Jon Voight Speaks Out About Angelina Jolie and Shiloh  6/2/06

JON VOIGHT TALKS TO MSNBC'S RITA COSBY ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER, ANGELINA JOLIE AND HER NEW BABY, SHILOH

Interview To Air Tonight on MSNBC's "Rita Cosby: Live and Direct" at 10 p.m. ET

SECAUCUS, NJ - June 1, 2006 - - In an interview to air tonight on MSNBC's "Rita Cosby: Live and Direct," actor Jon Voight talks to Rita Cosby about the birth of his granddaughter, Shiloh, the famous newborn daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Voight shares his thoughts on the baby's unique name, he discusses his feelings towards Pitt, and he says that he hasn't been in touch with Jolie since the birth, but he hopes that will change.

The interview will air tonight on MSNBC's "Rita Cosby: Live and Direct" at 10 p.m. ET. Below are excerpts from the interview.

Angie Dorr is the executive Producer of "Rita Cosby: Live and Direct."

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COSBY: Well, you've done a lot of work and you've done a lot of exciting things. You're a grandfather just recently. Congratulations.

VOIGHT: Thank you very much.

COSBY: How do you feel about that? Was that exciting for you to hear that?

VOIGHT: Oh my gosh. Well, you know, I can't even describe -- I'm almost unable to describe how deeply happy I am for both -- for the parents and so happy to have this new little one in the world. And I just wish -- you know, my love is always with them both, and I'm wishing them all the happiness in the world.

I'm sure they're on cloud nine. I'm sure they're completely in heaven right now. I mean, the birth of a child is always a miracle, and a most magic moment. It was in my life. My two children -- that's the greatest moments in my life, when I have my kids.

COSBY: You know, I read that you said somewhere a couple of years ago that a great thing for Angelina is adopting, but that you thought it'd be lovely for her to have one of her own with the right guy.

VOIGHT: I said that? I don't know if I ever said that, but wouldn't that -- isn't that nice? Isn't that what you always feel, you know?

COSBY: Do you think she has the right guy right now?

VOIGHT: Oh, yes, well, listen, I don't want to get too much into this stuff, but I like Brad Pitt. Yes, I like him. I've always thought highly of him as an artist and as a person. I thought he was a good guy. So I'm happy that, you know, if they find love and happiness together, I'm for it.

COSBY: Have you had any contact with her? Have you tried to reach out to her?

VOIGHT: Well, I'm always there for her. But I don't know -- we haven't been in touch, but hopefully that will change.

COSBY: You know what I think is neat about -- and clearly something she's gotten from you, you're daughter has such a generous heart.

VOIGHT: She does.

COSBY: She's done so much great charity work.

VOIGHT: Yes.

COSBY: Do you think she's following in your footsteps, because that's something you've always believed?

VOIGHT: Well, you know, you always -- I'm proud of her for her compassion for other people, and for the way she goes about in helping. Because I must say, you know, I've heard her speak in many instances, you know, about suffering souls and making a plea on their behalf, and she always does it very eloquently. She always is very prepared when she speaks, and she doesn't overstep her bounds. She never speaks more than from her own experience and from the heart. So she's quite impressive, I'm very proud of her.

COSBY: She'll be a great role model, and there's a lot of big stars out there who don't do these other things, and she truly goes to these other countries.

VOIGHT: That's right.

COSBY: And you do, too. And I think obviously she's learned a lot from you. Is there something you'd want to say to her right now?

VOIGHT: She'll -- I'll talk to her when I talk to her. But anyway, I'm just sending all of my love, all the time to her and to Brad and to the new baby, and to the other two children too.

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COSBY: And I have to ask you because you've always done -- since "Midnight Cowboy" in '69, people have always been following you, paparazzi. But what is your life like now, under such a microscope, not only being Jon Voigt but being the grandfather now of Shiloh, being the dad of Angelina Jolie ...

VOIGT: You know it's the greatest thing when you say, "being the grandfather of Shiloh." I mean, it's hysterical, isn't it. Here's this little tiny thing and all of the sudden she has this big presence and identification and nobody's even seen her.

COSBY: It is amazing, no?

VOIGT: It's so sweet. Shiloh is here. Oh, that's great.

COSBY: Are you surprised at all the attention? It is incredible.

VOIGT: Well, of course I think in every decade, every generation there are people that capture the imagination of that time, for whatever reason, and this couple seems to have done that in spades in this particular hour. And there are many great artists about and personalities but these guys have caught something of the public's imagination so they're getting all this attention.

Well, if they use it well and I wish them well and I know it must be at sometimes very draining for them but they seem to want to use it wisely and that's the very best thing. They're doing a lot of good with it.

COSBY: Is there a gift you have for your granddaughter or words of wisdom?

VOIGT: Do I -- I don't know. As she grows older hopefully I'll be able to give her everything that I've got but right now I'm very -- I'm feeling very blessed myself that I can see this day for the happiness of my daughter.

COSBY: And what did you think of the name? Because there is so many interesting names out there. What did you think of the name Shiloh?

VOIGT: Well, a lot of things -- first of all, I think it's an interesting name. Of course it's an interesting name. Has a varied background. This name means many things. It was a place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept for a while, a place of refuge for the Hebrew people. Then it means peace and then it has some -- peaceful one, or person of peace so it has wonderful, wonderful meanings and it has -- I don't know. I think it's obviously a name that both of them got together on and I can just think that one day I'll say, hey, Shi, come over here.

COSBY: Have you picked out a baby gift yet?

VOIGT: No. I -- I'm -- this little one can have anything she wants of me, of course, and hopefully I'll be giving her many gifts along the way.

Source: Access Hollywood Press Release