• Actress details how family violence escalated before fatal shooting at home
• Charlize Theron recounts 1991 incident involving the killing of her father

American-South African actress Charlize Theron revisited the 1991 death of her father, Charles Jacobus Theron, revealing that her mother, Gerda Theron, fatally shot him in self-defense following repeated violent behavior while under the influence of alcohol.

In a media interview, Theron explained that she and her mother were hiding inside their home when her father tried to force his way into the room. She said her mother fired through the door during the attempted break-in, which led to his death.

She described speaking about such experiences as “necessary,” adding: “These stories need to be told because they help others realize they are not alone.”

Theron also recalled events earlier that day, saying she and her mother had returned from a family visit and a cinema outing before tensions escalated once they arrived home.

She noted that her father became angry after she did not greet him immediately upon entering, explaining she rushed inside to use the bathroom, which was misinterpreted as disrespect.

She added that she was aware of his recurring violent outbursts, which led her to hide in her room as the situation outside intensified.

Theron stressed that her mother acted solely in self-defense to protect them from an imminent threat, not out of aggression.