It’s practically an honor to be related to a famous person. For bigtime actor Woody Harrelson, that same isn’t true. Having starred in some of the biggest film franchises such as the upcoming DC Comics film Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage, and taking home honorary accolades like a Primetime Emmy Award, we’d think that Harrelson would acquire some of his talents from his parents. Turns out the Zombieland’s parents were quite the opposite of him, his father, Charles Voyde Harrelson, especially who worked as a contract killer. The former Cheers star luckily didn’t know about his father’s profession until much later in life. Woody Harrelson doesn’t like sharing details about his personal life, especially about his father and for good reason.
Harrelson’s Life Turned Out For The Better
Every celebrity has a family history that’s not always pretty. Some stars like Woody Harrelson, have it worst than others. The former Hunger Games actor’s father was a contract killer, and luckily, Harrelson didn’t turn out like his old man. Much of the reasoning behind that could be due to the fact that Charles Voyde Harrelson wasn’t involved in helping raise his famous son. During interviews, the actor often notes that “He didn’t see him as a father . . . . he never played a valid part in my upbringing.” Harrelson’s father had left him, his three brothers, and their mother, Diane in 1968, when the actor was just 7-years old. Additionally, Diane and Charles barely knew each other when they wed, as they married just to weeks after of meeting on a plane. Most of Harrelson’s childhood was spent with his mother, who worked as a legal secretary in Houston, Texas. Harrelson’s family was often poor and they relied heavily on Diane’s wages.
Despite living in poverty and growing up a fatherless child, it didn’t stop the star from succeeding in life. Harrelson graduated from Lebanon High School in 1979, then attended Hanover College where he received a BFA in English and Theatre. Just a few years later, the actor would go on star in huge television shows like Cheers and eventually huge box-office films such as The Messenger. All the while, the star spent half of his life never really knowing the truth of his father. If he had, he probably wouldn’t be the successful A-list actor he is now.
A Father He Never Knew
It wasn’t until Harrelson turned 20 that he discovered his father’s true identity. The actor described first hearing the news about his father’s murderous lifestyle on the radio once. National reports soon surfaced about Charles Voyde Harrelson being pursued by authorities after murdering Texas U.S District Judge John Wood right outside his San Antonio, TX home in 1979. According to Daily Mail, the murder of the notorious ‘Maximum John’ judge had been unprecedented in the 20th Century.” It was the first time a federal judge has ever been assassinated in the United States, which attracted a lot of unwanted attention toward Charles and his business. Even President Jimmy Carter spoke on Wood’s unjust murder, stating during a speech that, “It was an assault on our very own system of justice.” Charles's job as a contract killer was over from that moment on. The police even put out a $200,000 award for the hitman’s capture. Making matters worse, the FBI launched a two-year and $12 million dollars investigation on the criminal.
Eventually, the police caught up with Charles on a state highway, driving his girlfriend’s car while high on drugs. Sources say, “the hitman and the police performed a 6-hour long standoff, with Charles threatening to commit suicide.” The hitman even admitted to the assassination of Judge John Wood and claimed to have murdered John F. Kennedy. Eventually, the criminal was captured and convicted. Charles was placed under solitary confinement, given that most of the intimates and guards alike were afraid of the hitman. The man once said that “a human head is just a watermelon with hair on it”, which made him an Apex predator among killers.
Forgiveness
Despite all his father’s wrongdoings, however, Woody Harrelson still saw the good in his old man. His father committed several murderous acts and was often in and out of jail during much of Harrelson’s upbringing. Yet the actor didn’t hold it against his old man when he decided to defend an imprisoned Charles. DailyMail reported that Harrelson spent “millions of dollars on legal fees, attempting to get a new trial for his father”, convinced that the judge who convicted him was unfair in his ruling. Harrelson admitted that he, “Was just trying to a good son.” While sentencing proceedings went on, the Han Solo actor made sure to visit his father once every year up until his death. While many would assume their relationship was rather unusual, Harrelson admitted that “he and his old man were pretty good friends.” That just goes to show that the actor isn’t anything like his father. In fact, he’s a better version of him.
