Woody Harrelson's dad dies in prison

gldstwmn · #1 03-21-2007, 03:28 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/21/har....ap/index.html

DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- Actor Woody Harrelson's father, Charles Harrelson, died of a heart attack in the Supermax federal prison where he was serving two life sentences for the murder of a federal judge, officials said Wednesday.

Charles Harrelson, 69, was found unresponsive in his cell on the morning of March 15, said Felicia Ponce, a Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman in Washington.

Fremont County Coroner Dorothy Twellman said an autopsy showed Harrelson had severe coronary artery disease. She said he probably died in his sleep. "It appears it was very sudden."

Charles Harrelson was convicted of murder in the May 29, 1979, slaying of U.S. District Judge John Wood Jr. outside his San Antonio, Texas, home. Prosecutors said a drug dealer hired him to kill Wood because he did not want the judge to preside at his upcoming trial.

Charles Harrelson denied the killing, saying he was in Dallas, 270 miles away, at the time.

Wood, known as "Maximum John" for the sentences he gave in drug cases, was the first federal judge to be killed in the 20th century.

Charles Harrelson was transferred to Supermax, the highest-security federal prison, after attempting to break out of an Atlanta federal prison in 1995. Other inmates at Supermax, about 90 miles south of Denver, include Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski, Oklahoma City bombing coconspirator Terry Nichols and Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph.

His son got his start in acting as Woody the bartender on "Cheers" beginning in 1985 and went on to star in films including "Natural Born Killers," "White Men Can't Jump" and "The People vs. Larry Flynt."

Woody Harrelson's publicist did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

The actor was just 7 when his father was first sent to prison, for murdering a Texas businessman. He was in college when his father was convicted of the judge's assassination.

strandinthewind · #2 03-21-2007, 03:36 PM

How is this possibly newsworthy on a national level

gldstwmn · #3 03-21-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

How is this possibly newsworthy on a national level

I feel bad for Woody. His father killed a federal judge. Perhaps we should just continue to post threads where we all gaze at our navels?

BTFLCHLD · #4 03-21-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I feel bad for Woody. His father killed a federal judge. Perhaps we should just continue to post threads where we all gaze at our navels?

I feel bad too...I have been aware of his father's circumstance for quite some time and I am glad I know about this.

If strandie wasn't staring at his navel...how would he spend his time?
Should I post the pic of his sledding adventure?

ELIUD · #5 03-21-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

How is this possibly newsworthy on a national level

I bet it's because he's also been rumored to be the actual triggerman who shot Kennedy. Not that I believe it but there's so much I don't believe about the Kennedy assasination that anything seems possible.

Serrart · #6 03-21-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I feel bad for Woody. His father killed a federal judge. Perhaps we should just continue to post threads where we all gaze at our navels?

I agree it's a pretty big news, and it's already going around the world.

Romy

gldstwmn · #7 03-21-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELIUD

I bet it's because he's also been rumored to be the actual triggerman who shot Kennedy. Not that I believe it but there's so much I don't believe about the Kennedy assasination that anything seems possible.

Really? Fascinating. I never heard that before. Wow!

JazmenFlowers · #8 03-21-2007, 07:13 PM

but there are a lot of kids whose fathers do really bad things and go to prison. if Woody wasn't a celebrity and for the reason Eliud stated (which I was also unaware of), this wouldn't be such a hot topic on the news today. I mean, that's just reality. I'm not saying it's right or wrong.

it certainly is sad that Woody or any child had/has to grow up with a father like this and miss that connection with his or her father. didn't Woody and his father reconcile to some extent? I can't remember if they totally did or were totally estranged.

strandinthewind · #9 03-21-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

. . . Perhaps we should just continue to post threads where we all gaze at our navels?

Honey - let's just get this straight - everyone gazes not only at my ab defined navel, but at me in general and in an adoring manner with mouthes agape in awe.

gldstwmn · #10 03-21-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Honey - let's just get this straight - everyone gazes not only at my ab defined navel, but at me in general and in an adoring manner with mouthes agape in awe.

Thread killer. Let's all post about how much we fart on a daily basis.