Matthew McConaughey’s acting debut clinched the capture of a fugitive murderer who had been on the run for 14 years.
Now one of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers at 53, McConaughey was aged just 23 when he portrayed 1978 murder victim Larry Dickens, 26, in Unsolved Mysteries season five episode, Texas Most Wanted, which aired in December 1992.
The future Oscar-winner’s portrayal of young father and Marine Dickens’ coldblooded shooting by sadistic sex offender Edward Harold Bell moved so many viewers that Bell was apprehended just days after the episode aired.
In the resurfaced clip, a shirtless McConaughey was seen mowing a lawn before his panicked mother, played by Hell or High Water star Margaret Bowman, called the police about a sinister man outside his home who was exposing himself to children.
McConaughey showed off his dramatic acting chops as he confronted the pervert (played by Denver Mattson) took his car keys and lambasted him – before a gun was pulled on him.
He was seen being shot in front of his horrified mother – before staggering back into his garage with his attacker in pursuit.
Matthew McConaughey’s acting debut in 1 992 episode of Unsolved Mysteries clinched the capture of a fugitive murderer who had been on the run for 14 years
Now one of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers at 53, McConaughey was aged just 23 when he portrayed 1978 murder victim Larry Dickens, 26, in season five episode Texas Most Wanted which aired in December 1992
He was then shot again – with McConaughey’s eyes rolling back as he fell to the ground in the arms – with his horrified mother trying in vain to save his life.
In 2023 documentary Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy, a producer praised the actor’s scenes
They said: ‘Matthew McConaughey had to do a fairly robust death scene. 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.’
Bell was caught by police in Pasadena, Texas shortly after the shooting – but while on $125,000 bail, he absconded.
When he did not show up for his trial, he was designated as a wanted fugitive.
Bell fled to Mexico and Central America on a boat, using his dead cousin’s identity. He was named Texas’ most wanted fugitive in in 1985.
After McConaughey’s Unsolved Mysteries episode aired, a man recognized Bell from a recent meeting in Panama City.
He was finally arrested on February 14, 1993 after a joint operation conducted by the FBI and the Panamanian National Police.
Father of one and former Marine Dickens (L) was shot in the street after he confronted a flasher exposing himself to young girls
In the resurfaced clip, a shirtless McConaughey was seen mowing a lawn before his panicked mother, played by Hell or High Water star Margaret Bowman, called the police about a sinister man outside his home who was exposing himself to children.
McConaughey showed off his dramatic acting chops as he confronted the pervert (played by Denver Mattson) took his car keys and lambasted him – before a gun was pulled on him
The future Oscar-winner’s portrayal of Dickens’ shooting by sadistic sex offender Edward Harold Bell moved so many viewers that Bell was apprehended just days after the episode aired.
In 2023 documentary Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy, a producer praised the actor’s scenes They said: ‘Matthew McConaughey had to do a fairly robust death scene. 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’
Bell – who is a suspected serial killer – spent 14 years on the run before his capture in 1993
Bell’s attorney’s bizarrely claimed the killing was done in self-defense but Bell was convicted and sentenced to 70 years in prison.
Bell later claimed he had ‘quit being a flasher’ in Panama and said he regretted not doing so before killing Dickens.
McConaughey has spoken proudly of his turn on Unsolved Mysteries and how his appearance led to the capture of Bell ‘just 11 days later.’
Bell is also considered a suspect in the murders of a series of young women near Galveston, Texas in the 1970s.
In 1998 he claimed in letters to prosecutors in Galveston and Harris counties that he had killed seven teenage girls between 1971 and 1977.
He was sentenced to 70 years imprisonment for Dickens’ murder and died in 2019
He was also suspected in four rape murders by Panamanian authorities.
His allegations have never been proven and he was only convicted in Dickens’ murder.
McConaughey’s performance was also praised by Dickens’ family.
Dickens’ niece commented on the resurfaced clip: ‘Matthew McConaughey first acting job was portraying my uncle. This was actually filmed at my grandmother’s former home where it happened. She’s been gone but it is nice to see her face and hear her voice despite the tearful reminder of this crime.
‘The man evaded police for over 20 yrs and thanks to Unsolved Mysteries, they found and extradited him back to the states. ‘
McConaughey’s first lead role was in the 1996 film adaptation of the John Grisham novel A Time to Kill, and he’s since gone on to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and various other accolades throughout his career – pictured 2014
In the early 1990s, McConaughey began working in television commercials and in 1992, he was cast as the boyfriend in the music video for Walkaway Joe, a song by Trisha Yearwood featuring Don Henley.
He made his first big screen appearance in 1993 movie Dazed and Confused.
McConaughey’s first lead role was in the 1996 film adaptation of the John Grisham novel A Time to Kill, and he’s since gone on to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and various other accolades throughout his career.
