Woody Harrelson fans have been left blown away after they discovered who his father is, as they claimed ‘I never knew this!’
The actor, 63, has become well known for his roles on Cheers, True Detective, Zombieland, and The Hunger Games.
But despite creating a name and reputation on his own, there’s more to the Harrelson family than meets the eye.
Last month, an Instagram account named historyfeels caught people’s attention by sharing that Woody Harrelson’s father was the notorious mobster and hitman, Charles Voyde Harrelson.
The post, featuring a picture of Charles at his trial in the 1980s, stated: “Charles Voyde Harrelson, known as the father of actor Woody Harrelson, was a contract killer with strong connections to organized crime.”
‘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.
Fans of Woody Harrelson were astonished to learn about his father’s identity when this Instagram account unveiled the information to its followers last month.
Woody’s father is none other than mobster and contract killer Charles Voyde Harrelson (pictured in 1982)
‘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.’
Shocked fans took to the comments to share their disbelief.
Users penned: ‘I was today years old when I learned this… Well alrighty then… Holy cow ! I never heard this story before!…
‘Wow. Had no idea… Never knew this… Interesting. Glad to know his son turned the family legacy around.’
Woody is now a father of three and has long outgrown his hellraising past to become a powerful, high-profile player in the film industry.
Despite his public reticence on his father, he was a staunch defender him, spending millions of dollars on legal fees and working to secure a new trial for him.
Charles, who at one time also claimed to have killed John F Kennedy, pictured shortly before his assassination in 1963, was jailed over the 1979 killing of U.S. District Judge John Wood Jr
Judge Wood, center, was ambushed and killed outside his front door in San Antonio, Texas in 1979. Government sources listed convicted hit man Charles, left, and convicted narcotics trafficker Jimmy Chagra, right as ‘targets’ in the investigation
Shocked fans took to the comments to share their disbelieve
He has insisted that not only was Charles innocent of killing Judge Wood, but that he was a secret CIA operative.
‘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,’ said Woody more than 20 years ago.
Asked if he really believed his father worked for the CIA, he replied: ‘I shouldn’t get into this right now. This is where we’re going to get into trouble . . . I know it’s true.’
Woody was just seven years old when, in 1968, Charles left his wife Diane and their three sons.
Diane, who had married Charles just two weeks after meeting him on a plane, was left to support the family on her meagre salary as a legal secretary in Houston, Texas.
It comes after Woody said he first learned of his dad’s dubious profession for the first time at age 12.
Woody was just seven years old when, in 1968, Charles left his wife Diane and their three son (pictured with mum Dianne in 2017).
Woody pictured with brother Brett in 2002
He told The Guardian in 2012 that he heard his father’s name mentioned as a suspect in the assassination of Judge Wood outside of his home in San Antonio, Texas.
‘I’m sitting there thinking there can’t be another Charles V. Harrelson. I mean, that’s my dad! It was a wild realization,’ he told the newspaper.
‘I tried for years to get him out. To get him a new trial…just being a son trying to help his dad. Then I spent a couple of million beating my head against the wall. Lawyers upon lawyers.’
After two years on the run, Charles was arrested and admitted not only to Wood’s for-hire murder but also claimed he was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He later denied this.
Despite his dad’s occupation and absence in his life, the pair reconciled.
When his father died of poor health aged 69 in prison in 2007, Woody was said to be ‘devastated.’
Before his death, he said in a TV interview: ‘How do I feel about him? Well I love him.
‘I definitely love him. Very fond of him. I mean, there’s probably a lot of people who should be behind bars. I don’t necessarily think he’s one of them.’
