Matthew McConaughey is one of Hollywood's biggest stars who has amassed a wealth of experience in acting with hits like Interstellar, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, and Unsolved Mysteries. Yup, you read that right! McConaughey did appear in the aforementioned show way back in his early twenties!
Unsolved Mysteries revolves around the world's most asked questions about the unknown. Whether it's unraveling a gruesome murder or unexplained paranormal activities in the neighborhood. The show is inspired by true events, making it all the more chilling for viewers.
The show even emphasizes the existence of aliens and other mythical creatures that have been caught on tape. Unsolved Mysteries initially appeared on NBC in the 90s before it relaunched on Netflix with 4 volumes. So how did an actor like McConaughey end up on the show?
Inside Matthew McConaughey's role in Unsolved Mysteries
Usually, one would expect the dapper gentleman to have bagged the role of a hero or a detective given his reputation. However, in Unsolved Mysteries, McConaughey starred as a murder victim - a brief cameo in an episode of the show.
McConaughey took on the role of 'Larry Dickens' in the episode 'Texas Most Wanted' in Season 5 of Unsolved Mysteries that aired in 1992. Dickens was a humble Joe, living happily in a neighborhood with his kid and mother.
However, after McConaughey's character learned about a pervert flashing children in the neighborhood, he decided to confront the man. This triggered the perp who decided to teach his accusor a lesson.
One sunny morning when a nearly shirtless McConaughey was hard at work mowing his lawn, the same man showed up in a car. Without a moment's notice, he whipped out a shotgun and shot McConaughey in the chest leaving him to bleed out in his garage.
This led to McConaughey's character becoming a victim in a murder case in the aforementioned episode. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, a producer who worked with McConaughey recalled the "fairly robust death scene." Looking back at his acting skills from back in the day, the producer claimed,
"Let's just say...his acting has come a long way since then (playing the murder victim in Unsolved Mysteries)..."
McConaughey has since appeared in several blockbuster movies and shows such as True Detective, Mud, The Sea of Trees, and other hits. Looking back at his role in Unsolved Mysteries, McConaughey got rather nostalgic in his interview with IMDB. He recalled:
"I was the guy who got shot while mowing my mother's grass...Somebody had seen the episode I was in and made a call, and they caught the guy eleven days later."
Despite it being years since McConaughey's appearance, he still remembers the brief role he played in Unsolved Murder fondly.
Is there a new volume of Unsolved Mysteries?
Viewers of Unsolved Mysteries will be thrilled to learn that just after the release of Volume 4, the show will be back just in time for Halloween! Per Variety, Unsolved Mystery is renewed for Volume 5, and will have 4 episodes (for now).
Although Netflix has yet to announce an official date, the publication confirms that the episodes will air sometime in October. The docuseries co-creator Terry Dunn Meurer did offer a teaser for the upcoming new volume. Meurer claimed:
"It is the most baffling mystery of all of them I've ever done! That's all I can say right now!"
Given the show's reputation, viewers are certainly in for a haunting Volume 5 of Unsolved Mysteries. Until its arrival, you can binge all four volumes of the show on Netflix.
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