James McAvoy’s tragic family estrangement that means his father and jailbird brother will never met his children – as actor reveals he secretly welcomed second son

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James McAvoy shocked fans this week when he casually announced that he’d welcomed a second child. 

Scottish actor James McAvoy, who has a 15-year-old son named Brendan with his former partner Anne-Marie Duff, recently shared that he also has a four-year-old son with his wife, Lisa Liberati. He explained that becoming a father again at age 42 felt easier than the first time because he’s less anxious.

I was totally stunned when I heard the news, but honestly, I immediately thought of his brother, Donald. Apparently, they haven’t spoken in years! It’s just so sad to think about, especially now. I can only imagine how shocked he must be.

James and his half-brother have led very different lives. James became a famous actor in Hollywood, while his brother is currently in prison in Edinburgh.

James and Donald are living vastly different lives right now. James is busy promoting his first film as a director, called California Schemin’, while Donald is in serious trouble and could face a long prison sentence after a violent attack on another inmate.

It’s really sad, but honestly, the only connection these two seem to share is their father, James Senior. He was a hard-working man – he drove buses and then became a builder – but he and his son were sadly estranged for years and years before he passed away. It’s a complicated family history, to say the least.

BAFTA winner James was just seven when James Snr and his mother Elizabeth Johnstone separated. 

He grew up with his mother’s parents, James Johnstone, a butcher, and Mary, a lorry driver. They lived on a council estate in the challenging Drumchapel area of Glasgow, just around the corner.

Despite already raising five children, they generously agreed to take in James and his sister, Joy (who later became an actress on the TV show Two Doors Down). Elizabeth also stayed with them occasionally.

James Snr stayed living nearby with new partner Mary McKinnon and their son Donald. 

James Jr. stayed in touch with his mother until she passed away in 2018, but he stopped speaking to his father when he was twelve years old.

He’s avoided discussing the specifics of their falling out, simply stating, ‘It’s uninteresting, and I’d rather not talk about it. I’m aware of the truth.’

James Senior said his son became estranged from him after he started a relationship with someone new.

James’s father previously shared with Daily Mail that he believed James still wanted them to resolve their issues.

He stopped wanting to meet with me simply because he disliked Mary. To avoid causing him further distress, I decided to give him space.

Even after James received the Rising Star award at the 2006 BAFTAs, his father publicly expressed a desire to reconnect, explaining he didn’t know how to contact his son.

James declined the offer. When asked why, he admitted he’d heard about the request but hadn’t felt the need to read the interview.

It really struck me as odd, what he said. It feels like those kinds of in-depth stories are usually reserved for people who’ve truly accomplished something, people who’ve really made an impact on the world – not… this. It just felt unexpected and a little strange to see that level of attention given here.

I don’t have much interest in it, to be honest. If I wasn’t so confident in who I am, it might grab my attention. But I understand my background and what shaped me into the person I am today.

I don’t need to dwell on uncertainties or seek out what’s been lost. I’m clear about the past, confident in my goals, and know the path forward.

James’s personal life didn’t hinder his career. He started acting after reaching out to director David Hayman for work experience following a school talk Hayman gave.

James launched his television career in 2004 with the Channel 4 show Shameless shortly after graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. It was on this show that he also met his future wife, Anne-Marie, who is also an actor.

He gained recognition the following year for his role as Mr. Tumnus, the faun in the hit movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, and this performance earned him the BAFTA Rising Star Award.

Oh my gosh, by 2008, James had already been nominated for two more BAFTAs! Can you believe it? First for his incredible work in ‘The Last King of Scotland,’ and then again the very next year for ‘Atonement’! It was just proof of how amazing he is, getting recognized like that two years in a row. I was absolutely thrilled!

However, in the same year, 19-year-old Donald was imprisoned for a violent attack where he stabbed a man eight times and also threatened a teenager with a hammer.

Later he was given nine months for abducting and beating a father-of-four over an unpaid drug debt.

According to the Daily Mail, James Senior reportedly told friends, in a moment of frustration, that he’d done everything he could to help his son stay on the right path.

He expressed hope for a renewed relationship with his older son, telling friends he’d like to speak with him, though it’s been a long time since they last did.

I lost touch with James when we were both young. However, I admire the excellent job his mother and grandparents did raising him.

However, the pair did not patch things up before James Snr’s death.

It is not known exactly when James Snr died. 

The last time he was publicly mentioned was in 2013, when he and his son, Donald, were in court facing drug charges. They were accused of selling cocaine from their apartment.

The pair made no plea and were released on bail.

It was later revealed James Snr had left Donald a ‘sizeable legacy’ from his estate.

The information came to light during a court case in 2023. Donald was then in prison, serving a total sentence of five years and ten months for several crimes, including an assault stemming from a road rage incident involving a 57-year-old man.

Originally scheduled for release in March 2025, his sentence was extended by 15 months after he admitted to having a prohibited mobile phone SIM card and illegal razor blades in his cell at Glenochil Prison.

Donald’s lawyer Ian Sievwright said: ‘Mr McAvoy’s father died whilst he’s been in prison.

He received a large inheritance from his father, which could give him the financial stability to stay out of trouble after he gets out of prison.

After being in prison for many years, he’s committed to turning his life around for his daughter. He wants to be a responsible, contributing member of society when he’s released, and to be fully involved in her life and provide for her.

Donald could spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to severely injuring another inmate’s face while at HMP Saughton.

Earlier this month, a court in Edinburgh watched video of Donald slashing Colin Lindsay’s face with a blade he’d concealed on his person on October 21, 2025.

Last month, he admitted in court to assaulting someone with a blade, causing serious and lasting injuries that put their life at risk.

Donald, with a history of over 40 prior convictions, is currently being evaluated to determine if a life-long restriction order is necessary.

Judge McFadyen stated that he believed the defendant posed a long-term risk, justifying a lifetime restriction order.

I’m requesting a review to determine if this request can be approved. You will need to come back for another hearing.

The case will next call before judge McFadyen on June 9, 2026.

Since James and Donald haven’t met before, it’s doubtful they ever will.

As such, James’ sons will likely never meet their half-uncle. 

James recently shared that he and his partner privately welcomed their second child. In an interview with The Guardian, he explained that becoming a father again at age 42 feels less stressful than the first time around.

‘I’m a bit more philosophical. But it’s also harder, because you’re just older and tireder.

James talked about the challenges of being a new dad and working as an actor. He explained he’s experiencing the typical stress of first-time parenthood, even though he’s in his 40s. While filming, he would often wake up at 2:30 AM, still thinking about the movie.

James believes it’s best to start a career when you’re young. He explained that your 20s are the time to work incredibly hard, put in long hours, and go the extra mile – it’s when you have the most energy to do so.

The Hollywood actor and his wife, Lisa, live mainly in London, but they also spend some time in Philadelphia, where Lisa’s parents reside.

They met on the set of Split in Philadelphia, America and they married in 2022.

James starred in the movie, and Lisa worked behind the scenes as a production assistant for director M. Night Shyamalan.

The actress was married to Anne-Marie, but they were getting divorced after being together for eleven years.

Only two months after their divorce was finalized, the new couple revealed their relationship by sharing photos of themselves together at a costume party on Instagram.

In 2019, rumors circulated that James and Lisa had gotten married. This followed an incident where Jamie Lloyd, a close friend of James’, was overheard calling Lisa his ‘wife’ and mentioning they had recently tied the knot.

After spending the lockdown period at his smaller city apartment, the couple moved into a large house in London in July 2020. This move followed his departure from the £1.9 million, four-bedroom house he previously shared with Anne-Marie.

The actor then confirmed he had married Lisa in 2022. 

James is now focusing on directing and wants to create stories about people from working-class backgrounds, similar to his own, who face limited opportunities.

He expressed frustration that films set in Scotland often focus on negative themes like unemployment, substance abuse, and various forms of domestic issues, questioning why they couldn’t instead be entertaining or adventurous.

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2026-04-02 03:07