Charles Harrelson: The Hitman Father of Actor Woody Harrelson

 

Charles Harrelson, a name that often surfaces in discussions about organized crime and high-profile assassinations, is perhaps best known today as the father of actor Woody Harrelson. However, his own life story is a dark and complex tale of crime, violence, and controversy.

 Early Life and Criminal Career

Charles Harrelson was born in 1938 in Huntsville, Texas. Little is known about his early years, but by the 1960s, he had established himself as a professional gambler and hitman. Harrelson’s criminal career included various illegal activities, but it was his contract killings that brought him notoriety.

 High-Profile Murders

Harrelson's reputation as a hitman was solidified with several high-profile murders. In 1968, he was implicated in the killing of Alan Berg, a carpet salesman. Harrelson was acquitted, but the case marked the beginning of his infamy.

However, it was the murder of federal judge John H. Wood Jr. in 1979 that would seal his fate. Judge Wood, known as "Maximum John" for his harsh sentences, was assassinated outside his San Antonio home. Harrelson was hired by Texas drug dealer Jamiel Chagra to carry out the hit in exchange for $250,000. This assassination marked the first time in U.S. history that a federal judge was murdered.

Capture and Conviction

Harrelson’s capture came after a dramatic standoff with police in 1980, during which he reportedly confessed to killing Judge Wood. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to two life terms in prison. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Harrelson maintained his innocence regarding some of the accusations, although he admitted to being a hitman.

 Claims of Involvement in the Kennedy Assassination

One of the most controversial aspects of Harrelson’s life is his repeated assertion that he was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Harrelson claimed he was the man behind the grassy knoll in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, on November 22, 1963. These claims have been widely dismissed by experts and investigators, who view them as attempts to inflate his own notoriety.

Despite the lack of credible evidence supporting his claims, Harrelson’s assertions have contributed to the myriad conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy’s assassination. The Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination, concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, and no substantial evidence has ever linked Harrelson to the crime.

 Relationship with Woody Harrelson

Charles Harrelson's criminal activities and imprisonment had a profound impact on his family, including his son, Woody Harrelson. Woody, who would go on to become a successful actor known for roles in films such as "Natural Born Killers" and "Zombieland," has spoken candidly about his relationship with his father.

In interviews, Woody Harrelson has described his father as a charismatic and enigmatic figure. He has acknowledged the complexities of their relationship and the difficulty of reconciling his father’s crimes with his own experiences of him as a parent. Woody has also visited his father in prison and has expressed a mixture of love and bewilderment toward him.

 Later Years and Death

Charles Harrelson spent the remainder of his life in prison, where he continued to proclaim his innocence in various crimes while admitting guilt in others. His life behind bars was marked by several escape attempts and ongoing legal battles.

Harrelson died of a heart attack in 2007 at the age of 68. His death closed the final chapter on a life filled with crime, controversy, and speculation.

 Legacy

The legacy of Charles Harrelson is a dark and complex one. As a notorious hitman, his name is often invoked in discussions about organized crime and high-profile murders. His claims about the Kennedy assassination, though widely discredited, have added to the tapestry of conspiracy theories that surround that pivotal moment in American history.

For Woody Harrelson, his father's legacy is a personal and painful part of his own story. Despite the darkness that surrounded Charles Harrelson’s life, Woody has carved out a successful career and life for himself, demonstrating resilience and the capacity to rise above a troubled past.

The story of Charles Harrelson serves as a stark reminder of the human capacity for both destruction and redemption, and the complex ways in which the sins of the father can echo through the lives of their children.