Diane Lou Oswald is best known as the mother of Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson, but her life story is far more complex than most people realize. Born in 1937 in Lebanon, Ohio, she grew up in a small, close-knit community where church and family shaped her values. She worked as a legal secretary and raised three sons—Woody, Brett, and Jordan—mostly on her own after her marriage to Charles Harrelson ended. While her son became a famous actor, Diane quietly carried the burden of a troubled marriage to a man who later became a convicted hitman. Despite everything, she remained a steady, loving influence on her children and has lived a life defined by resilience and quiet strength.
Diane Lou Oswald Biography
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Diane Lou Oswald |
| Also Known As | Diane Harrelson |
| Born | 1937 |
| Birthplace | Lebanon, Ohio, USA |
| Age | Estimated 88 or 89 |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Legal Secretary |
| Parents | Kenneth Earl Oswald (1912–1957) and Mary Lou Oswald (1915–2000) |
| Spouse | Charles Voyde Harrelson |
| Marriage | 1958 or 1959 (sources vary) |
| Divorce | 1964 |
| Children | Jordan Kenneth Harrelson, Woody Harrelson, Brett V. Harrelson |
| Famous Son | Woody Harrelson, actor |
| Ex-Husband | Charles Harrelson, convicted hitman; died in prison in 2007 |
| Relation to Lee Harvey Oswald | No known family relation; shared surname only |
| Residence | Private; believed to be in the United States, likely Ohio |
| Net Worth | Not publicly known |
| Public Life | Very private; rarely gives interviews |
| Known For | Raising three sons alone; mother of Woody Harrelson |
| Legacy | Credited by Woody Harrelson for teaching compassion, honor, and integrity |
Early Life and Family Background
Diane Lou Oswald was born in 1937 in Lebanon, a small town in Warren County, Ohio. It was the kind of place where neighbors knew each other by name and the local church was the center of community life. That upbringing gave her the strong values she would rely on later when things got hard. She was born to Kenneth and Mary Lou Oswald, and though her exact birth date is not publicly known, she grew up in a normal, working-class family. Not much is known about her childhood, but the simple, honest environment of Lebanon, Ohio, clearly shaped the kind of person she became—practical, faithful, and dedicated to family.
Diane Lou Oswald’s Parents and Family
Diane was born to Kenneth Earl Oswald and Mary Lou Oswald. Her father Kenneth was born in 1912 and passed away in 1957, when Diane was about twenty years old. Her mother Mary Lou was born on March 16, 1915, and lived a long life, passing away on May 22, 2000. Kenneth was born to Dutch and Izora Oswald, so Diane came from a fairly ordinary American family with deep roots in Ohio. Her parents gave her a modest but stable childhood. Later in life, after her divorce, Diane would return to Lebanon and find support from her mother and grandmother while raising her three boys.
Career and Professional Life
Diane Lou Oswald worked as a legal secretary, a job she held for many years to support her family. It was steady work that required attention to detail and reliability, qualities she clearly had. Raising three boys alone on a secretary’s salary was not easy, and Woody has spoken about how the family was relatively poor during his childhood. Diane managed to keep food on the table and take care of her children despite the financial strain. Her work as a legal secretary was the backbone of the family’s survival, and she continued in this profession even as she dealt with the personal turmoil of her marriage falling apart and her ex-husband’s criminal life.
Diane Lou Oswald and Charles Harrelson Meet
Diane met Charles Voyde Harrelson while he was on leave from the U.S. Navy, and they married on a whim in Houston, Texas. The exact date of their wedding is listed in some sources as February 26, 1958, and in others as 1959. The ceremony was performed by a Baptist reverend named L. D. Morgan in Pasadena, Texas. Charles was a charming man—described by some as a “womanizer” and a “card shark”—and Diane, a devout Presbyterian, likely saw a different side of him at first. It was a whirlwind romance that would lead to three children but also to years of heartbreak and struggle.
Who is Charles Harrelson?
Charles Voyde Harrelson was born on July 23, 1938, in Huntsville, Texas. He was a man of many faces: an encyclopedia salesman, a professional gambler, and ultimately a convicted contract killer. He was convicted of assassinating federal judge John H. Wood Jr. in 1979—the first federal judge to be assassinated in the 20th century. He also claimed involvement in dozens of murders and even said he killed President John F. Kennedy, though this was never proven. He married four times in total, and Diane was his second wife. He died in prison on March 15, 2007, at the age of 68, from a heart attack.
Diane Lou Oswald’s Marriage and Divorce
Diane and Charles married in the late 1950s, but their marriage was far from stable. Charles was frequently in trouble with the law, and he was convicted of armed robbery in 1960. The couple had three sons together—Jordan, Woody, and Brett—all born within three years of each other. The marriage officially ended in divorce in 1964, when Woody was only about three years old. However, Charles was not a present father even before the divorce; Woody later recalled that his father was “gone a lot” before the separation. After the divorce, Diane was left to raise three young boys on her own.
Diane Lou Oswald’s Children and Family Life
Diane had three sons with Charles Harrelson: Jordan Kenneth, Woodrow “Woody” Tracy, and Brett V. Harrelson. Woody was born on July 23, 1961, in Midland, Texas—ironically, on the same day as his father’s birthday. Diane raised all three boys as a single mother, working as a secretary and relying on her faith and her own mother and grandmother for support. The family lived in Texas until Woody was about twelve years old, then moved to Lebanon, Ohio, Diane’s hometown, for a fresh start. Life was not easy, but Diane kept the family together and made sure her sons had a stable home.
Relationship With Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson has spoken openly and lovingly about his mother in many interviews. He told The Guardian in 2018, “I do feel she was a great influence on me and instilled a lot of good values, just the way you treat people, behaving honourably”. He has credited her with teaching him compassion and integrity, even though he admits he doesn’t always live up to those standards. Woody also praised his mother for never speaking badly about his father, even when Charles’s crimes became public. Their relationship remains close, and Woody has often brought his mother to red carpet events and premieres, showing the world how much she means to him.
Diane Lou Oswald as a Mother
Diane was a devoted Presbyterian who raised her children in the church and taught them strong moral values. Woody once said he could have become a church minister because of how she raised him. She was a strict but loving mother who managed to keep her family together despite very limited resources. Woody described his childhood as “relatively poor,” but he never felt unloved. Diane also had help from her own mother and grandmother, creating a strong matriarchal family structure. Even when her sons learned the truth about their father, Diane remained a steady, calming presence, never letting bitterness or anger poison their home.
Life After Divorce
After the divorce in 1964, Diane focused entirely on raising her three sons. She moved the family from Texas to Lebanon, Ohio, in the early 1970s to be closer to her own family and to start fresh. She continued working as a legal secretary and relied on her mother and grandmother for help with the children. Life after divorce was not easy—Charles was in and out of prison, and his criminal activities made headlines. But Diane kept her sons shielded from the worst of it. She never turned them against their father and never spoke ill of him, even when his crimes became national news. She built a quiet, stable life for her family away from the chaos.
Life Away From the Spotlight
Despite her son’s enormous fame, Diane Lou Oswald has lived a very private life. She has generally stayed out of the public eye and rarely gives interviews. When she does appear in public, it is usually at Woody’s side for a movie premiere or a special event. For example, she attended the premiere of “White Men Can’t Jump” in 1992 and a VIP screening of “Indecent Proposal” in 1993. Woody once shared that his mother “was like a little school girl” when she met Robert Redford, showing her down-to-earth personality despite her son’s Hollywood status. She has chosen to live quietly, away from the noise of celebrity culture.
Where Is Diane Lou Oswald Now?
As of 2026, Diane Lou Oswald is 89 years old. She is believed to be enjoying her retirement in the United States, possibly still in Ohio, where she has lived for most of her life. She has stayed out of the public eye and continues to live a quiet, private life. There is no confirmed information about her exact current residence, but given her strong ties to Lebanon, Ohio, it is likely she remains close to her hometown and her family. Woody Harrelson has occasionally mentioned his mother in interviews, suggesting they remain close. She has not made any public statements about her son’s career or her ex-husband’s crimes in recent years.
Net Worth and Financial Life
There is no publicly available information about Diane Lou Oswald’s personal net worth. She worked as a legal secretary for many years and lived a modest life, especially during the years she was raising her three sons alone. She was never a public figure and did not accumulate wealth through fame or celebrity. Any financial information about her is private. Her son Woody Harrelson, on the other hand, has an estimated net worth of around $70 million, built through his long acting career in film and television. Diane’s life has been defined by hard work and resilience, not by money or material success.
Legacy and Influence
Diane Lou Oswald’s legacy is not about fame or fortune—it is about the values she passed on to her children. Woody Harrelson has repeatedly credited his mother with teaching him compassion, honesty, and how to treat people with respect. She raised three sons alone while dealing with the shadow of her ex-husband’s criminal life, and she did it with grace and quiet strength. Her influence can be seen in Woody’s career choices and his public persona. She also represents the millions of single mothers who work hard every day to give their children a better life, often without recognition. Her story is a reminder that true strength is often quiet and unseen.
Conclusion
Diane Lou Oswald’s life has been anything but ordinary. She grew up in a small Ohio town, married a man who became a notorious hitman, raised three sons on her own, and watched one of them become one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors. Through it all, she remained a steady, loving presence—never bitter, never seeking attention, always putting her children first. Her story is one of resilience, faith, and quiet dignity. While the world knows her as Woody Harrelson’s mother, Diane Lou Oswald is also a woman who faced enormous challenges with courage and never lost sight of what mattered most: her family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Woody Harrelson’s mom?
Woody Harrelson’s mother is Diane Lou Oswald (also known as Diane Harrelson). She was born in 1937 in Lebanon, Ohio, and worked as a legal secretary. She married Charles Voyde Harrelson in the late 1950s, and they had three sons together: Jordan, Woody, and Brett. After her divorce in 1964, she raised her sons mostly on her own as a single mother.
Do Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have the same mom?
No, they do not share the same mother. The story is a long-running joke between the two actors. Matthew McConaughey’s mother, Kay, once hinted that she “knew” Woody’s father, Charles Harrelson, leading to speculation that they might be half-brothers. However, this has never been confirmed, and McConaughey has been hesitant to take a DNA test.
Who were Diane Lou Oswald’s parents?
Diane Lou Oswald was born to Kenneth Earl Oswald and Mary Lou Oswald. Her father Kenneth was born in 1912 and passed away in 1957. Her mother Mary Lou was born on March 16, 1915, and passed away on May 22, 2000. The family lived in Lebanon, Ohio, where Diane grew up.
Did Woody Harrelson have a foursome?
Yes, Woody Harrelson has spoken openly about a 2002 incident in London where he had a drunken foursome with three women. He described it as “one of the worst nights of my life” and said the story was sold to tabloids. His wife, Laura Louie, forgave him after he apologized, and they are still together.
Is Woody Harrelson LGBTQ+?
No, Woody Harrelson is not gay. He has been married to women and has only dated women. He has, however, played gay characters in films like The Walker (2007) and Friends with Benefits (2011), which led some fans to speculate. But his personal life confirms he is heterosexual.
Did Woody Harrelson have a relationship with his dad?
Woody Harrelson had a complicated relationship with his father, Charles Harrelson. His father was absent during his childhood due to being in and out of prison. As an adult, Woody visited him in prison regularly, helped him pursue a new trial, and even stood in as his proxy when Charles got married in 1987. Woody described his father as “one of the most articulate, well-read, charming people I’ve ever known”.
