Real name Carlos Irwin Estevez, the
American actor Charlie Sheen is the second of actor Martin Sheen’s
sons to become famous in film.
Growing up in Santa Monica, he was a failure at school, excelling more
at baseball, and he was expelled before graduation. While at Santa
Monica High School, he developed a fascination with film-making, making
super-8 films alongside fellow schoolmates Rob Lowe and Sean Penn.
Following his elder brother (Emilio Estevez) and his father, he moved
into professional acting, debuting with a small part in Sheen Snr.’s
'The Execution of Private Slovick', aged 9. His real debut was in 'Red
Dawn', alongside Patrick Swayze, which he followed by a role in 'Lucas'
and a memorable cameo in 'Ferris Bueller’s Day Off'.
In 1986, Sheen turned in a critically lauded performance in Oliver
Stone’s Oscar-winning Vietnam drama, 'Platoon', following it with an
appearance in Stone’s 1987 film, 'Wall Street'. In the latter, he got
to star alongside his father Martin, who characteristically played a
union boss.
Sheen moved into comic roles with the baseball comedy 'Major League' in
1989, and was later to appear in another baseball movie – John
Sayles’ 'Eight Men Out'.
After his attempts at action-films in 'The Rookie' and 'Navy Seals' were
poorly received, he continued in a comic vein. Sheen starred in the
Top-Gun satire 'Hot Shots' in 1991, followed by the sequel, 'Part Deux',
and appeared with his brother Emilio in 'Men At Work'. To some, his
involvement in such spoofs damaged his reputation as a serious actor.
In addition, his infamous off-screen life distracted from his work, as
tales of drug, alcohol and prostitute use came to light. Sheen was
hospitalised in 1998 for rehab.
In 2000, back on his feet, he took up the role of Michael J. Fox’s
character in 'Spin City', the hit TV series, to great success.
Having produced some low-key films, and published a book of his poetry,
'A Peace of My Mind', Sheen recently married the actress Denise Richards
in 2002.
