Death of a Real-Life Natural Born Killer

March 22, 2007 11:08 PM

Actor Woody Harrelson's father just died of a heart attack at age 69. Don't care? Well, let's add a few fun facts into the story to make it more interesting & newsworthy for you. Charles Harrelson died in prison, where he was serving two life sentences for murdering Judge John Wood, Jr. (the first federal judge to be murdered in the 20th century) for a payment of $250,000. Oh, and also? Many conspiracy theorists feel that he was also deeply involved in the murder of JFK.

It's no wonder Woody smokes pot and feels like an alien creature. Can anyone blame him?
posted by miss lynnster (26 comments total)

BTW, if you read just one link, I'd probably recommend the "two life sentences" one.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:17 PM on March 22, 2007

if by "feel that he was also deeply involved" they mean "have ignored the mountaint of evidence implying otherwise."

but this post is a pile of awesome, and full of interesting links which, had it not been for this post, I would not have thought COULD be interesting.

"a mefi fpp about woody harrelson's dad."
"are you kidding?"

that was me, before I read this post. kudos to you, miss lynnster!
posted by shmegegge at 11:25 PM on March 22, 2007

Neat post about a sad and strange subject. For what it's worth, another celebrity parent in Harrelson's Supermax is Tupac Shakur's stepdad.
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:32 PM on March 22, 2007

Back when Details magazine was worth reading, there was an interview with him where they touched upon the subject and how he tapped into that painful part of his past for his role in Natural Born Killers. Most people at that time just thought of him from Woody from Cheers and had no idea of the dark past that haunted him, and it seems as if most still don't know about it.
posted by GavinR at 11:38 PM on March 22, 2007

It's strange how many Hollywood celebrities have colorful family figures. Or were on the Mickey Mouse Club. It's usually one of the two.

What is it about Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories that make them so compelling? I'm just about ready to accept JFK hook, line, and sinker.
posted by maryn at 11:48 PM on March 22, 2007

I'm an official miss lynnster fan, it's true.

Plus, she's a total hottie.

Just sayin'.

Cool post.
posted by disillusioned at 11:56 PM on March 22, 2007

A lot of the old time poker players I have met have good stories about Charles Harrelson. He was well-known in the Texas road games where Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, Treetop Strauss and others came up. He was pretty notorious as a cheat and a tough guy. The story I heard was that he learned how to cheat at cards in prison.

The rumors that have Harrelson associated with the Kennedy assassination in the poker world usually have him associated with George McGann, another poker guy from that timeframe. Both are sometimes described at Dixie Mafia assassins -- Buford Pusser (the Walking Tall guy) has accused McGann of murdering Pusser's wife.
posted by Lame_username at 12:26 AM on March 23, 2007

Plus, she's a total hottie.

Please provide some links, disillusioned?

It's no wonder Woody smokes pot

I thought that was just because he's a cool guy? Do we need childhood trauma as a justification for appreciating the goodness of jah? Does everything I say have to be formed as a question? Is this mic on?
posted by Meatbomb at 12:53 AM on March 23, 2007

Do we need childhood trauma as a justification for appreciating the goodness of jah?

Absolutely not! I've been appreciating the goodness of jah for many, many years now, and I had no childhood trauma.

Hey, wait a minute. Maybe I just don't remember my childhood traumas, since I've been, y'know, appreciating the goodness of jah for many, many years now...

*ffffffffffffftttt*...

.......................... *exhale*
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:45 AM on March 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Lame_username writes "A lot of the old time poker players I have met have good stories about Charles Harrelson. He was well-known in the Texas road games where Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, Treetop Strauss and others came up. He was pretty notorious as a cheat and a tough guy. The story I heard was that he learned how to cheat at cards in prison.


Coincidentally, they're discussing Harrelson over on Two Plus Two at the moment. Harrelson made the hit on the judge in an attempt to avoid the sentencing of a notorious Texas drug dealer called Jimmy Chagra.

In his seminal poker book, The Biggest Game in Town, Al Alvarez talks a lot about how most of the big card players took millions from Chagra, a notorious donk who liked to blow his drug dealing profits gambling on pretty much anything and everything, and guys like Brunson, Strauss, Chip Reese, etc. are reported as having taken large slices of Chagra's bankroll.

Also, another Miss Lynster fan over here. I've no idea what she looks like, but her voice alone makes her a total hottie.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:49 AM on March 23, 2007

For Meatbomb: http://www.lynnster.com/saints.html
posted by davidmsc at 3:59 AM on March 23, 2007

davidmsc: Well, that seals it. Missy Lynn, your Queen Of The Universe statuette and assorted gift bags (the good ones, not the recycled paper shamebombs stuffed with Heifer Int'l gift certificates) await you at the bar. Drinks are on Patricia Heaton! That'll learn her to leave her credit card receipts where I can find 'em!
posted by maryh at 4:40 AM on March 23, 2007

Peter,
They're also discussing George McGann. - (via Iggy)
posted by bashos_frog at 5:06 AM on March 23, 2007

Yeah. Everyone knows that Murdering Father is the gateway drug to marijuana.
posted by Dave Faris at 5:18 AM on March 23, 2007

West Texas is truely a beautiful, strange, odd place ... it is like it exists in some sort of time warp. I love it. Several years ago I was on my way to Marfa, TX (where Donald Judd has created an art installation). I flew into El Paso and had a day to spend wandering around. Pawnshops, guns, more guns ... you name it. As I was standing on the corner, waiting to cross the street, a very tough looking guy walked up to me and said ... "Hey you, where you from?" When I said New york City, he smiled ... "OK then, ...... I guess." and walked away.
posted by R. Mutt at 6:34 AM on March 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Very interesting stuff. Thank you!
posted by frecklefaerie at 6:56 AM on March 23, 2007

They're also discussing George McGann

Johnny Hughes is an awesome story teller. I didn't know he posted at 2+2, I might have to head back there. His stories as posted at PokerPages are well worth the time to read through them if you enjoy that sort of thing.

He's a college professor, dontcha know?
posted by Lame_username at 7:15 AM on March 23, 2007

Well, hey. I'm strangely liking the direction this thread about the homicidal father of Woody Harrelson has been taking. ;)
posted by miss lynnster at 8:02 AM on March 23, 2007

Here's a good article on Charles Harrelson.
posted by miss lynnster at 8:28 AM on March 23, 2007

R. Mut,
As a native Texan, let me recommend that if you're ever in Marfa again you should check out the famous Marfa Lights out on Route 67. Alien activity, or still-awesome atmospheric phenomenon? You decide! Either way it's pretty cool.
posted by Sangermaine at 8:45 AM on March 23, 2007

Charles Voyde Harrelson

I have to say, "Voyde" is one heck of a name. Sorta like Floyd crossed with void. Its asking for trouble to name your kid "Voyde".
posted by R. Mutt at 9:24 AM on March 23, 2007

Alien activity, or still-awesome atmospheric phenomenon? You decide! Either way it's pretty cool.

Hitler's ghost. Duh.
posted by redhanrahan at 9:30 AM on March 23, 2007

"Harrelson's attorney, Thomas G. Sharpe Jr., says he will prove that the Harrelsons were 270 miles away in Dallas when Wood was killed."

- so I take it the whole 270 miles away defense didn't work out.
posted by fatbaq at 1:13 PM on March 23, 2007

Fascinating... this post has everything a plotboiler could possibly want, from murder and mayhem, to top level government intrigue... and it all comes with a high profile (pun intended) celebrity tie in.

Special thanks go to miss lynster in the name of Patron Saint Concepta for her link to the San Antonio coverage of the Harrelson trial. The trial judge for Harrelson was William Sessions, who went on to head the FBI , and the prosecutors were Ray and LeRoy Jahn, later instrumental in the Branch Dividian and Whitewater fiascos.

Well, I'll be damned if it doesn't look to me like you can't hyperlink to some things no matter how hard you try.
posted by Huplescat at 1:53 PM on March 23, 2007

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA032107.01A.Harrelson.373a2b6.html

http://www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=1995/6/30/203349
posted by Huplescat at 3:06 PM on March 23, 2007

Great post - most interesting and well presented. And the "if you read just one link" touch was thoughtful.

Count me in the miss lynster fan base.
posted by madamjujujive at 7:43 PM on March 23, 2007