Matthew McConaughey has playfully added fuel to the persistent rumors that he and longtime friend Woody Harrelson might be biological brothers. In a social media post celebrating Harrelson's 65th birthday on Thursday, McConaughey shared a photo of the two embracing with the caption, 'from another mother? Happy birthday brother.'
This playful acknowledgment comes as the two actors are set to star in the upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series "Brothers." The show features fictionalized versions of themselves whose close bond is challenged when they discover a long-buried secret: they may be biological siblings. The eight-episode, half-hour series is scheduled to premiere on September 23.
The speculation about a familial connection between McConaughey, 56, and Harrelson, 65, reportedly began when McConaughey's mother mentioned knowing Harrelson's father. This suggested a past connection between their parents in West Texas. McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, and Harrelson in Midland, Texas, approximately 279 miles apart.
Further details emerged as the actors reportedly pieced together that Harrelson's father, Charles Voyde Harrelson, a convicted contract killer, was on furlough from prison around the time McConaughey's parents were divorcing for the second time. Harrelson's father received a life sentence for the 1979 murder of a judge and had limited contact with Woody Harrelson during his childhood, abandoning the family when Woody was seven. Harrelson later attempted to reconnect with his father in prison until his death in 2007.
While Harrelson has expressed a desire to confirm or deny the potential relationship through a DNA test, McConaughey has reportedly been hesitant, concerned that such a discovery could disrupt his understanding of his family history and the father who raised him.
The premise of "Brothers" was reportedly inspired by these rumors. In the series, Harrelson's character visits McConaughey's ranch, leading to a revelation from McConaughey's mother, Ma Mac (played by Holland Taylor), about their potential sibling status. The show also delves into McConaughey's character contemplating a run for governor of Texas.
McConaughey and Harrelson first met in 1997 on the set of the film "EDtv." They have since developed a close friendship, often bonding over their shared Texan roots, professional projects, and family connections. McConaughey stated in 2023 that their children refer to each other as "Uncle Woody" and "Uncle Matthew," and that their families sometimes mistake photos of one for the other.
Harrelson married Laura Louie in 2008 and they have three daughters: Deni, Zoe, and Makani. McConaughey married Camila Alves in 2012, and they have three children: Levi, Vida, and Livingston.