Charlie Sheen has had a glorious career full of prestigious awards including 4 Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe. While many know him as Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men, he had a string of successful films even before starring in the show. However, the other side of his life was not full of glitz and glamor during a period of his life.
The actor was suffering from drug and alcohol addiction for years, something which he even went to rehab for multiple times. On top of that, there were several marital problems with both his second and third wives, Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller. Charlie Sheen has been sober for years now but there was a time when even his father, Martin Sheen, couldn’t help bring him out of the darkness.
Martin Sheen Got Real about Helping Charlie Sheen During His Struggles
Martin Sheen is a renowned actor whose career has spanned over six decades now. 3 Emmys and 4 SAG awards are just a few of the prestigious honors in his extensive trophy collection. He has been a part of many popular films including Catch Me If You Can, Wall Street, and The Amazing Spider-Man where he played the role of Peter Parker’s lovable Uncle Ben.
While promoting his 2011 film, The Way, with his eldest son Emilio Estevez, Sheen got candid about trying to help Charlie Sheen through his addiction.
In a conversation with The Telegraph back in 2011, the Apocalypse Now actor was asked if he believes faith could guide his son during the tough period of his life, Sheen stated,
Faith can help all of us. Addiction is the dark side. It’s a reflection of despair. And it’s fed by all the other negativity.
When asked if C. Sheen takes advice from his father or listens to what he has to say, M. Sheen replied, “Every now and then” before adding that there is only so much he could do for his son.
Depends on whether it’s a moment of clarity for him. I can’t determine that for him. You know, Charlie’s 45 years old. He’s not a kid. Emotionally he still is. Because when you’re addicted, you don’t grow emotionally. So when you get clean and sober you’re starting at the moment you started using drugs or alcohol. You’re emotionally crippled.
Regardless, the elder knew what his son was going through and had all the sympathy in the world for him.
But I know what hell he’s living in. I’ve had psychotic episodes in public. One of them was on camera – the opening scene of Apocalypse Now. So I know what Charlie is going through. And when you do something like that, that is out of control, that’s the most difficult thing. You have to have courage.
The Two and a Half Men actor got into a lot of trouble including a feud with the show’s creator, Chuck Lorre. Following his breakdown and offensive comments about Lorre, Sheen was fired from the show which sent the actor further into a downward spiral.
Thankfully, Sheen was soon on the path to recovery and revealed last year that he has been sober for close to seven years now.
Martin Sheen is Proud of His Son’s Recovery
Back in 2021, Martin Sheen appeared for an interview on PEOPLE, the TV show, while promoting his film, 12 Mighty Orphans. There, the actor got candid about his feelings toward Charlie Sheen’s recovery and stated that he absolutely adores his son.
He added that his recovery and his life were nothing short of a miracle and called him an extraordinary man.
In the words of Martin Sheen,
I adore him. I’ve always, always adored him. His recovery and his life is a miracle and he’s an extraordinary man.
He acknowledged the difficult times they went through while the younger Sheen was going through the roughest patch of his life. Martin Sheen then thanked the heavens for his son being healthy and working on a book.
We went through as you, as everyone knows I suppose, some very difficult times when he was out there. He’s come back — thank heaven — and he’s healthy and he’s working on a book now… an autobiography and he’s very excited about that.
In the end, Martin Sheen added that now that the Spin City actor had recovered, he was paying more attention to his family, children, and grandchild Luna.
Two and a Half Men is available to stream on Peacock Premium.
