What Emilio Estevez And Charlie Sheen's Relationship Is Like Today
The following article includes mentions of sexual violence and substance abuse.
Following his star-making turn in Apocalypse Now, Martin Sheen led a successful career that included playing the U.S. president in The West Wing, for which he won a Golden Globe. The seasoned actor, whose real name is Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estevez, proved to pass on the genes when all of his four children went on to lead successful careers in the industry. Sons Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez, in particular, have made a name for themselves, though their journeys have been considerably different.
Emilio rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s starring in classics such as St. Elmo's Fire, The Breakfast Club, and The Mighty Ducks franchise, as The Guardian detailed. While Emilio has shied away from television, his brother Charlie, born Carlos Irwin Estevez, has excelled on the small screen. After starring in a series of hit movies in the 1980s and 1990s, Charlie made the switch to TV in the 2000s as the lead of ABC's Spin City, for which he won the Golden Globe for Best Actor. He then became a worldwide sensation as Charlie Harper on CBS series Two and a Half Men, which not only earned him Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, but made him "by far the top paid TV star" in 2010, according to USA Today.
How have the actors' different approaches to their careers and life affected their relationship? Keep reading to find out.
Emilio Estevez says Charlie Sheen's sobriety is 'a huge win'
Charlie Sheen and his struggles, including his battle with substance abuse, have been at the center of many headlines, and his personal life has been nothing short of complicated. In a 2011 interview with The Telegraph, Emilio Estevez admitted that his younger brother's behavior has been a lot to grapple with over the years, noting how different they are from one another even though they were "raised under the same roof." Estevez went on to add, "It really gives credence to this theory that [substance abuse] is genetic and that sometimes it skips either a generation or siblings." While Estevez didn't believe himself to always be a good role model for his brother, he said, "All I can do for Charlie, and I can't live his life for him, is to try to be an example."
The former Two and a Half Men star's issues with substance abuse go way back. As USA Today noted, he spent a month in rehab when he only 24. In 1998, he suffered "a near-fatal overdose," prompting a return to rehab, the report detailed. Sheen's complicated history also includes multiple allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence, some of which culminated in bitter divorces from actors Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller.
Speaking with The Guardian in 2020, Estevez said his brother has "been clean and sober for almost two years now." The Brat Pack alum called Sheen's accomplishment "a huge win for him but also for the whole family."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and mental health, please contact SAMHSA's 24-hour National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).