Like any devoted parents, Matthew McConaughey’s mother, Mary Kathleen ‘Kay’ McCabe, and father, James Donald McConaughey, had a profound influence on his life. However, they never imagined their son would enter the entertainment world.
The couple, who raised their three sons in Uvalde, Texas before moving to Longview, encouraged them to spend as much time outside as possible with limited TV viewing time — just an hour before dinner. Kay, a writer and teacher, and James, an athlete and businessman, promoted a healthy lifestyle for their children. But one day, Matthew’s life took an unexpected turn when a casting director approached him.
After several commercial and critical hits, Matthew entered the literary world by writing a memoir called Greenlights Like Your Mother, in which he shared details about the relationship between his parents. Based on information from his book and other sources, here is a more detailed account of the lives and careers of the Interstellar star’s parents and of James McConaughey.
They met at the University of Kentucky
James, who is sadly no longer with us, grew up in Morgan City, Louisiana. He met Kay, a native of Trenton, New Jersey, at the University of Kentucky. Along with their studies, both were actively involved in extracurricular activities – James ran track and played football under legendary coach Bear Bryant, while Kay was part of the university’s acrobatic performing team, the UK Troopers.
Kay proposes to James
One summer, before relocating from Kentucky to Houston, James visited his parents in Morgan City, unaware of what awaited him.
“When he got there, my mother — who was his girlfriend but not yet his fiancée — opened the door. She said, ‘I’m going to move this situation forward quickly,’ and gave him an invitation to her wedding. ‘You have twenty-four hours,’ she said. ‘I want a yes or no,'” Matthew told Garden & Gun magazine in 2016.
He married three times and divorced twice
James and Kay first married in July 1968 and had a tumultuous marriage for 24 years until James’ death in 1992.
Matthew details his parents’ tumultuous relationship in his memoir, detailing the heated arguments they had. He recalls a particularly intense fight in 1974, when his mother repeatedly called his father “fat man” during dinner. James flipped the table over, and his mother broke his nose with a phone in response.
Despite their fiery relationship, Matthew explained in an interview with Willie Geist on Sunday Today that his parents loved each other very much and were very devoted to their children.
Matthew later told Today host Hoda Kotb that his mother’s reaction to his book was that she wished he had highlighted more of the bright side of her relationship with his father.
Also read: Matthew McConaughey gives his son Levi major advice at age 16
They welcomed three children
James and Kay became parents for the first time in 1954 when their eldest son Michael “Rooster” McConaughey was born. The couple then had trouble conceiving again, so they adopted their second son, Patrick McConaughey, fulfilling Michael’s wish for a sibling.
Seven years later, Kay miraculously became pregnant with Matthew, whom she described as a “blessing” and a “gift from God.” Kay explained that Matthew’s name means “gift from God.”
James was drafted by the NFL
In 1953, James was selected by the Green Bay Packers as a tight end, though he never played a regular season game.
Despite his brief NFL career, James, who had a metal plate in his back and pins in his knee and ankle, never pressured Matthew to pursue the sport. In fact, he was relieved when his son found other interests.
K was a teacher and James ran an oil pipe supply business
After his NFL career ended, James joined an oil supply business. Meanwhile, Kay worked as a kindergarten teacher at Matthew’s elementary school. One of the first things Matthew learned from his mother was his name. When he told his mother/teacher his name was Matt, she corrected him, saying, “I named you Matthew from the Bible.”
James encourages Matthew to act
Although James did not live to see his son’s success in the entertainment industry, he still supported Matthew’s decision to follow his passion.
Recalling a conversation with his father on Q with Tom Power, Matthew said he was surprised by his father’s reaction when he told him he wanted to go to film school. James simply said, “Well, don’t do it by halves.” Matthew said that line gave him more than just acceptance – it inspired him to fully dedicate himself to his career.
Matthew and Kay once had a strained relationship
Matthew revealed on Red Table Talk that as his career took off, his relationship with his mother changed. He felt like he was no longer talking to his mother, but to someone who became a fan of his fame. Matthew also suggested that his mother began leaking details of their conversations to the media, which further strained their relationship.
The two reconciled only when Matthew felt his professional life had stabilized enough to withstand the media gossip.
Kay is very close to Matthew and his family
Despite her past challenges, Kay now enjoys a close relationship with Matthew, his wife Camila Alves McConaughey, and their three children, Levi, Vida, and Livingston. At one point, Kay even moved in with her son’s family, though it’s unclear if that arrangement is still in place.
Also read: Matthew McConaughey gives his son Levi major advice at age 16