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.

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.”

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.

A makeup artist with 41,000 Instagram followers at the time of writing, she has built a successful career in the beauty industry.

“I’ve been in the beauty industry for over 20 years. I graduated from the M.U.D. Makeup School in Burbank, California, which offered me many opportunities to work on movies, TV, and shoots in LA,” she shared.

A day after their wedding, Imbelli took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message that read, “It was a lovely weekend spent with family and loved ones. We had a special lunch to celebrate a new chapter in our lives, filled with new beginnings and togetherness.”

“I love my brother, sister, father-in-law, mother, and all our love especially for Frankie! We will be flying home tomorrow to prepare for the first day of school, feeling grateful for all that we have,” the post continued.

Haven and Imbelli also opened up about their relationship in a podcast episode, where the former reflected on their personal struggles. “Our childhood traumas have been the root of our complicated relationship,” she captioned the post in part.

“Through a lot of introspection and healing, we have been able to address the past and understand our worth. This is a powerful, authentic love story that we are still actively working on,” the caption continued.

However, despite their optimistic start, Haven and Imbelli’s marriage did not last. Seven months after they exchanged vows, she announced that their union was coming to an end.

“After careful consideration, I have decided to move forward with the annulment of my marriage to James Haven. As reflected in public record, the reason cited remains fraud,” Imbelli stated.

Although Imbelli announced the decision seven months after their wedding, court records reviewed by PEOPLE show that she filed for annulment on August 27 — just 15 days after they got married.

She described the decision as deeply personal and difficult but necessary for her well-being. “I appreciate the support of those who have stood by me, and at this time, I am focused on moving forward with clarity and peace,” the makeup artist added.

She further revealed that she planned to share more details in her upcoming memoir. “I’m finding healing through this process by putting my truth into words in my upcoming memoir, where I will share more about this chapter of my life and the journey that led me here,” Imbelli shared.

Following the announcement, Imbelli turned to social media with a message about moving forward that read in part, “I’m focused on the future and not dwelling on the past. If you’re not enriching my life, please step the 🤬aside.”

“My journey has certainly had its challenges, but it is my responsibility to keep realigning myself. I practice self-forgiveness while also holding myself to higher standards,” Imbelli added.

She continued, “We are not victims; we are the ones who place ourselves in difficult situations. It’s about how we navigate our way out and the lessons we take from the experience.”

James Haven and Angelina Jolie’s Relationship Over the Years

In 2016, while Jolie and her ex-husband Brad Pitt were working out the terms of their divorce, reports surfaced that Haven had stepped in as a full-time caregiver for their six children at their temporary home in Malibu.

“He took on a more active daily role in June,” a source revealed. “The kids call him Uncle James.” Though Haven is best remembered for his controversial Oscars kiss with Jolie in 2000, it was alleged that Pitt had no issue with their close bond.

“Brad thinks highly of James,” the source added. “He’s always been incredible to the kids and is welcome in his home.” However, after Jolie’s divorce from her ex-husband, her brother was reportedly dismissed from his role as a nanny.

Furthermore, he and his sister, once inseparable, were no longer seen together in public. By 2021, speculation grew that their relationship had faded.

“They used to be inseparable; he was very much her go-to companion and was her best friend for so many years as well as a devoted brother,” a source explained.

“James helped raise her kids and would babysit whenever Angie and Brad wanted private time. It’s fair to say he was one of just a handful of people they felt comfortable looking after them,” they added.

But then, seemingly out of nowhere, their relationship changed. “All of a sudden and with no real explanation, their communication seemed to just stop,” the source continued.

“He does his thing, she does hers, and while they may be cordial from a distance, you certainly don’t see or hear of them being together. Obviously, only they know what really happened, but it’s sad, and the situation doesn’t look like changing any time soon,” they shared.

However, in early January 2024, Haven gave a rare interview, insisting that he was still close to his sister. Speaking on the “9-0-who-1-0” podcast, he shared that he still felt protective of his famous sister, and especially her six children.

“Anytime I’m blessed to be in their presence, I wanna be in their presence,” he said. Haven is an uncle to Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox.

Haven spent years struggling to find a woman who could live up to his bond with Angelina Jolie before eventually marrying. However, their union was short-lived, ending in annulment just weeks later.

Meanwhile, the famous siblings, once inseparable, seemingly drifted apart, with their once-close relationship no longer as visible as it had been in the past.