Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 11, 2025 · Entertainment

Woody Harrelson's Shocking Family Secret: Mobster Father Revealed

Woody Harrelson fans have been left blown away after they discovered who his father is after an Instagram account revealed who it is to its followers last month

SHOCKING FAMILY SECRETS: WOODY HARRELSON'S DAD WAS A COLD-BLOODED KILLER!

Get ready for a jaw-dropping revelation that will leave you speechless! Woody Harrelson, the beloved actor known for his iconic roles in Cheers, True Detective, and The Hunger Games, has a family secret that's about to blow your mind. Yes, folks, we're talking about his dad - Charles Voyde Harrelson, a notorious contract killer with ties to organized crime!

THE TRUTH COMES TO LIGHT

Woody's father is none other than mobster and contract killer Charles Voyde Harrelson (pictured in 1982)

Last month, an Instagram account called @historyfeels dropped a bombshell on the internet, exposing Woody's dad as a cold-blooded assassin. But before we get into the juicy details, let's set the scene: Charles Harrelson was a contract killer who carried out hits for big bucks. In 1979, he allegedly took out U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr., the first federal judge to be murdered in the 20th century! That's right, folks - Woody's dad was involved in the assassination of a sitting judge!

THE SHOCKING MURDER

According to @historyfeels, Charles Harrelson was hired by a drug dealer for a whopping $250,000 to take out Judge Wood. The hit went down, and Charles was later caught after a six-hour standoff with police. In a stunning confession, he admitted to multiple killings, including JFK's assassination! But wait, there's more - Woody's dad claimed that he was a secret CIA operative at the time of JFK's murder!

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

WOODY'S DEFENSE

Now, you might be wondering how Woody Harrelson, the actor we love, responded to these shocking revelations. Well, it turns out that Woody has been a staunch defender of his dad, insisting that Charles was innocent of Judge Wood's assassination! In fact, Woody spent millions on legal fees trying to secure a new trial for his dad!

A COMPLICATED PAST

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

But here's the thing - Woody's family life was anything but normal. When he was just seven years old, his dad left his mom and three sons to pursue a life of crime! His mom, Diane, was left to support their family on her meager salary as a legal secretary in Houston, Texas.

WOODY'S EARLY WAKE-UP CALL

As Woody grew up, he began to realize that his dad's profession wasn't exactly... savory. In fact, it wasn't until he was 12 years old that he found out about his dad's dubious past! He told The Guardian in 2012, "I'm sitting there thinking there can't be another Charles V. Harrelson. I mean, that's my dad! It was a wild realization..."

A SON'S LOYALTY

Despite his father's questionable actions, Woody remained fiercely loyal to him. He spent years trying to get his dad out of prison and even spent millions on legal fees!

A DIFFICULT TRUTH

When Charles Harrelson passed away in 2007 at the age of 69, Woody was devastated! In a TV interview, he said, "I love 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..."

A FAMILY SECRET NO MORE

Well, folks, it looks like Woody Harrelson's family secret is finally out in the open! Whether you're a die-hard fan or just curious about the actor's complex past, this shocking revelation has got everyone talking!

Stay tuned for more juicy gossip and updates on @thescholarlynote.com!

Shocked fans took to the comments to share their disbelieve

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