Fans of Woody Harrelson were stunned when they learned the identity of his father, reacting with disbelief and amazement. The 63-year-old actor, celebrated for iconic roles in The Hunger Games, Zombieland, True Detective, and Cheers, has built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers—but his family history tells a far darker story.
Woody Harrelson’s father, Charles Voyde Harrelson, was a notorious figure in organized crime and a convicted contract killer, a fact many fans had never known until recent posts surfaced on social media. An Instagram account, historyfeels, reminded followers of Charles’ criminal past, sharing archival photos of his 1980s trial and detailing his crimes.
A Life of Crime
Charles Harrelson’s criminal record was both extensive and infamous. 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. Investigators determined that Wood’s killing had been carried out for $250,000 on behalf of a drug dealer awaiting trial.
