Jon Voight Says Angelina Jolie Is a ‘Good Mom’: ‘I’m Very Proud of Her’ (Exclusive)

When it comes to Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie‘s relationship it has always been an up and down one, but the the father and daughter have reconnected over the years allowing the former to not only see his grandkids, but to see just great of a mother the actress is.

The 80-year-old attended the Movieguide Awards at Universal Hilton Hollywood on Friday, February 8, and was asked all about the Maleficent star, 43, and how she’s been raising her children she shares with ex-husband, Brad Pitt. “Well, she’s a good mom I’ll tell you that,” he exclusively told Closer Weekly. “She is very loving to the kids and very much there with them, always there with them although she has a busy life. She doesn’t miss any opportunity to inquire into their lives and help them every step of the way. So I’m very proud of her.”

The Midnight Cowboy star has been spending time with his grandkids — Maddox, 17, Pax, 15, Zahara, 14, Shiloh, 12, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 10 — and revealed what that’s been like, and how he’s taking advantage of all of this time he has with them.

“Everybody is good, yes. Yes they are getting big. That’s the way it is, you know,” the Ray Donovan actor said. “People don’t realize how short life is. You don’t realize, most young people hear their parents and their friends of their parents say ‘life is short’.”

Jon continued, “What they think is sure, ‘I’d just like to be 18! When am I going to be grown?’ And then they get to be 18 and soon they are 24 and all of the sudden they are into another stage. The thing is to know that life is precious, it’s wonderful to have life. Don’t waste it.” He added, “Learn those things that keep you healthy and enjoy life.  Give yourself a good healthy break and enjoy this life while you have it and use it to help other people. Do everything you can to help your parents and help other people in your neighborhood and your vicinity and go through life as a person who cares about others. That is what we are here for … You will find that all the people who have that attitude are happy people.”

Jon and Angelina did not speak from 2002 to 2007 after the Deliverance costar publicly said his daughter had “mental problems,” so it is nice to see that the pair is back on good grounds and that they are able to enjoy each other’s company — it is only a good thing for Angelina’s children.