Charles Harrelson Was a Hitman and Woody Harrelson's Father Facts about Him
Noah Mitchell
Published Feb 16, 2026
Charles V. Harrelson, the father of Hollywood superstar Woody Harrelson, was described as a “murderer-for-hire,” “drug mover and user,” and “debt collector.” Charles died in jail in 2007.
Woody Harrelson’s youth was very uncommon, especially as a result of he slightly saw his dad rising up as he was in and out of jail. Born in 1938, Charles Harrelson worked as a sonar guy within the Navy.
At the end of his army profession, he worked as a salesman and could repair dental apparatus. As years went via, Charles turned into a professional gambler who may just put “any hand” at “any position” just by shuffling a new deck of cards.
Woody Harrelson on October 15, 2017 in London, England | Photo: Getty Images
CHARLES HARRELSON WAS CHARMING
Jason Cavanagh, a journalist who investigated Charles for his podcast, identified that folks categorized him as a shockingly good and fascinating man. According to a Texas Ranger, Charles was a “con guy with persona.”
Jim Kershaw, a retired Houston jailer, as soon as said he evolved such a just right dating with Charles that they even had nicknames for each different. Charles was “Deacon,” as he could quote the Bible like one.
Charles Harrelson was labeled a hitman for the primary time in 1968 when he reportedly killed carpet salesman Alan Berg. Frank DiMaria, a rival carpet vendor, allegedly hired Woody Harrelson’s dad to kill Berg.
Surprisingly, Charles managed to rent superstar protection lawyer Percy Foreman – who represented arranged crime figures – and was found now not to blame. However, it wouldn’t be the only time Charles faced justice.
When the police investigated the demise of grain broker Sam Degelia, they realized that his trade partner sought after his life insurance coverage payout, so he reportedly employed Charles to kill him.
After spending 3 years in jail waiting for trial, Charles Harrelson was found accountable and sentenced to fifteen years behind bars. He simplest served five, regardless that.
KILLING JUDGE JOHN WOOD
The crime that put Woody Harrelson’s father in prison for just right was the assassination of John Wood, the pass judgement on within the trial of drug kingpin Jimmy Chagra.
Chagra, one of the vital marijuana traffickers in the States right through the 70s, reportedly paid Charles $250,000 to kill Wood as he was petrified of the sentence that the judge may just impose.
Charles Harrelson’s trial was uncommon, particularly as a result of prosecutors incorporated a witness testimony below hypnosis (which might never be admissible in courtroom these days).
Apart from that, the modus operandi didn’t have compatibility the way Charles killed his sufferers, but “admissibility was stretched to its absolute limits” so that Charles was convicted.
Although Chagra was in the end acquitted of the murder, Charles Harrelson was discovered accountable and sentenced to 2 life sentences. In March 2007, Charles was found dead in his cell at the Supermax federal jail in Florence, Colorado.
An post-mortem published he had critical coronary artery illness and died of a heart attack “most certainly in his sleep.” He spent over twenty years in prison and passed on to the great beyond at 69 years previous.
WOODY HARRELSON ON HIS DAD
In an interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters, Woody Harrelson stated his dad didn’t face a fair trial, particularly considering that Chagra was acquitted. The “Cheers” actor said:
"I'm not saying my father is a saint, but I think he's innocent of that [judge's killing]. […] I haven’t given up hope.”
The actor revealed he learned his dad was a killer when he was 11 or 12 as he heard a radio host talking about “Charles V. Harrelson and his trial for murder.” When Woody was old enough, he tried to get his dad a new trial to get him out of jail.
While Woody spent “a couple of million” in lawyers, it was impossible. The silver lining is that Woody and Charles Harrelson had already worked issues out and had been friends when the latter passed away.
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