Jon Voight says he's 'proud of' Angelina Jolie as he credits granddaughter Vivienne for her Tony Award win

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jon Voight is celebrating his daughter Angelina Jolie's recent Tony Award win, attributing her success to a surprising source – his granddaughter, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt.

Voight shared that his granddaughter Vivienne, 15, played a pivotal role in Jolie’s involvement with the Tony-winning musical, 'The Outsiders'.

According to Voight, Vivienne’s keen interest and repeated viewings of the pre-Broadway production near San Diego convinced Jolie to take notice and eventually get involved.

Jon Voight credits granddaughter with helping mom Angelina Jolie win a Tony

“I’m very proud of Vivienne. I’m really proud of Angie because she really tries to encourage each of the kids to be what they want to be,” he said on Monday, June 24, in an interview with TMZ.

Angelina Jolie saw the play at Vivienne's urging and was captivated.

She subsequently called Voight while he was on the set of Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis' to share the news that she had signed on to produce the Broadway adaptation.

Jolie, who shares Vivienne with her ex-husband Brad Pitt, praised her daughter’s dedication to theater, noting Vivienne's thoughtful and serious approach to supporting creative endeavors.

'The Outsiders', based on SE Hinton’s 1967 novel and the 1983 film directed by Coppola, was a major success at the 2024 Tony Awards, winning four awards, including Best Musical. It was nominated in twelve categories.

Vivienne is credited as an assistant and coproducer for the Broadway version, reflecting her significant involvement in the project.

Voight expressed immense pride in both Jolie and Vivienne. He noted that Vivienne’s passion and eye for theater could hint at a future career in Broadway production. Voight shared that directors involved in 'The Outsiders' recognized Vivienne’s talent, suggesting she has a natural aptitude for the field.

“It’s amazing. It’s interesting because I just worked with Francis (Ford) Coppola on 'Megalopolis'. During the filming of 'Megalopolis', I got a call from Angie and she said, ‘I’m doing Outsiders,’” he explained.

“Vivienne read the book and then went down to see this pre-Broadway version close to San Diego. She went down four times and said, ‘Mom, you’ve got to see this.’ Angie was very interested. It showed something of Vivienne she’d never seen before.”

Voight believes his talented granddaughter Vivienne could carve out a career in producing, given her credits as an assistant and coproducer on the Broadway adaptation of 'The Outsiders'. The play opened in April.

“The directors of this piece said she had talent. She has an eye for something,” he said.

Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie's turbulent relationship

Angelina Jolie's relationship with her Oscar-winning father has been marked by ups and downs for most of her 48-year life, including long periods of no contact. Despite occasional reconciliations, their turbulent dynamic has often led to estrangement, notably when Jolie reportedly cut ties again with her father in the early 2000s, following a brief period of contact during the filming of 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' in 2001.

Voight and Jolie later reconciled in the 2010s. Following her tumultuous split from Brad Pitt, Jolie mentioned that Voight became a cherished 'grandpa' figure to her six children.

However, Voight publicly criticized his daughter in November 2023 for her anti-Israel statements, denouncing them as 'lies' and asserting that 'the Israeli army must protect their soil'.

Jon Voight's statement sparks debate online over Angelina Jolie's Tony victory

Jon Voight crediting his granddaughter Vivienne for helping Angelina Jolie win a Tony has sparked a range of opinions online:

One user expressed skepticism mixed with appreciation for Jon Voight's gesture, noting, "What a sweet father! I hope Angie appreciates him trying to put her in a good light. Especially since she has wanted nothing to do with him." 

Another user showed admiration for Voight both as an actor and a family man, saying, "I Love Jon Voight as an actor and he's a great dad and a great grandpa." 

Another comment focused solely on Angelina Jolie, "Angelina Jolie is a role model for women everywhere. She is not afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes in. She is also a devoted mother who balances her career and family. She is a strong, independent, and beautiful woman."

"Careful Jon. If you take away from your daughter’s attention , you won’t be seeing your grandkids again," a user said.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.