Featured Image Credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for HBO
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Woody Harrelson
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson has a more colorful family history than people imagined, and the truth has left many fans shocked.
Harrelson is a pretty recognizable face and name in Hollywood and has been on the big screen for well over 20 years at this point.
So just like with most celebrities, most fans thought they knew all the notable tidbits of information tied to them, but with Harrelson a lot of fans were sorely mistaken.
The story has long popped up on social media, with many users admitting they never knew the actor had such a 'dark' story tied to him.
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The 63-year-old's father’s name was Charles Voyde Harrelson and while the name might not be familiar, he caused quite stir in his time.
One post on Instagram discussing Charles’ story read: “In 1979, he was charged with the assassination of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr., the first federal judge to be murdered in the 20th century.
“Harrelson carried out the hit for $250,000 on behalf of a drug dealer awaiting trial.
“He was captured after a six-hour standoff with police, during which he confessed to multiple killings, including JFK’s, though that claim was widely dismissed.
“In 1982, Harrelson was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. He spent the rest of his life in federal prison, where he died in 2007.”
Social media users were utterly baffled by this revelation, with many sharing their surprise in the comments.
One user wrote: “That's quite a shocking and bizarre piece of history. It's fascinating how some individuals have such intriguing and dark backgrounds.”
While another praised the star for his career despite his family history, writing: “Hats off to Woody's Harrelson for not letting his past personal life dictate his his own life and, ultimately, his career as an actor. Brilliant actor.”
Harrelson has long insisted his father’s innocence and previously argued that he was a CIA operative.
In an interview over 20 years ago, he said: “I think that it was not a fair trial... I’m not saying my father’s a saint but I think he’s innocent of that.”
When pressed about whether he truly believed his father worked for the CIA, the actor answered rather cryptically.
Harrelson said: “I shouldn’t get into this right now. This is where we’re going to get into trouble... I know it’s true.”
In a 2012 interview with the Guardian, Harrelson was asked if he 'saw much of his father' in himself.
"Quite a bit… I was born on his birthday. They have a thing in Japan where they say if you’re born on your father’s birthday, you’re not like your father, you are your father, and it’s so weird when I would sit and talk with him. It was just mind-blowing to see all the things he did just like me," he said, before adding: "Idiosyncratic things. The way he laughed. The face, very similar."
Reflecting on his relationship with his dad, who passed away in prison in 2007, Harrelson admitted: "We got along pretty good. When you can’t hang out and go to a pub, you know what I mean, it’s hard."