EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Jon Voight Overjoyed At Reconciliation With Angelina Jolie - "I've Been Waiting So Long To Hug My Grandchildren"
Feb. 25 2010, Published 9:42 a.m. ET
When photos surfaced Sunday of Jon Voight spending time in Venice, Italy, with Angelina Jolie, her partner Brad Pitt and their adorable children it was apparent that the proud grandfather was overjoyed to be finally reconciled with his daughter, after years of estrangement.
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In an exclusive in-person interview with RadarOnline.com on Wednesday, the Hollywood veteran shares just how wonderful it was for him to be able to spend time with Angelina again, and his obvious joy at getting to finally meet his six grandchildren.
"It was just wonderful to spend time with Angelina and Brad and the children," Voight told RadarOnline.com. "I've been waiting so long to hug my grandchildren and it was amazing, they are the most beautiful, loving kids you could imagine and I'm not just saying that because I'm their grandfather, they really are something special.
"Angelina and Brad are so happy together and they are the most amazing, loving parents I've ever seen. It truly moved me to see how Angie is as a mom, I am so proud of her - she has so much love to give and to share with the children and with Brad."
It came as a surprise to many to see Angelina spending time with her dad again. Angelina cut him out of her life in 2001 after she went public with accusations that Voight cheated on her beloved late mother Marcheline Bertrand and Voight questioned Angelina's mental stability just before she was set to adopt her first child, Maddox.
But Voight shared with RadarOnline.com that the reconciliation has been in the works for some time, with first telephone and then email contact between the two of them before father and daughter were finally able to put the past behind them and work to heal their broken relationship.
"Angie and I have been in contact on the phone and by email for some time now," Voight tells RadarOnline.com. "We've been working towards a full reconciliation for a while. Angie had to feel it was the right time to bring me into the lives of her and the kids and after some work she decided the moment had arrived."
As for the future, Voight remains optimistic that they will spend more time together although he concedes that it's up Angelina what happens next. But it's obvious the doting grandpa is anxious to make-up for lost time and to be able to be a part of his grandkids' future. "I hope I get to see them again soon," Voight tells RadarOnline.com. "I want to spend as much time with them as possible."