Martin Sheen: Charlie Is 'Emotionally Crippled'

By Sarah Crow Posted Mar 21st 2011 11:55AM

Martin Sheen has had a long and well-respected career in film and television, but it hasn't always been smooth sailing for the former 'West Wing' star.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Sheen opened up about his own demons and how they've allowed him to relate to his troubled son, Charlie.

"I know what hell he's living in," says Sheen. "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."

Martin, who battled alcohol addiction and mental illness earlier in his career, says that, much like Charlie, his issues caused him to focus on himself rather than his family.

"I was so interested in myself, I didn't really focus on what [my kids'] needs were, or what their aspirations were," says Sheen.

The actor, who stars alongside his eldest son, Emilio Estevez, in the upcoming film 'The Way,' says that despite Charlie's success, he remains emotionally stunted from his addictions.

"You know, Charlie's 45 years old. He's not a kid," says Sheen. "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."

Adds Estevez, "We all had the same set of rules, so it really gives credence to this theory that it is genetic, and that sometimes it skips either a generation or siblings. My mother doesn't drink. My other brother hasn't had a drink in over 10 years, my dad hasn't had a drink in 20. And I make wine."

So what can save Charlie from his addiction nightmare? "Faith can help all of us," says Sheen, a devout Catholic. "Addiction is the dark side. It's a reflection of despair."

Tags: charlie sheen, martin sheen

Comments

(34)

Monday 21 March

By Judi Seel

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Only those parents, families, friends who have a loved one who is or has been addicted can begin to imagine what seeing your loved one like this does to a person.

My prayers to all who are being affected by addictions of any kind.

At NA they tell you that the addicted persons stops developing mentally at the age when they start using.

By Shae

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Charlie is emotionally crazy. He had it all, and lost it all because he is a spoiled brat who thinks he is entitled to anything and everything because he was on a hit show. Hey screwball...you were not the only star on the show!!

By yadayada02

Charlie Sheen is not crazy...It's all an act...He knows exactly what he is doing when he is brokering illegal drugs deals for thousands of dollars, hiring prostitutes, abusing alcohol and physically attacking women because he has been getting away with it for years...Years ago he was busted by the Feds for illegal drugs, cut a deal to testfy for writing checks in the thousands for prostitutes from Heidi Fliess...He is an arrested wife beater who threathened to cut off his latest wife head and a rat snitch...He is a criminial who belongs in prison for his crimes against society.

By trish

Vote down Vote up Report this

In my family my parents closed their eyes to their LAST addition to our family, the twins, they both got on drugs when they were teens, and that's when my parents should have put them into the hospital, this I am talking about 39 yrs ago. My sister use to steal money from me until I woke up and opened a checking account, then she turned tricks, My parents did nothing, her twin would LIE to your face with NO remorse and my parents believed them over us older kids (we were the liers)They stole and what ever to get their highs, my parents did othing, I tryed to get them to go for help but I was told they don't need help or they don't want help. SO I washed my hands of them, we first three have been threw hell with the younger ones and we all have FINALLY washed our hands of them, they aren't allowed in our homes, because they steal from us and worse yet they have stolen some of my sons seizure meds, now that is disgusting, I was SO livid that I almost bodly threw them out the door, they are trash as far as I'm concerned. Some people judge us for washing our hands of them but they haven't lived our hell either. Those disgusting "things they call friends" aren't allowed on my property and my sis and brother got angry about that..TO bad this is my propersy and my family has WORKED hard to buy what we have and I want to keep it, not have it sold for drug money, which has been done to our family. When people are on drugs the lies they tell are SO convencing you got to look deep into their face and eyes to know that they are lieing, and get help for them RIGHT AWAY, can't waite until it's too late, can't ALLOW them to go on living like that because that isn't living and they WILL make your life hell, they will.

By Gil

Frankly I think Charlie Sheen has ran its course. Why are people still talking about this head case? Doesn't everyone think enough is enough about this guy?? The media keeps this crap going on and on.

By Burt_R

Poor Charly even the L words have hoped on the hate wagon and all he Really Did was Stand up to the Suits.Phony Shrinks of all types are judgeing without even seeing him.So he uses Drugggs not like good ole american alcohol & tabacco shame shame himself to blame.

By YellowRose3218

I will pray tonight for Charlie, instead of bashing him on here.
Martin is so right about not being able to grow, or learn while on drugs or drinking, its impossible to do.
I hope, and will pray for Charlie from now on.
And his entire family.

By Tom 3:16

Note to Lara...jail time??? For what?

By pattycupcake

i used to live in santa monica back in the day and always had breakfast at a great deli restaurant called Zucky's. they closed after the northridge quake. but back then, martin sheen was a regular customer. he was a really nice guy, quiet and always courteous to the waitresses. but one time, this arrogant MF came in and argued with him in public, created a scene, was very rude, actually abusive. what a jerk, i thought. i later realized it was charlie sheen. i'm reminded of a beautiful girl, his first wife, years ago, whom he beat up; there were pictures. he pled no contest. yeah, he's talented, but he is still a real jerk. he lost so much weight and looks awful; that crackhead-look alone should be reason enough to fire him from his series. He's older now and doesn't have the looks anymore; he's in for a rude surprise if he thinks the movie world is dying to have him back, esp. if he poses an insurance risk due to self-destructive tendencies. who wants to reshoot a picture because your star blew his heart out halfway thru the movie? now here's a father who really needs to grow up. the only people who actually know him and still think he's cool are those he pays to hang around and say so.

By MrsKiwi

All addicts should be so blessed as Charlied. How many families just give up on their loved ones? Charlie--listen to the people who love you man and get a grip!

By Adriano

I saw Mr. Sheen over the weekend. I was at a religious place that he happened to be at. I want to tell him that the look on his face reminded me of my father when I was out there in my disease. My prayers are with him and his family.

Everybody needs to stop making excuses for Charlie Sheen, an arrested wife beater who also threathened to cut off his latest wifes head...He is a illegal drug dealer in the thousands and thousands of dollars and a user...He was arrested by the Feds for illegal drugs many years ago and to save his own butt, cut a deal to testify against Hedi Fliess for the prostitutes that he wrotes personal checks for...Last time the police was called to a NYC hotel room, he was given two choices, being arrested once again or go to the hosptial...Nobody ever gets two choices in this matter...Your arrested and sent to a hosptial, period. And if not arrested at the scene or precinct, after you are admitted to the hosptal they can arrest you right there, too. And since he choose the hospital and if he was crazy, under the influence of too much drugs and alcohol, as they normally enforce it, he should have been admitted to the pysch ward and he wasn't. Why he was not even held for 3 days like anyone else would be forced to be in his so called crazy condition due to mental health problems and or abusing drugs plus alcohol...He is a fraud...He is a criminal and belongs in prison,

Tuesday 22 March

By moyra

When you try to make excuses for such behavior, you are not helping charlie, but enabling him. Stop sugar coating the problem. Charlie needs to be in a psychiatric hospital and get the help he desperately needs.

By Patrick

I'm a certified nut case, so I can vouch that Charlie has "arrived" to the asylum and hasn't yet "left the building"

Page 2 of 2