How Matthew McConaughey discovered the unusual way his father died: 'Exactly what he wanted'

Matthew McConaughey has revealed new details about his father's death 33 years on.

The Hollywood star's father, James Donald McConaughey, died from a heart attack in 1992 shortly after having sex with the actor's mother, Kay.

McConaughey told The Guardian this week that his father's wish was to die making love to his wife, whom he had divorced and remarried twice.

"When I got that call it was a Monday afternoon. I was in Austin and they were in Houston. Mom said, 'Your dad has moved on,' but she didn't tell me on the initial call how. When I got back she told me," the Interstellar star said.

The actor first discussed his passing in his memoir Greenlights, writing: "He had a heart attack when he climaxed."

The actor said in the interview that his dad wouldn't have wanted him to "cover up" the way he died.

"They hauled him out on the gurney and they tried to cover him up, and my mom's in the driveway, and she pulled the sheet off him," McConaughey added to the publication.

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"It was 7.30am ... My understanding is that they made love that morning about 6.30am and as soon as they finished having sex, he had a heart attack."

The actor said his mum pulled the sheet off his dad because she "wasn't standing on ceremony."

"That's Big Jim, he's gonna go out how he went. Don't be trying to cover up how he went out. He's in his birthday suit and he's right there. Don't be covering that man up!'" 

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Kay and James got married three times and divorced twice, but they never got married to anyone else.

They first tied the knot in 1968, with their romance lasting on and off for 24 years.

His dad died at age 62. The actor had previously discussed the loss of his dad as "the biggest moment of becoming a man."

McConaughey became a romcom icon after appearing in several popular '00s blockbusters, including The Wedding Planner and How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.

He then shifted to more serious roles, going on to star in the Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf of Wall Street and his most recent film, The Lost Bus.

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Title: How Matthew McConaughey discovered the unusual way his father died: 'Exactly what he wanted'
Sourced From: celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/matthew-mcconaughey-actor-says-his-fathers-death-during-sex-was-exactly-what-he-wanted/79781aa2-d103-46dc-bedb-6322f03f75e3
Published Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2025 02:09:00 GMT