How Many Kids Does James McAvoy Have? Inside the Actor's Family

There's one important question each new parent must ask themselves: How will their new family fit in with their family of origin? In best-case scenarios, the families blend and grow together. However, that idyllic situation isn't always the case, and some people choose to keep the family they've created away from the one they came from. That's exactly the decision James McAvoy made when he had his kids, and fans want to know why.

James's core family consists of his wife, Lisa Liberati, and their two children. The extremely private actors have not disclosed the name of their youngest son, who was born in 2022. However, we do know that James's oldest son — whom he shares with his ex-wife, Anne-Marie Duff — is named Brendan and was born in 2010.

It turns out that James's children will be unable to meet their paternal grandfather and uncle, due to James's estrangement from them both. According to the BBC, James Sr. and Donald have both been accused of joint possession of illegal substances back in 2013.

James's father, James McAvoy Sr., has passed away, but James has stated that they hadn't been in touch for decades prior to his passing. The actor's parents divorced when he was young, and his father remarried a woman named Mary McKinnon. According to James Sr., his son disliked Mary and refused to be in contact with his father when she was around. However, James Sr. has expressed pride in his son, saying, "I'm just glad that he seems happy. ... I was amazed he'd done so well."

As for James's half-brother, Donald has never even met his famous sibling. Donald has faced legal troubles throughout the years and is currently serving time in HMP Saughton in Edinburgh. According to Yahoo, the 36-year-old is facing a possible life sentence due to attacking one of his inmates earlier this year. His next court date is set for June 9.

Despite his extended family's troubles, James's core family is thriving! Even though James's second son was born a few years ago, the actor has only now started sharing the news with the world. Upon revealing how fatherhood is different now, in his forties, than it was when he had his first son in his 30s, James told The Guardian, "I worry less. I’m a bit more philosophical. But it’s also harder, because you’re just older and tireder."

While James is enjoying life with his beautiful family, he's also keeping it classy in regard to those who are no longer in his inner circle. He's stated the importance of keeping his life private, and even revealed he and his ex-wife have a policy not to speak about each other publicly. It seems James has used that same principle towards his family of origin, as the actor hasn't disparaged his father or spoken about his brother's struggles. Instead, he's focused firmly on his own wife and kids.