Matthew McConaughey reveals mom’s bizarre request after his dad died during sex
In discussing his new poetry collection Poems & Prayers, the actor details how his father died of a heart attack after sex and his mother’s blunt reaction.
Matthew McConaughey says his father, James Donald McConaughey, died of a heart attack during sex in 1992, a detail he first disclosed in his 2020 memoir Greenlights and that he elaborated on in a Guardian interview about his new book, Poems & Prayers.
According to the actor, the death happened on a Monday afternoon. He was in Austin while his parents were in Houston. His mother, Kay, told him that "Your dad has moved on," but did not explain how at the time. When he got back, she filled in the rest: they had made love that morning at about 6:30 a.m., and as soon as they finished, he had a heart attack. James was naked when paramedics arrived, and Kay refused to have him covered.
McConaughey recalled the dynamics of his parents’ marriage. The Guardian described them as "God-fearing parents" who "beat the living crap out of each other." They married three times and divorced twice, McConaughey noted, suggesting they needed some breaks for each other.
As parents, they ran a tight ship. "Consequences were a big thing. From my mom and dad, you got expectations. There was fear of disobeying and doing wrong," he said, noting that respect, not talking back and making an effort were requirements. "You couldn’t say ‘can’t’ or ‘hate.’" He added that both words were treated like cuss words in their household.
McConaughey’s revelations come as he promotes Poems & Prayers, a collection that broadens the public sense of the man behind the on-screen roles. The Guardian interview ties the book to broader themes in his work, including resilience, faith and the complexities of family life.