They’re two of Hollywood’s most recognizable names, faces, and voices. Over the years, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have built a strong friendship, but their bond might go beyond just a bromance.
Both Texas natives, these two actors have developed an endearing friendship over the years as they rose to become two of Hollywood’s biggest stars on the silver screen.
Harrelson and McConaughey shared the screen in the first season of True Detective in 2014, delivering standout performances in what became one of the year’s best shows—still widely acclaimed by critics today.
Off-screen, McConaughey and Harrelson might be more than just friends—they could actually be related. And not distantly, but as brothers.
Although they first met in 1999 while starring together in the comedy EDtv, their connection appears to run much deeper than either of them initially realized.
The discovery stems from a conversation between the two while they were on a family vacation in Greece.
McConaughey’s mother, Mary Kathleen ‘Kay’ McConaughey, was also part of that family vacation.
McConaughey explained that during the conversation, his mother said one particular word that made their connection feel much deeper 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 McConaughey shared on the Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast with Kelly Ripa.
“And my mom is there, and she says, ‘Woody, I knew your dad.’ Everyone noticed the pause after ‘knew,'” McConaughey recalled.
“It was a loaded K-N-E-W,” McConaughey added.
He continued, “And that’s part of our bromance, right? My kids call him Uncle Woody, and his kids call me Uncle Matthew. You see pictures of us, and my family often thinks a lot of his photos are me, while his family thinks many of my pictures are him.”
The Interstellar actor mentioned that the two film stars went on to “unpack what this ‘knew’ meant and did some math.”
They discovered that Harrelson’s dad was on furlough at the same time McConaughey’s parents were going through their second divorce (they were married three times, no joke).
Harrelson remarked, “The year of [McConaughey’s] birth, nine months before, she was on a sabbatical from her relationship with his supposed father, Jim.”
“Then there are possible receipts and places out in West Texas where there might have been a gathering, or a meeting, or a ‘knew’ moment,” McConaughey added.
The duo has previously discussed the possibility of doing DNA tests to confirm if they really share a father. Even Maury Povich has offered to lend a helping hand in this quest for the truth.
However, they have hesitated to proceed with the tests, as McConaughey feels uneasy about the possibility of discovering that his father isn’t his biological dad—a belief he has held his entire life.
Nonetheless, he responded to Povich’s offer, saying, “I don’t know if we’re gonna do it on your show, but I like the way you’re thinking.”
