'Unsolved Mysteries' special looks back on Matthew McConaughey as shirtless murder victim (original) (raw)
"Let's just say, his acting has come a long way since then."
Published on October 2, 2023 12:00PM EDT
Matthew McConaughey was not so alright, alright, alright in one of his earliest acting roles.
In an exclusive clip (above) from Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy, a documentary special that will give viewers a fascinating glimpse into the making of the true crime series in honor of its 35th anniversary, the creatives behind the show take a look back at some of the famous faces who had early career starts on the series — in particular McConaughey as a shirtless murder victim.
In his first onscreen credit, the Texas native played a man named Larry Dickens in the "Texas Most Wanted" episode in season 5 of Unsolved Mysteries. The clip notes that because it was summer in Texas and the weather was hot, the director of the episode told McConaughey he could take his shirt off, even if the scene didn't necessarily call for it.
Scenes from the episode then show a shirtless McConaughey sweatily mowing the lawn before meeting his unfortunate demise in his garage, with his acting getting, well, savagely reviewed. "Matthew McConaughey had to do a fairly robust death scene," a producer says. "He was working in his garage and he was shot by a man who pulled up with a shotgun. Let's just say... his acting has come a long way since then."
Matthew McConaughey in 'Unsolved Mysteries'. FilmRise
Hailing from FilmRise and series creators Cosgrove/Meurer Productions, Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy features original interviews with co-creators Terry Dunn Meurer and John Cosgrove, along with long-time producers and directors of the show, pulling back the curtain and allowing fans to experience their favorite cases in a whole new light. The crew divulges behind-the-scenes stories and covers all aspects of the show from research and casting to solving mysteries soon after episodes aired. With never-before-seen outtakes of legendary host Robert Stack and a look into fan-favorite moments, the doc honors one of television's most enduring and recognizable shows as well as the fans who were integral to its success.
To further celebrate the milestone anniversary, the iconic '80s theme for Unsolved Mysteries, originally performed by Charles Judge, is getting a modern electronica reimagining, which EW is exclusively debuting below. Still featuring the show's late host, the EP, titled Unsolved Mysteries: The Remixes, showcases inspired versions courtesy of producers 808 BEACH: John "J-C" Carr & Bill Coleman and French newcomer Slowz that revive the haunting melody.
Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy will premiere Oct. 4 at Alamo Drafthouse locations nationwide, and debut exclusively on Pluto TV on Oct. 5 before streaming for free starting on Oct. 19 on major platforms including Amazon Freevee, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, and FilmRise's own free streaming apps.
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