Chip Taylor , wrote The Troggs ' 1966 smash hit "Wild Thing". His other songs include "Angel of the Morning" ( Merrilee Rush ) and "I Can't Let Go" ( The Hollies ). Godfather of Skyler Shaye .

Attended Archbishop Stepinac High School, an all-boy school in White Plains, New York. Was cast as President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Pearl Harbor (2001) after Gene Hackman declined the role. Hackman's wife was of Japanese ancestry, and appearing in a film about the Japanese attack that precipitated the entry of the United States into World War II would have been painful for her, so Hackman turned down the role. His father Elmer Voytka, later Voight (born 29 October 1909 and died June 1973), was a professional golfer. Honored at a fundraiser for Joseph Papp Children's Humanitarian Fund in New York City in May 2002. Attended and graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1960. Changed his major after his freshman year from Speech and Drama to Art. Fellow classmate was Henry Gibson . His paternal grandfather, George Voytka, was a Slovak immigrant, and his paternal grandmother, Nellie, was of Slovak ancestry.

His mother Barbara Kamp ( Barbara Voight ) (born in New York, 7 January 1910 and died in Palm Beach County, Florida, 3 December 1995) was the daughter of Joseph Kamp, a German immigrant, and wife Margaret Franz, also the daughter of German immigrants. Has played father to Ricky Schroder twice: The first time in The Champ (1979) and the second time in Return to Lonesome Dove (1993). In 1982, he (Presenter) accepted the Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" on behalf of Katharine Hepburn , who was not present at the awards ceremony. In 1970, he accepted the Oscar for Best Director on behalf of John Schlesinger , who was not present at the awards ceremony. Schlesinger directed Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969). Turned down the role of Matt Hooper in Jaws (1975), which went to Richard Dreyfuss . In 1993, he took over the role of Woodrow F. Call from Tommy Lee Jones in Return to Lonesome Dove (1993).

Three years later, he was succeeded by Jonny Lee Miller , who played the younger version of Call in Dead Man's Walk (1996). That same year, Miller married Voight's daughter, Angelina Jolie , making Voight a short-term father-in-law to his own successor. Has played a boxer in two films: The All-American Boy (1973) and The Champ (1979). Was also in Ali (2001), but played the role of legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell . Has played a coach in two films: Varsity Blues (1999) and Glory Road (2006). Turned down the role of Oliver Barrett IV (played by Ryan O'Neal ) in Love Story (1970), despite being offered 10% of the gross. His eldest brother Barry Voight, a volcanologist, was a geology professor at Penn State University. In an episode of Seinfeld (1989), George ( Jason Alexander ) buys a Chrysler Lebaron convertible he believes once belonged to Jon Voight only to discover that the previous owner was actually "John" Voight, a periodontist.

On December 9, 2001, he appeared as a surprise guest on Muppets Tonight (1996) dressed as a giant chicken with Gonzo the Great. The event was part of the first annual MuppetFest fan convention and a fundraiser for Save the Children. Was considered for the role of Clark Kent/Superman in Superman (1978), which went to Christopher Reeve . Grandfather of Maddox Jolie-Pitt , Zahara Jolie-Pitt , Pax Jolie-Pitt (aka "Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt"), Shiloh Jolie-Pitt , Vivienne Jolie-Pitt and Knox Léon Jolie-Pitt. Actively supported Rudy Giuliani 's campaign to win the Republican nomination in 2008, but later endorsed the eventual nominee Senator John McCain . A hawk on the war on terror, he voted for George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. Good friends with fellow actor Eric Martic . Attended the Republican National Convention in 2008. Has been asked, in real life, for "Billy Flynn's" autograph...

and given it (Flynn was his fictional boxer-character from The Champ (1979)). In 2000, Voight became involved with the Florida Holocaust Museum and worked very closely with then-Executive Director Larry Wasser (deceased 2003) and President John Loftus , famous U.S. Justice Department official, author and former prosecutor. Voight serves today as an advisory member of their Board. His contributions in supporting the Florida Holocaust Museums programs have made a long-lasting impact to helping the children in Florida become better citizens through character education. Worked as partner at Paul Productions. [2007] Became a father for the 1st time at age 34 when his [now 2nd ex] wife Marcheline Bertrand gave birth to their son James Haven Voight, aka James Haven , on May 11, 1973. Became a father for the 2nd time at age 36 when his [now 2nd ex] wife Marcheline Bertrand gave birth to their daughter Angelina Jolie Voight, aka Angelina Jolie , on June 4, 1975.

As of 2015, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Midnight Cowboy (1969), Deliverance (1972) and Coming Home (1978). Of those, Midnight Cowboy (1969) is a winner in the category. Former father-in-law of actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton . Personal Quotes (8) In most ways it was a damn good picture. But if we remade Midnight Cowboy (1969) today, the whole relationship between Buck and Ratso would have to be sexualized or at least made, you know, like in love... to be sexually or erotically honest. If Washington is a two-party town, why can't Hollywood be one too? He's really extreme, but he's always trying to say something to cover it. He's like a Leftist from the Sixties. I was on the Left, that's why I know who he is. He says he'll talk to everybody like Hamas and Iran, but it's simple-minded candy he's throwing to the extreme left wing. He'd be the biggest disaster for Israel - and all democracies - that I can think of. - On Senator Barack Obama .

This is a perilous time, and more than ever, the world needs a united and strong America. If, God forbid, we live to see Mr. Obama president, we will live through a socialist era that America has not seen before, and our country will be weakened in every way. I was caught up in the hysteria during the Vietnam era, which was brought about through Marxist propaganda underlying the so-called peace movement. It seems to me that if Mr. Obama wins the presidential election, then Messrs. Farrakhan, Wright, Ayers and Pfleger will gain power for their need to demoralize this country and help create a socialist America. [on media comparisons between Megan Fox and his daughter Angelina Jolie ] They're both very beautiful and they're both kind of sexy girls. Maybe Megan will start doing the things that Angie is so well known for. Angie is known for helping with kids and for her concern for others. I think that would be wonderful for all of the kids if Megan were to do the same. [on Burt Reynolds ] He's sensitive. He hides that from the public. People do that all the time. Actors do that. Burt is very sensitive. He puts on a strong face.

That's all part of his macho reputation. He's not a whiner. Salary (1) Jon Voight interview: 'The left have blood on their hands' - Telegraph TV and Radio Jon Voight interview: 'The left have blood on their hands' Jon Voight has spent his career getting into trouble − with Hollywood liberals, with directors, and even with his own daughter, Angelina Jolie. Has he learnt his lesson? Jane Mulkerrins meets the star of Ray Donovan. Jon Voight in 'Midnight Cowboy' Photo: Getty images By Jane Mulkerrins Comments In a booming voice, complete with faux-Austrian accent, Jon Voight is telling me about the time Arnold Schwarzenegger tried to convince him that he’d make a good Superman. “‘Jon, Jon, how are you?’” he bellows with impressive accuracy, “‘Zis job is a great opportunity, you must do zis.’” He’s not being malicious; the pair are friends. “There is only one Arnold, and he is just an unbelievable guy,” Voight explains through giggles.

That Voight even came close to playing the Man of Steel is surprising enough; the high-spirited silliness with which he tells the tale even more so. Voight is, after all, known for his intense film roles, fervent and controversial political proclamations, and difficult relationship with his daughter Angelina Jolie, from whom he was estranged for many years. But for the next two-and-a-half hours, high-spirited silliness is what I get, along with an armory of anecdotes from five decades in film, told over breakfast in Voight’s favourite Beverly Hills diner. The star of countless seminal films, Voight has breathed life into a litany of landmark characters including Joe Buck, the handsome Texan hustler in Midnight Cowboy; Ed Gentry, an Atlanta businessman forced to watch as his friend is raped by hillbillies when a canoe trip goes grimly awry in Deliverance; the ruthless bank robber Oscar Manheim in Runaway Train – for which he was nominated for an Oscar in 1985; and Luke Martin, the paraplegic Vietnam veteran in Coming Home, which won him the Oscar for Best Actor in 1978.

Now, he has another watchably wayward persona to add to the list, in Sky Atlantic’s newest US import, Ray Donovan , which also stars Liev Schreiber in the title role as a Hollywood “fixer”. Voight plays Ray's father, Mickey, a brutal but magnetic criminal, recently released from a 20-year stretch in prison and seeking to settle old scores and make amends with his sons. “Mickey’s a real skunk,” Voight declares, with a delighted snort, “but I do have a love for him; for his unpredictability, his charisma, his search to get back in with his family, even if it is a little late, and a little overdone.” It’s not too great a leap to imagine the elements Voight might have found to relate to in Mickey.

Related Articles Republicans in Florida 30 Jan 2012 'Mickey's a real skunk': Voight is the wayward father of Hollywood fixer Liev Schreiber in Ray Donovan (CBS Studios) Sitting in the red banquette corner booth beside me, tucking into fresh mint tea, eggs, turkey bacon, broccoli and an onion bagel, the 74 year-old looks in fine fettle: 6ft 2in and trim, in a blue button-down shirt, navy sports jacket, chinos and highly polished brown brogues. His silver hair is neatly slicked back, his distinctively-lined cheeks covered in a fine layer of white stubble, and his pale blue eyes sparkle with roguish mischief. I can’t help but think that if he’s this charming and charismatic at 74, he must have been positively dangerous at 24. Playing Mickey required the septuagenarian to strip down to just a towel, while dancing around with a lady friend and smoking a joint. “Ann Biderman [the show’s creator and executive producer] was very sensitive about that scene, and was concerned that I might not want to go for it,” he admits.

“I completely embarrassed myself, but once I get started, I’m like a wild animal, an uncontrolled force,” he chuckles. “When I look at myself dancing in that towel, I think: that guy’s gone, he’s out of control.” Schreiber’s fixer, Ray, meanwhile, smooths out the many legal and moral misadventures of wealthy and powerful celebrities, including drug overdoses and being busted entertaining transvestite prostitutes. I ask Voight, as an industry veteran, how accurately the show represents Tinsel­town’s seedier side. “Well, there are all the hangers-on here, the people just surviving at the edges. And there are incidents… what’s that guy, British actor, Hugh…?” he asks. Laurie? Dancy? Grant? I offer. It’s the latter. “He was picked up in Hollywood with a transvestite,” he declares. I resist the urge to tell him that Divine Brown is a female, rather than transvestite prostitute – he’s on a roll and I get his point.

Though Voight’s lengthy career has garnered an Oscar, three Golden Globes, and many more nominations, he’s never quite achieved the ubiquity, or celebrity, of other Hollywood heavyweights such as Robert de Niro, Al Pacino or his Midnight Cowboy co-star Dustin Hoffman. “I was too picky,” he explains. He turned down leading roles in Love Story and Jaws, and by the time Coming Home was released in 1978, he hadn’t made a film in three years. “I waited too long for things to come along. I have a perfectionist mentality, I want things to be right,” he confesses. “But I’ve had a little duel over the years with that mentality.” He jabs the air on either side of him, as if fighting two simultaneous swordfights. “Because it can inhibit you.” Even when he did say yes, he was not always confident he’d made the right decision.

During the filming of Coming Home, Voight reportedly began to obsess over his character, refusing to get out of the wheelchair when scenes had ended, and asking the director, Hal Ashby: “Why don’t you just get Al Pacino?” In spite of his self-doubt, the performance won Voight the Oscar, in large part because of a monologue at the end: an emotional speech to a high-school audience about the cost of war, which Voight wrote most of himself. “That was a scene that I had asked for, and I had a lot of input into it,” he nods. “Hal set it up for me, he said: ‘I’ll give you a shot at it.’ The things he was thinking about jived with what I was thinking.” Shortly before Coming Home was released, he was offered the role of Superman (which eventually went to Christopher Reeve). “They were looking for a bankable person and they had heard that I was going to get some attention for Coming Home,” he says. In a meeting with the film’s director, Richard Donner, Voight voiced his concern that he wasn’t muscular enough to play the superhero.

Wounded hero: Voight, pictured with co-star Jane Fonda, won the Oscar for his role in 'Coming Home' (Rex Features) “This was not one of the times when I was overly picky; I was being completely miscast,” he insists, with a grin. “I’m thin, I have a broken nose, I am not classically good-looking. I mean, if you put me next to this new Superman, this Henry Cavill, you would laugh, and ask: “What’s that skinny guy doing next to Superman?’” Donner, he tells me through peals of laughter, did his best to be persuasive. “He said: ‘Jon, just try on the suit. It does the whole thing for you.’” Voight refused, so Donner asked him to speak to someone who could potentially help: a little-known Austrian bodybuilder named Arnold Schwarzenegger. Voight delights in relaying their phone call: “‘Jon, take the job! In two months, I vill make you big as a house!’ I turned it down – with some regret. Who wouldn’t love to be Superman?” he concedes.

With Ray Donovan, Voight has come almost full circle; his first roles were in television, in shows such as Gunsmoke and Naked City, in the early Sixties. In 1965, his theatre career took off when he played Rodolfo in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge off-Broadway, before his breakthrough film Midnight Cowboy. The film saw both Voight and Hoffman nominated for Oscars in 1968 but it made history as the first X-rated film to win Best Picture. None the less, when the script for Deliverance landed three years later, he still had qualms. “When I first read the script, I stopped at the rape scene and couldn’t get past it for several weeks,” he admits. “It was pretty disturbing, and I started questioning whether I should do the film.” A week earlier, he had begun seeing Marcheline Bertrand – who would become his wife and the mother of his two children – and for their rather unorthodox-sounding second date, invited her over so he could read it out loud to her. “She didn’t flinch during the rape scene and told me: ‘Oh, it’s a fantastic story!

You should do this.’” Voight grew up in Yonkers, New York, the middle of three sons. His father, Elmer, was a professional golfer from poor beginnings who had made his career by caddying from the age of eight at the local German-Jewish golf course (though the Voights were Catholic, Jon still professes a deep affinity with Judaism). His mother, Barbara, was a force of nature, as evidenced by another story from the Voight vault: for almost 20 years, Barbara made her son’s Oscar the centre of attention at Christmas time, keeping it by the front door, in a fish bowl filled with coloured marbles and lit from below. “You had to pay respect to the Oscar before you were allowed in my Mom’s house,” laughs Voight. Barbara passed away in 1995, aged 85, from cancer (his father died in 1973, aged 64) and Voight still tears up a little when talking about them. “They were spectacular people, my parents, and now I have to be spectacular,” he says, pensively.

“I have to be really something, for my kids.” Voight and Bertrand separated when Angelina was just a year old (her brother James is two years older) and Voight has shouldered the blame in the past for the breakdown of the marriage. “I had an affair and there was a divorce,” he has admitted. “There was a lot of hurt and anger.” Troubled relationship: Voight with his daughter, Angelina Jolie, at the 1986 Academy Awards (Rex Features) Though Voight and Jolie appeared together in Tomb Raider in 1999, in which he played her father, they have not always seen eye-to-eye. In 2002, he blamed his divorce for provoking Jolie’s “serious mental problems”, claiming “she was never normal”. “I’m broken-hearted because I have been trying to reach my daughter and get her help,” he lamented.

“I have failed, and I’m sorry.” Jolie responded by severing all ties, saying flatly: “It is not healthy for me to be around my father.” The pair’s estrangement continued until Bertrand’s death from ovarian cancer in 2007, since when (apparently urged by her fiancé, Brad Pitt) the actress has sought to build some bridges. “My children and my grandchildren, they are my biggest priority now,” he tells me earnestly. Indeed, he spent a fortnight with the extensive Pitt-Jolie brood in London last year, while Brad filmed World War Z . “It rained every day. The kids were looking out of the window with these sad faces. Really? Rain? Again?” Voight smiles. According to reports, however, Voight only learnt of his daughter’s recent preventive double mastectomy (she carries the BRCA1 genetic mutation, inherited from her mother, giving her an 87 per cent risk of developing breast cancer), when she went public with a piece in the New York Times in May this year. “Angie is remarkable, and very brave,” he says, quietly.

“What she has been going through recently, dealing with her family history of cancer, and what she has been carrying all these years – wondering if this thing would happen to her – it’s very difficult on a child. I am trying to be of help by giving her information and looking things up,” he continues. “She has given a real voice to the issue, and she has taken advice and gone in the direction that she has gone. I come from more of a holistic point of view.” Both father and daughter are publicly engaged in politics, albeit at different ends of the spectrum, Jolie in her work as a UN special envoy – she spoke before the Security Council last month to push for a resolution to punish perpetrators of rape in war zones – while Voight, previously a staunch left-winger and anti-war protester, has performed a spectacular U-turn. “I regret being caught up in the hysteria of the Sixties,” he says now, revealing a glimpse of the intensity I more readily associate with him. “The left have blood on their hands and I do too.” He publicly backed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election. “I think he would have made a wonderful president,” he sighs.

“He is a man of great char­acter, but they demonised him, as they have done with other people before him.” He also spoke out against Barack Obama, in an open letter to The Washington Post in 2010, calling him a liar and accusing him of promoting anti-Semitism, leading many to denounce Voight as an inciter of hatred. Two years later he called the president a Marxist, compared him to Hugo Chavaz, and accused him of controlling the media. Do his politics cause him any grief, in the left-leaning Hollywood community? "I have found that I have too much information for anyone to want to sit down and talk to me," he says. "They usually leave early. But it’s a family out here, we all respect each other. If people disagree with me, that’s no big deal to me, except that it is a very important disagreement. "I will say: 'Would you like to talk about it?' And they say: 'Oh yeah, sure.' But then we get into it, and they will then say: 'Well, you know John, I don’t really know that much about it.' He smiles, benevolently.

‘And I understand that, because I was like that at the end of the Sixties. I thought these people were cool and I thought I knew a lot of things, and I knew nothing. So, I ask everybody to get educated. And as you get educated, you see things much more clearly.’ He was a great admirer of the late Baroness Thatcher, calling her "a great woman, the most influential since Catherine the Great". I wonder if he might ever consider following in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan and Schwarzenegger by taking up political office? “Oh, I think I am better as a fella on the sidelines,” he shrugs. “I think there are others much better equipped for office.” He steers clear of making any sort of political or social commentary via social media, too. “For me to get on Twitter would be completely crazy,” he cries, and gives a great, long giggle. He’s probably right; though Jon Voight has plenty to say, I’m not sure he could do it in 140 characters.

Ray Donovan is on Sky Atlantic on Tuesdays at 10pm Jon Voight: Angelina Jolie's dad, on his tumultuous relationship with his iconic daughter and why he plays a ruthless father | The Independent Jon Voight: Angelina Jolie's dad, on his tumultuous relationship with his iconic daughter and why he plays a ruthless father The actor opens up in an exclusive interview with James Mottram Tuesday 1 July 2014 23:00 BST Click to follow The Independent Online Jon Voight is giving me the lowdown on why he was drawn to television drama Ray Donovan. "It's something brand new," he enthuses, "and you don't know all the ingredients. It's very well-written, daring and – to me – challenging." Created by Ann Biderman, the show has seen the 75-year-old Voight in scorching form as Mickey Donovan, the poisonous father to Liev Schreiber's titular Hollywood fixer. Winning him a Golden Globe earlier this year – to add to those he won for arguably three of his best films, Midnight Cowboy, Coming Home and Runaway Train – it's his best role in over a decade.

Scratch beneath the surface, though, and you have to wonder if the strained relationship between Mickey and Ray chimed with his own personal life. The father of one of the world's most famous women, Angelina Jolie, Voight's been beset by difficulties in his relationship with her. Jolie, who turns 39 in June, was just a year old when Voight separated from her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, his second wife. "I had an affair and there was a divorce," he's admitted in the past. "There was a lot of hurt and anger." Much of it came from Jolie, who deliberately distanced herself from Voight in her adult years. Yet it wasn't always like that. Voight recalls one year at the Oscars – 1986 – when he was up for Best Actor for his ruthless bank-robber in Runaway Train and was expected to win. He went with Jolie and her older brother, James. "My name was not announced… [and] my son responded – he just crossed his arms and slunk down in the seat and was really upset that a great injustice had been served!

And my daughter to my left put her hand on my arm and said, 'Don't worry Dad, you're wonderful!' It was so sweet." Parent power: Pooch Hall (left) and Jon Voight in 'Ray Donovan' Voight, all silver hair, moist blue eyes and a hulking 6ft 2in frame, seems touched by the memory. "As adults", he and Jolie only made one movie together, 2001's video game adaptation Tomb Raider, although as he reminds me, when she was seven, she made a brief appearance in Hal Ashby's comedy Lookin' To Get Out, playing his daughter. "It was a nice little scene. I didn't know that she would go on to be this icon." Indeed, it would be impossible for any father to imagine his child becoming one of the most photographed and talked-about women in the world. It was shortly after Tomb Raider where it all went wrong, when Voight publicly blamed his divorce for provoking Jolie's "serious mental problems", claiming "she was never normal".

Then on her second marriage, to actor Billy Bob Thornton, Jolie responded by cutting ties from Voight, proclaiming, "It is not healthy for me to be around my father." It was only when Bertrand died from ovarian cancer in 2007 that Jolie softened her stance, reputedly at the urging of her partner Brad Pitt, and brought Voight back into the fold. Since then, he has been pictured with her at the LA premiere of her directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey and spent time in London with the Brangelina brood – his six grandchildren – when Pitt was filming zombie movie World War Z. So how does he feel towards her now? "Well I'm always happy when she's happy," he says. "And when she does good. And there's a lot of good that she's done, y'know? She does things quietly to the side. I'm very proud of her. And she's a good director now too." Much was made recently when Jolie accepted the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in Hollywood for her charitable work, singling out her late mother in her acceptance speech and ignoring her father (who was in the audience).

But Voight, like Bertrand and their daughter, has quietly put back, making films on Chernobyl, the plight of the native Americans and the Rainbow Warrior. He organised marches for the homeless and supported Vietnam vets (echoed in his Oscar-winning role in Coming Home). "I've had a lot of causes I was concerned about," he says. "Always my mind is on some of the problems that I see in the world." It was during the 1980s that Voight became increasingly concerned, only shooting four movies. "I was pretty picky," he concedes. No kidding: this was the man who'd turned down the leads in Love Story, Jaws and Superman. Even when he was making Coming Home, he told director Hal Ashby, 'why don't you just get Al Pacino?'" Perhaps it was paranoia: even at his height, Voight could never steal a march on Pacino and his peers. Like his father Elmer, who made his career as a golf caddie, he was always carrying the clubs for others. Ironically, it was his mother Barbara who inspired Voight to get back into Hollywood. She died of cancer in late 1995, aged 85.

But in her final years, Voight wanted to spend as much time as possible with her. It's why he took on Mission: Impossible, so he could take her to Prague. "The making of that movie was a real blessing for me. I didn't have too much time filming, so I was able to focus on her. She didn't sleep much – four hours a night – and she'd be up wanting to do something. After that, she said 'Well, what's next?' So I had to go out and look for more films. That's how I got back into it." Rediscovered by the likes of Michael Mann (who cast him in Heat and Ali), Oliver Stone (U Turn) and Francis Coppola (The Rainmaker), Voight finally became the character actor he'd always resisted becoming. "My roots are in character acting, and it's been that way since I was a child, I guess," he concedes. Born in Yonkers, New York, his early years had indeed been as a jobbing actor – in television shows like Gunsmoke and Naked City – before he landed the self-styled gigolo in Midnight Cowboy. "I trace my lineage back to the character actors, not to the great stars.

And there's a difference." It's why Ray Donovan brings him full circle, five decades after he started off in television. He clearly revels playing the ruthless Mickey, who opens the very first episode by leaving prison and killing a priest. "When I do it right, when I catch it, it feels great," he says, his lips smacking. Due to return for a second season this month, he's cagey about revealing too much, but says: "I'm excited. It gives me an opportunity to do a lot of things that I haven't been able to do in the last couple of years." He's also got a film lined up – to be directed by Andy Garcia – about Ernest Hemingway and his relationship with the boat captain who inspired The Old Man and the Sea. Taking over from Anthony Hopkins, who dropped out, it's yet another real-life figure to add to a collection that includes the title role in TV movie Pope John Paul II and President Roosevelt in Pearl Harbor. "It's a very poetic piece," he says. "I'm discovering so many things about him and reviewing his work as an older fella, and it's very rich." Somehow, he seems perfect casting. 'Ray Donovan' is out on Blu-ray and DVD.

Season two begins on Sky Atlantic this month Jon Voight: My Daughter Angelina Jolie Is an Inspiration | E! News Jon Voight: My Daughter Angelina Jolie Is an Inspiration By Jon Voight is a proud father. He exclusively told E! News that he's 100 percent supportive of his daughter Angelina Jolie 's personal decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy in an effort to decrease her risk of breast cancer. "My love and admiration for her can never be measured in words. I think she is an inspiration to many people who are faced with the same situation," he said. The veteran actor added, "I think she is quite magnificent in the way she is handling this. She is taking care of things. She does careful diligence and she has this courage to gather information and make decisions from it. It has been very successful and I heard she was able to travel soon afterwards." NEWS: How Angelina Jolie was able to keep her double mastectomy a secret But the praise didn't end there. Voight's beaming affection for his daughter seems to know no bounds. "She is an amazing person. She is also an extraordinary mother.

She includes them [her children], when she can without scaring them, and makes it understandable to them," he told E! News. He further commended her for making her journey public, saying, "She will make a difference in so many people’s lives. She will inspire many people.” Brazil E! Is Everywhere This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our US edition? E! Is Everywhere This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our Canadian edition? E! Is Everywhere This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our UK edition? E! Is Everywhere This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our Australian edition? E! ist überall Dieser Inhalt ist für internationale Besucher verfügbar. Möchtest du ihn in der deutschen Version anschauen? E! Is Everywhere This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our German edition? E! est partout Une version adaptée de ce contenu est disponible pour notre public international. Souhaitez-vous voir ça dans notre édition française ? E!

Is Everywhere This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our French edition? Yes! Jon Voight "Didn't Know" About Daughter Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy - Us Weekly By Justin Ravitz "My love and admiration for my daughter can't be explained in words," Jon Voight says of Angelina Jolie. Credit: Getty Images Top secret is right. Among the millions who discovered Tuesday morning that Angelina Jolie had undergone a preventative double mastectomy was her father, actor Jon Voight. Opening up to the Daily News about his daughter's bold medical decision, the Oscar-winning actor, 74, admits that he was kept out of the loop during Jolie's February-through-April process. PHOTOS: Famous family feuds "My love and admiration for my daughter can't be explained in words," said the Midnight Cowboy star, also father to Jolie's brother James Haven. "I saw her two days ago with my son Jamie. We all got together for his birthday, with her and Brad [Pitt ]. But I didn't know.

It wasn't obvious at all." Continued Voight, who reconciled with his famous daughter in early 2010 after years of estrangement: "I found out [Tuesday] morning. I was as surprised as anyone and deeply moved by the way she’s handled this. She's a very extraordinary person, the way she examined it and what she shared." PHOTOS: Stars who've had mastectomies Indeed, a source told Us Weekly that Jolie kept the secret very close to her vest: "She discussed it with Brad and a few people in her life but very very few knew." Voight divorced Jolie and Haven's mother Marcheline Bertrand in 1980 after nine years of marriage; Bertrand died in 2007 at age 56 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. Bertrand was certainly on Jolie's mind when doctors revealed she carried a "faulty" BRCA1 gene, making her highly susceptible to breast cancer.

(The star wrote that she had an 87 percent breast cancer risk and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer.) Angelina Jolie’s Dad On Wedding: Jon Voight Talks About Brad Pitt After Snub - Hollywood Life 96 Photos Jon, who has had a strained relationship with his daughter for years, was not invited to Angelina and Brad’s secret wedding in France. Following the snub, the veteran actor has finally broken his silence, and you may be surprised by what he said, specifically about Brad! Brad Pitt , 50, and Angelina Jolie , 39, tied the knot in a super secret ceremony in France on Aug. 23. It was so secret, in fact, that Angelina’s father, Jon Voight , wasn’t even invited! Sure — Angelina and her father haven’t had the most perfect relationship over the years, but a snub is a snub. The veteran actor recently shared his feelings on missing the biggest wedding of the year and his new son-in-law! Angelina Jolie’s Dad On Wedding: Jon Voight Talks About Brad Pitt After Snub Luckily, Jon holds no hard feelings. He couldn’t be happier that Angelina and Brad are married.

Jon, 75, told Good Morning Britain that he’s proud to call Brad his son-in-law during a new interview on Aug. 29. “I’m very happy that I can legitimately call him my son-in-law, this wonderful fellow who I love,” he said. When asked whether he was upset at not being invited to the wedding on Aug. 23, Jon said, “I’m not disappointed, I understand. The children have been bugging them for a long time to get married and the time was right.” “You know what they are very happy. The kids must have had a wonderful time at the wedding, they all had their things to do and it must have been very beautiful so I’m very happy for them,” he added. Angelina reportedly walked down the aisle with her eldest sons Maddox, 13, and Pax, 10, on each arm, while her daughters Zahara, 9, and Vivienne, 6, served as flower girls. Daughter Shiloh, 8, and son Knox, 6, served as ring bearers.

Angelina Jolie’s Wedding Ring: The First Pic After Brad Pitt Marriage While Jon was not invited to the wedding, he revealed that he plans on seeing Brad, Angelina, and the kids soon! “I’m going to Europe to see them all this week. I’ve been waiting a long time for this wedding to happen — everything is cool, I’m very happy,” the Ray Donovan star said. Brad and Angelina, who wore a traditional wedding gown on the big day, will soon be heading to Malta, where they’ll be filming their new movie By The Sea . Jon Voight: Brad Pitt’s Better Than Angelina’s Ex-Husbands The interview turned a bit awkward, though, when Jon was asked about Angelina’s choice in men — she’s been married three times now. “Well, she’s been together with Brad for a while, so they must be happier than she was with the other husbands, [Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton]. I really like Brad — we get to bond by playing golf together,” Jon said. Hopefully Jon’s statements won’t upset Angelina. Jon and Angelina were estranged for nearly a decade, before reconciling in 2010.

They reportedly had a falling out in 2001, after the actor told Access Hollywood that Angelina had “serious mental problems” and pleaded with her to seek help. At the time, Angelina responded with a public statement, saying she did not think it was “healthy” for her to be around her father. Are you surprised by Jon’s reaction, HollywoodLifers? Should he have been invited to the wedding? Vote and tell us how you feel! — Chris Rogers Angelina Jolie's father Jon Voight only learned about daughter's double mastectomy online... despite seeing her just TWO days ago | Daily Mail Online Angelina Jolie's father Jon Voight only learned about daughter's double mastectomy online... despite seeing her just TWO days ago comments On Monday Angelina Jolie made a very brave move as she revealed she recently underwent a preventative double mastectomy. And one person who learned about the surgery on the internet along with the rest of the world was the actress' father Jon Voight.

Voight, who reconciled with Jolie after a 10 year feud in 2011 praised his 'extraordinary' daughter but was understandably surprised - especially as he had seen Angelina just one day before her announcement in the New York Times. Scroll down for video In the dark: Jon Voight has revealed that he only found out about daughter Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy online. They are seen here together in 2001 'My love and admiration for my daughter can't be explained in words,' the actor told the New York Daily News . 'I saw her two days ago with my son Jamie. We all got together for his birthday, with her and Brad [Pitt]. But I didn't know. It wasn't obvious at all. 'I found out [Tuesday] morning. I was as surprised as anyone and deeply moved by the way she’s handled this. She’s a very extraordinary person, the way she examined it and what she shared.' Angelina made the decision to have the surgery after learning she is a carrier of the BRCA1 gene and had an 87 per cent chance of contracting breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of getting ovarian cancer.

Keeping quiet: Jon has said he saw the actress just one day before she published her story in the New York Times Catching up: The actor, seen left on Tuesday, added that he spoke to his daughter and she explained the procedures to him The Salt star continued working throughout three months of procedures and kept them a secret from everyone other than her fiance Brad, who was seen leaving a Hollywood studio on Tuesday, and their six children. But Jon, 74, says he 'absolutely' respects Angelina's choice to keep her decision from him for that time. 'I completely understand,' he explained. 'I want the focus to be on the inspiration.' Jon revealed he spoke to Angelina on Tuesday and she talked him through what it all means. 'She just explained to me and educated me on this stuff,' he said. So proud: Angelina, right, poses with her fiancé Brad Pitt and his mother Jane and father William at the Oscars in 2012; Jane has paid tribute to her daughter-in-law Voight fell out with Jolie in 2002 when he accused her of having ‘serious mental problems’, while Jolie criticised him for having an affair behind her mother’s back.

It was Angelina's fiance Brad who eventually engineered their reconciliation and acted as a go-between. Speaking in October 2011 Jon claimed he'd had an emotional epiphany and that he began living for his family after everything changed 'in a moment'. 'I suddenly saw things differently and everything shifted. That one moment changed my whole life,' he said. 'It gave me back my daughter and my family. Being reunited with my Angie is very precious to me. I adore my grandchildren, they are my great love. It makes me so emotional and grateful.' Motivation: Angelina's mother Marcheline Bertrand was just 56 when she dies of cancer; tests revealed Angelina had the same faulty gene Brad's mother Jane Pitt has also paid tribute to her soon to be daughter-in-law, even though there have long been rumours that relations between herself and Angelina are strained. In a touching statement, Jane said she is 'proud' of the 37-year-old for having the surgery in order to ensure she is alive to watch her children grow up. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 'We're so very proud of Angie, this means so much to out family especially our grandchildren,' said Jane in a statement to People.

'We love her dearly.' Between early February and late April Angelina completed three months of surgical procedures to remove both breasts after being advised she was at a high risk of developing breast cancer. Family matters: Angelina Jolie did her utmost to keep life as normal as possible for her and partner Brad Pitt's six children Supportive: Angelina wrote that her fiance Brad Pitt was with her for 'every minute' of her surgeries Having watched her mother die at the age of 56 from ovarian cancer, ten years after developing the disease, the mother-of-six was determined to ensure she had the best chance of avoiding the same fate. Her brother James Haven also made a statement paying tribute to Angelina. 'My sister like our mother always put her children first,' he said.

'I am so grateful to be her brother.' ANGELINA'S AGONISING THREE MONTHS February 2nd - Angelina begins three months of treatments prior to undergoing a preventative double mastectomy, starting with a 'nipple delay, which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area' February 16th - The actress undergoes the major surgery - an eight hour operation which sees the breast tissue removed before temporary fillers are put in place March 26th - Angelina is pictured in the Republic of Congo with William Hague following the initial operation April 4th - Angelina attends the Women in the World Summit in New York looking in good spirits April 11th - Angelina is pictured with William Hague at the G8 Summit in London April 20th - Angelina has the final operation as her breasts are reconstructed with implants April 27th - The mother-of-six completes the medical process.

She is told that the surgery was a success and her chances of contracting breast cancer have now been reduced from 87% to less than 5% May 14th - Angelina reveals her decision in an editorial piece published in the New York Times newspaper And Angelina's fiance Brad praised her as 'heroic' for making the decision to have aggressive surgery. The 49-year-old is delighted Angelina - who he has been in a relationship with since 2005 - has made a full recovery from the operation and is looking forward to living a long, fruitful life with her and their children. In a statement released to London's Evening Standard newspaper, he said: 'Having witnessed this decision first hand, I find Angie's choice, as well as so many others like her, absolutely heroic. 'I thank our medical team for their care and focus. 'All I want for is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children.

'This is a happy day for our family.' For her part Angelina praised the support her fiancé and children, Maddox, 11, Pax, nine, Zahara, eight, Shiloh, six, and four-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, gave her during treatment. 'It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that’s it. 'Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can. 'I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. 'We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer.

And it has.' Carrying on as normal: Brad was seen leaving a Hollywood studio on Tuesday while Angelina stayed at home Low profile: The star, whose films The Counselor and Voyage of Time are currently both in post production, was being driven in a black Escalade with tinted windows Angelina also made sure to reassure other women that having the double mastectomy hasn't changed the way she feels about herself and her womanliness, and added that results of reconstructive surgery 'can be beautiful'. Close: James Haven said his sister always put her children first, 'like our mother' 'On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman,' she said. 'I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.' In addition, the brave star hopes that she can encourage other women to be informed and consider their options. 'I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. 'Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness.

'But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.' Although Angelina has undergone a series of life-altering operations since February, she has not let hospital appointments interfere with public engagements. She visited the Republic of Congo on March 26 on humanitarian duties and attended the G8 summit in London on April 11 with William Hague, after her initial operations but before the all the procedures had finished. HOW A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST IS SAVING MORE WOMEN'S LIVES THAN EVER Many women opt for preventative surgery because the risk of breast cancer (cells, pictured) is so high if you have a faulty BRCA gene

Question: Who is Jon Voight's daughter?
Answer: Angelina Jolie