A Hitman, an Actor, and a DNA Test: Welcome to the Harrelson Family Circus

Get ready folks, we’ve got a tale that’s going to make your jaw drop faster than a clumsy tightrope walker. Ever heard of Charles Harrelson? If you’re thinking, “Hey, isn’t that Woody Harrelson’s father?”, then you’ve hit the bullseye. But here’s the real kicker: Charles Harrelson wasn’t your average Joe. He was a bonafide, convicted hitman. Can you imagine that? Your dad being a professional assassin? That’s enough to make any family dinner awkward.

Charles Harrelson: From Bandit to Assassin

Charles Harrelson, a man with a rap sheet longer than a CVS receipt, made his notorious mark in history when he was found guilty of the assassination of federal judge John H. Wood Jr. in 1979. This marked Wood as the first federal judge to be assassinated in the 20th century. Now, that’s a record you don’t want to be remembered for. Talk about leaving a legacy.

But, believe it or not, this wasn’t Harrelson Senior’s first rodeo. In 1960, he was convicted of armed robbery and later admitted to being involved in dozens of murders since the early 1960s. He served just five years of a 15-year sentence for the murder-for-hire killing of Sam Degelia, Jr. in 1968. Just five years! Looks like someone had a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Woody Harrelson: A Journey from Family Drama to Stardom

Born into this whirlwind of crime and chaos was Woody Harrelson, an actor you might recognize from a little show called “Cheers”. After Charles disappeared from the family home in 1968, Woody’s mother had the daunting task of raising him and his two brothers. Woody lost track of his father until 1981, when the news broke of Charles’ arrest for Judge Wood’s murder.

Despite his father’s nefarious background, Woody described him as articulate, well-read, and charming. He was still figuring out if Charles was the kind of guy he wanted to be pals with, or at least, exchange Christmas cards with.

Woody didn’t let his father’s history define him. He channeled his talent into acting and quickly became a household name. His performance as the lovable bartender Woody Boyd on “Cheers” won him a Primetime Emmy Award. And he didn’t stop there. He’s been nominated for three Academy Awards and has starred in a slew of films like “White Men Can’t Jump”, “Natural Born Killers”, and “No Country for Old Men”. He’s even dipped his toes into the world of HBO crime anthology series “True Detective” and the political drama “White House Plumbers”. Talk about versatility!

The McConaughey Connection: A New Twist in the Tale

Just when you thought this story couldn’t get any more bizarre, here’s a fresh twist for you. Enter Matthew McConaughey, long-time friend of Woody Harrelson, who dropped a bombshell in April 2023. He suggested that Charles Harrelson could potentially also be his father! Talk about a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood script.

Apparently, McConaughey’s mother claimed to have known Charles around the time she bore McConaughey. The two actors have discussed taking a DNA test to verify this claim. According to Woody, “there is some veracity to that thought”​.

This wild revelation was born from a conversation with “Ma Mac”, Matthew’s mother. Harrelson recalled her saying that she “knew…” Harrelson’s father, leaving an ellipsis filled with innuendo, or as Stephen Colbert quipped, a “pregnant pause”​. McConaughey shared in a podcast that Harrelson’s father was on furlough at the same time his own parents were undergoing their second divorce. The stars seemed to have aligned for his mother and Harrelson’s father to possibly meet in West Texas​.

Harrelson backed up this claim, pointing out that around nine months before McConaughey’s birth, Ma Mac was on a sabbatical from her relationship with his supposed father, Jim​. Is it a coincidence or a connection? Only a DNA test will tell.

Adding to the intrigue, both actors are about to appear in a comedy series “Brother From Another Mother” for Apple TV+, a fictionalized portrayal of their decades-long friendship​. The series title suddenly seems to take on a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?

In the end, whether or not they share a father, one thing is for sure: Harrelson and McConaughey have an unbreakable bond. They’re both “wonderfully sort of blissfully relaxed all the time,” as Justin Theroux, co-star of Harrelson in “White House Plumbers,” pointed out​.

The post From “Cheers” to DNA Tests: The Fascinating Journey of Woody Harrelson and His Hitman Father” first appeared on Facts for Bored.