A Hollywood Star’s Hitman Father
The life and crimes of Charles Harrelson.
Woody Harrelson didn’t know his father. Charles Harrelson bailed on his family when Woody was a child. He would connect with his father years later and learn the full reason why they didn’t have much contact.
Born on July 23, 1938, in Lovelady, TX, Charles Harrelson joined the Navy at a young age and was discharged in 1959. He married a woman named Diane and moved with her to Los Angeles, CA. There, he became an encyclopedia salesman and burgeoning criminal.
In 1960, he was arrested and convicted of armed robbery. Always a hustler, Harrelson sought a way to reduce his sentence. He agreed to record a conversation with a convicted killer while in jail. In exchange, he received five years probation and had the charge expunged from his record.
Family Life…Sort Of
According to Express-News, Harrelson moved back to Texas and sold dental equipment. Diane gave birth to three boys, Woody, Brett, and Jordan. But a fulfilling family life couldn’t tame Harrelson.
He and Diane divorced when Woody was seven. By 1965, Harrelson would be married again before officially divorcing Diane and living in Houston. He took up gambling full-time for income, but there were other things he was good at as…
