Charlie Sheen Shares His Story in New Memoir
Charlie Sheen expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share his life story.
In his latest memoir, The Book of Sheen, he recounts remarkable events starting from his birth. He reveals, “I was born dead,” having been strangled by the umbilical cord before being revived. At 15, he lost his virginity to a Las Vegas prostitute, using his father’s credit card for payment.
The book details a tumultuous journey marked by extensive medication use, including seven trips to rehab in 1998 for alcohol and cocaine addiction, along with a diagnosis of HIV in 2011.
After eight years of drinking, Sheen reflected on a “thank you” for reaching his 60th birthday, which he celebrated with a family lunch and a spa day with one of his sons.
“A lot of this should be considered gravy,” he comments, acknowledging that he’s still around. “I think I get more than all those cats, so it’s borrowed time, or perhaps my tenth life.”
He notes, “It’s not lost on me that stories like mine are just being told normally… at memorials, you know what I mean?”
While those around him express gratitude, there’s also a sense of caution. In a Netflix documentary titled Also Known as Charlie Sheen, his friend and “Two and a Half Men” co-star Jon Cryer admits feeling “uneasy” about Sheen’s return to the spotlight.
“Part of Charlie Sheen’s life cycle was that he hit rock bottom, made changes, and brought positivity into his life,” Cryer explains. However, he adds, “I hope this doesn’t get any worse.”
Sheen found Cryer’s comment insightful but quipped, “Well, John, I could have just put that on me decades ago and saved a fortune on therapy and rehab!”
Cryer witnessed the most notorious phase of Sheen’s life back in 2011 when filming halted due to Sheen’s struggles with addiction. He expressed strong discontent with CBS and was ultimately fired from the show. This period included infamous interviews where he claimed to have “Tiger’s blood” in his veins and dubbed himself “The Vatican Assassin Warlock.”
Sheen acknowledges the tumultuous times but reveals no regrets. His past escapades, including wild nights at the Playboy mansion and reckless drug use, are reflected in both the book and documentary.
Despite his fame from films like Platoon and Wall Street, Sheen admits he sometimes took unremarkable roles just to fund his addictions, noting, “I’ve always been good friends with the dealer—when you hang out with him, you usually get a better rate.”
In light of recent overdoses in Hollywood, such as the tragic passing of his friend Matthew Perry, Sheen feels a sense of accountability. He ran a support group alongside Perry and acknowledges their shared struggles.
Sheen reflects on his friendship with Perry and how they understood each other’s battles. He devoured Perry’s memoir, recognizing their shared journeys and the bond formed through their experiences.
Though he’s been married and engaged multiple times, Sheen speaks kindly of his past relationships, especially with his ex-wife, Denise Richards. They remain friends and even attended the documentary premiere together.
However, he reveals he hasn’t spoken to his daughter Sami in over a year due to her involvement in adult content creation. “It’s sad,” he admits, but despite that, he holds an optimistic outlook for their relationship. “I believe it can be mended, but communication needs to resume first.”
He finds it somewhat ironic how he disapproves of Sami’s choices, given his history. “The universe has a funny way of reminding us,” he adds with a chuckle.
Despite not actively dating, Sheen is open to possibilities. Managing his HIV well, he concludes, “I’ve turned celibacy into a necessary break, but I welcome dating when the time is right.”
Although he hasn’t been working much recently, he says, “I’m reading the best material I’ve come across in 20 years,” taking full responsibility for his past choices.
In his memoir, he emphasizes that his story revolves around the idea of choice: “This is a narrative of a kid trying to find his way home… I hope people can relate to it.”
