Off The Record

It Took Matthew Mcconaughey’s Mother’s One Word To Convince Him That Woody Harrelson Might Be His ‘Brother’

Published on September 25, 2024

Even though Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have developed a close connection over the years, their real relationship may be more intimate than their platonic friendship. They are two of Hollywood’s most recognizable names, faces, and voices.

As they grew to become two of the biggest stars to ever grace the silver screen, the two actors—who are both from Texas in the US—developed a charming friendship.

In 2014, Harrelson and McConaughey starred opposite one another in the first season of True Detective, which remains a beloved television series to this day. It was one of the best shows of the year.

However, McConaughey and Harrelson might be related outside of the workplace. We’re talking about brothers, here, not figuratively.

Even though they both acted in the comedy film EDtv in 1999, when they first met, their relationship appears to have existed for much longer than either of them realized.

All of this stems from a conversation that took place between the two of them while they were vacationing in Greece with their families.

Mary Kathleen “Kay” McConaughey, McConaughey’s mother, was among them.

In elucidating the subsequent events, McConaughey stated that his mother uttered a single remark that seemed to pierce his relationship much more deeply than anyone could have imagined.

“In Greece a few years ago, we’re sitting around talking about how close we are and our families,” the 54-year-old said on the Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa podcast.

“And my mom is there, and she says, ‘Woody, I knew your dad’. Everyone was aware of the ellipses that my mom left after ‘knew’.”

“It was a loaded K-N-E-W.”

He also said: “And that’s part of our bromance, right? My kids call him Uncle Woody. His kids call me Uncle Matthew, etc. And you see pictures of us and my family thinks a lot of pictures of him are me. His family thinks a lot of pictures of me are him.”

The two movie stars proceeded to “unpack what this ‘knew’ meant and did some math,” according to the Interstellar actor.

When they learned that McConaughey’s parents were divorcing for the second time (yes, three times), they also learned that Harrelson’s father had been placed on furlough.

Harrelson stated: “The year of [McConaughey’s] birth, nine months before, she was on a sabbatical from her relationship with his supposed father, Jim.”

“Then there’s possible receipts and places out in West Texas where there might have been a gathering, or a meeting, or a ‘knew’ moment,” McConaughey continued.

In the past, McConaughey and Harrelson have discussed taking DNA testing to see whether or not this is true. Maury Povich has even offered to assist them in this regard.

However, because McConaughey feels uncomfortable with the thought of learning that his father is not his biological father—something he has always believed—they have stayed away from this up to this point.