Woody Harrelson, a beloved Hollywood actor known for his roles in True Detective and Zombieland, has left fans shocked—not by his acting, but by his family history.

Social media users recently resurfaced a lesser-known fact: Harrelson’s father, Charles Voyde Harrelson, was a convicted hitman. In 1979, Charles was arrested for the assassination of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr.—the first federal judge murdered in the 20th century. The hit was reportedly carried out for $250,000 on behalf of a drug dealer. After a six-hour standoff, he confessed to several killings, including JFK’s, though that claim was dismissed.

Charles Harrelson was convicted in 1982 and sentenced to two life terms. He remained in federal prison until his death in 2007.

Fans were floored. “That’s such a shocking and bizarre piece of history,” one commenter wrote. Another praised Woody for forging his own path despite the dark family legacy.

Woody has previously defended his father, even hinting at CIA involvement. In past interviews, he claimed the trial was unfair and described eerie similarities between them, saying, “It was mind-blowing… the way he laughed, the face—very similar.”

Despite his father’s past, Woody continues to thrive in his career, showing that our origins don’t define our future.