Woody Harrelson is known for playing odd, often morally grey characters. From Larry Flynt in ‘The People vs. Larry Flynt’ to Tallahassee in ‘Zombieland’ and even Haymitch in ‘The Hunger Games’, Harrelson’s career is filled with strong portrayals of ethically complex characters.
Perhaps this interest stems from the actions of his unscrupulous father.
Few would call Charles Harrelson a stand-up guy. As a young man, he made his way by gambling, and was eventually arrested for armed robbery. He had four different wives and three children, all of whom he eventually abandoned.
In 1981, Charles was arrested and convicted for the murder of US District Judge John H. Wood. Charles was hired to kill Wood by Jamiel Chagra, an El Paso drug dealer set to stand trial in Wood’s courtroom.
Prior to the Wood case, Charles was tried for the murders of Alan Berg and Sam Degelia.
After serving 16 years for his crimes, Charles and two fellow inmates were caught attempting to break out of prison. In 2007, he was found dead in his cell as a result of coronary artery disease.
