Matthew McConaughey reveals detail about his dad’s death during sex
Actor says his mother insisted his father remain nude as paramedics retrieved his body after a 1992 heart attack
Matthew McConaughey has shared a startling new detail about the death of his father, James McConaughey, in an interview that expands on recollections from his memoir and recent press appearances. The actor said his father died of a heart attack after having sex with his wife, Kay McConaughey, in 1992, and that Kay insisted the husband remain in the nude when responders retrieved his body.
In a Guardian interview promoting his latest work, McConaughey recalled that when paramedics arrived at the scene, his mother stood in the driveway and pulled the sheet away from James’s body. He said it was 7:30 a.m., and that the couple had finished making love roughly an hour earlier, around 6:30 a.m., before the heart attack struck. “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. It was 7:30 am. 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,” McConaughey said, recounting his mother’s response: “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!”
The revelation adds another layer to the larger account of his parents’ relationship, which McConaughey has described as tumultuous in his 2020 memoir Greenlights. He has repeatedly spoken about the powerful, muscular persona of his father—whom he described in dramatic terms, such as “the abominable snowman, the immovable force, a bear of a man, with the immune system of a Viking and the strength of a bull.” He has said his father’s death contributed to his own maturation and his sense of responsibility as a son and as a man.
The Guardian piece also ties the moment to McConaughey’s broader reflections on fatherhood and growing up. He has described how the loss propelled him toward greater independence and courage, noting that his mother’s decision to confront the moment publicly underscored the reality of life and death in a way that shaped his approach to risk, leadership, and personal authenticity. In separate interviews, he has described how his father’s departure served as a catalyst for his own career choices and the drive to live boldly, even as he recognized the gravity of the loss.
McConaughey has long written about his family dynamics, including a description of his parents’ rocky relationship and multiple marriages. He has said that his father’s death forced him to confront adulthood with a sharper sense of responsibility, while also acknowledging the complex, sometimes conflicting emotions that surrounded his upbringing. His reflections come as he continues to balance a varied slate of projects and public commitments.
Beyond the personal retelling, McConaughey is actively promoting work in film and literature. He stars in The Lost Bus, an Apple TV+ project scheduled for release on Oct. 3, and has recently published Poems & Prayers, a collection released on Sept. 16 that features poems and prayers about navigating life and pursuing one’s early ambitions. In addition to his film and literary pursuits, he has appeared on talk programs and podcasts to discuss his career and his personal life, including a Goop podcast appearance this week where he spoke about meeting his wife, Camila Alves.
The new detail arrives as McConaughey remains in the public eye for his ongoing creative output, a blend of acting commitments and literary work that continues to shape his public narrative. As the conversation around his career evolves, the actor’s willingness to revisit intimate family moments underscores a broader trend of artists sharing personal histories to illuminate their artistic paths and life philosophy.