Neil Daniels - Matthew McConaughey: The Biography

I am from Texas and love Texas.

Matthew McConaughey, Daily Express, 2014

M atthew McConaughey and Texas are inextricably intertwined. Wherever McConaughey goes Texas is always in his heart. Hes your typical Southern American charmer he has the Texan drawl, the humble attitude, the pious zeal and the archaic sense of humour.

Texas is the largest of the Lower 48 contiguous states (only Alaska is bigger). As someone once said, The sun has riz, the sun has set, and here we is in Texas yet. Texas is nearly three times the size of the United Kingdom, but with only 25 million inhabitants has well under half the population, which explains why most Texans prefer to celebrate the sprawling open spaces and the freedom they bring, particularly in film and music.

Texans have a reputation for being larger than life too, a notion Matthew McConaughey has done nothing to dispel throughout his illustrious career through all sorts of film roles and a healthy attitude towards travel and culture in his personal life. It is wrong to generalise, of course, but, down the years, Texas does seem to have produced more than its fair share of genuine characters, from Hondo Crouch, Mayor of Luckenbach (Population 3!), through to great storytellers such as novelist Larry McMurtry, comedian Bill Hicks, rock band ZZ Top, to say nothing of a raft of fellow thespians, including Larry JR Hagman and Tommy Lee Jones, or even disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, who is one of McConaugheys pals. Depending on which side of the political fence you sit, you can claim four presidents as Texan, or only two if you arent a fan of former US presidents George Bush Senior and his equally controversial son George Bush Junior, neither of whom were actually born in the state. This is just the tip of the Texan iceberg, of course.

While the majority of Texans speak English as their first language, Spanish is spoken by about a third after all, it borders Mexico and was once ruled by her and the language is taught in schools. Remember the Alamo? Texans do! Matthew McConaughey has, of course, celebrated the Texan influences and culture in his films, from Dazed and Confused right up to Killer Joe and Dallas Buyers Club. Lets not mention Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, though.

In fact, six countries have had control of Texas at one time or another (Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, the Confederate States and the United States). Texas is the only US State with the right to secede from the union, and a minority of Texans want to do just that (though whether Washington would allow it, if push came to shove, is a moot point). It does, however, show an independent, free spirit. Matthew McConaughey is certainly a free spirit; often getting into one of his Airstreams or a car and driving off anywhere that takes his fancy, or even hopping on a plane and flying to somewhere faraway. Gun control laws are amongst the most relaxed in the country, and concealed handguns can be carried legally in many circumstances.

In addition to the Spanish influence, Texas was settled by, amongst others, many Czechs and Germans, who brought with them their own traditions including music, literature and film. Perhaps this explains McConaugheys love of travel, the arts and culture.

In fact, Texas has an astonishing musical heritage, where different cultural groups have melded their music into something unique. It has spawned many notable musicians, including, but certainly not limited to: T-Bone Walker, Freddie King, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mance Lipscomb, Lightnin Hopkins, Albert Collins and Big Mama Thornton. More recent Texan blues players include Stevie Ray Vaughan and older brother Jimmie, Willie Nelson, Janis Joplin, Edgar and Johnny Winter, ZZ Top, and many more. All these musicians are Texan born and bred. McConaughey loves music so much that he founded his own independent record label. Before it sounds like things are getting a little bit Texas-centric around here, it should be pointed out that Matthew McConaughey has been generous in his praise of Texan blues players and local musicians Willie Nelson being a personal friend and one-time acting colleague in the movie Surfer, Dude.

Not to forget Texas had spawned some of McConaugheys acting peers, including Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Rene Zellweger and Jamie Foxx, and not forgetting such popular actors as Owen Wilson, Hilary Duff and the late Patrick Swayze.

To sum it up, Texas is a huge melting pot of creativity and achievements in the arts and entertainment from country to folk by the way of blues, rock and even metal and punk, and masterful westerns in literature and film as well as irreverent comedians and actors. There has been such a variety of talent to come out of Texas. However, if you want a modern day actor who personifies the true Texan spirit, look no further than Matthew McConaughey. In fact, McConaughey was ranked as the most popular male actor to come from Texas on IMDB (International Movie Data Base) recently.

How Texas has influenced him is perhaps a matter for debate, but that it has isnt up for grabs. Even when he moved to LA in the mid-1990s he took pieces of home with him.

Yall have gotta understand that Matthew McConaughey is a Texan through and through.

*****

Matthew McConaughey was the surprise baby, the one that was not planned. His parents were unable to conceive a second child and adopted a son, Pat, as a tenth birthday present for their eldest boy, Rooster (real name Michael). Matthew came along six years later as a total surprise. He was born Matthew David McConaughey on 4 November 1969 in Uvalde, Texas to Mary Kathleen (ne McCabe) and James Big Jim Donald McConaughey. Michael McConaughey is seventeen years older than Matthew, and Pat is seven years his senior.

Trenton, New Jersey-born Mary Kathleen, nicknamed K-Mac but regularly called Kay for short, was a kindergarten teacher and later published author while her husband James, whom everyone called Pop or Big Jim, ran a Texaco station in Uvalde. In 1980, however, he upped sticks and moved the family to Longview, a couple hours east of Dallas, where he worked in the oil pipe business. Theirs was a tough love, but their love for their boys was immeasurable.

She also taught me to look at life as if it were a rose in a vase, something beautiful. If I woke in a grumpy mood shed come up and hit me on the side of the head, McConaughey said of Kay to Garth Pearce of the Daily Express in 2014. She would say, You can go back down that hallway and start over. I would have to go back to my room and begin the day again. My dad also had simple rules. He would say, Dont lie and dont say I cant. We had tough love in our family.

Pop was forty-one years old when Matthew was born. He loved sports and beer like any other lower middle class Texan male. He was a salesman and really pretty carny, man, in on a diamond mine in Ecuador and stuff that turned out to be bullshit. Hed take me on Saturdays to meet somebody, Chicago John, behind the strip mall whos got a dishwasher and stuff in the back of his truck, Matthew told Texas Monthlys John Spong in 2008. But wait, he whispered. Theres a platinum watch wrapped up in a paper towel. Pop says to me, Put it in the glove box, buddy. Five minutes down the road and he goes, Check and make sure its still there. And its just him and me in the car. He loved that. Hed go, Open up that paper. Goddam, thats a good-looking watch.

Matthew and his mum often talk in interviews about Pops hands. Pop knew how to rub Kays temples to help her sleep if her headache tablets did not work. Pop also rubbed Matthews head if his childhood ear infections kept him awake at night. Pop would also give foot rubs to beautiful women. Hed even rub the feet of his oldest boys girlfriends if ever they came to the house for a date. There was nothing weird about it; Pop was just a nice fella.