Charlie Sheen, once the highest-paid actor on television and a staple of Hollywood headlines, is stepping back into the spotlight this September with a new Netflix documentary, "AKA Charlie Sheen," and a candid memoir, "The Book of Sheen." But this return isn’t about reliving glory days or rehashing scandals. Instead, it’s a raw, honest look at a life marked by dizzying highs, devastating lows, and a search for redemption that’s still unfolding.
At the heart of this public reckoning is a surprising alliance: Denise Richards, Sheen’s ex-wife and mother to two of his children, has emerged as one of his most vocal supporters. The pair, who were married for four tumultuous years until 2006, reunited on the red carpet for the documentary’s premiere in early September 2025. Their reunion was more than just a photo op—it was a moment of reflection and, perhaps, forgiveness.
Richards shared her feelings about the occasion on Instagram, posting photos from the event and writing, "We both looked at each other on the red carpet and just laughed. Charlie asked, 'Is it 2002?' and I said, 'It sure feels like it.' Who would have thought? What a journey we’ve had—so many ups and downs. But when life gets tough, deep down we both know we can count on each other. I’m so proud of him, and truly honored he asked me to be part of his story. Congrats, Charles."
That sense of shared history, of weathering storms together, is a recurring theme in the new documentary. Richards’ participation is more than symbolic; it’s a testament to the complex web of relationships that have defined Sheen’s life, both on and off the screen. Their daughters, Sami (21) and Lola (20), have witnessed the best and worst of their parents’ journey. In a recent episode of Richards’ reality show, "Denise Richards and Her Wild Things," Sheen made a cameo, joining Richards and Lola for dinner. The moment was tinged with nostalgia and a bit of disbelief. "You know what's so funny? I could never picture you guys being married. Like, sometimes I think about if you were still married and we all lived in the same house," Lola admitted. Richards replied, "We would have had fun," to which Sheen agreed, "We would've."
But not all family ties are easily mended. Sami, their other daughter, has blocked Sheen’s number and is not currently speaking to him. On "Good Morning America" in September 2025, Sheen addressed the rift with a mix of confusion and hope. "I feel like as long as everybody's still in the game, there's always a shot for a better tomorrow, you know. I don't really know what I did, that's the problem. I don't know what I'm supposed to yet apologise for. But I have absolute faith that it's not a forever thing, and her and I will work it out. You know, we have a history that's too valuable to let, you know, some moment destroy all of that."
Sheen’s journey has been anything but straightforward. In his "Good Morning America" interview, he revealed a lifelong struggle with stuttering—a challenge that, he says, first led him to alcohol. "Drinking just ... it softened the edges," Sheen told co-anchor Michael Strahan. "It gave me just freedom of speech." For years, he kept his stutter hidden, only opening up about it to colleagues during his stint on "Spin City" in 2000. That vulnerability, he said, was a turning point. "When in doubt, just be human enough to be vulnerable, and to know that it's okay to ask for help."
The road to sobriety was long and winding. Sheen began drinking and experimenting with substances, including crack cocaine, in 1992. His first stint in rehab came even earlier, in 1990, after a family intervention. "It's hard to ask for help when somebody else has raised your hand for you," he reflected, highlighting the tension between wanting control and needing support. Family played a pivotal role—sometimes painfully so. In the late '90s, his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in for violating probation. At the time, Charlie saw it as a "biggest betrayal," but later recognized it as an act of love.
Despite periods of sobriety, relapses followed. While starring on "Two and a Half Men," Sheen began using prescription pills and worked hard to hide his addiction. "It's a terrible feeling. You gotta remember who, you know, always worry about who knows what." The situation came to a head in 2011 when the show was put on hiatus for him to enter rehab. He was eventually barred from the set and fired, a public and painful fall from grace.
But 2017 marked a turning point. Sheen quit alcohol and has been sober ever since. He credits this period with helping him rebuild relationships, particularly with his children. "We have relationships, you know? And we have legitimate ones. And they really have nothing to do with anything that I do for a living," Sheen said, referencing not just Lola but also his 16-year-old twins, Max and Bob (with Brooke Mueller), and his eldest daughter, Cassandra Estevez, 41, from a high school romance.
His efforts to make amends extend beyond family. The upcoming Netflix docuseries, "AKA Charlie Sheen," features candid interviews with friends, former co-stars, ex-wives, and children. It’s an unflinching look at a life lived in the public eye, but also a testament to the possibility of growth and change. Sheen’s new memoir, "The Book of Sheen," released on September 9, 2025, pulls back the curtain even further. He doesn’t shy away from the chaos, but he’s also keen to be seen for more than his past. Looking ahead, Sheen told Strahan, "This story should've ended 100 times 20 years ago, and it didn't. And it didn't. So whatever happens next might be just where some of the real gold has been hidden, you know?"
For all the drama and heartbreak, what emerges from Sheen’s latest chapter is a sense of unfinished business—and, perhaps, hope. Through hard-won sobriety, renewed family ties, and a willingness to be vulnerable, Sheen is rewriting his narrative one day at a time. The world may have counted him out, but as this latest act unfolds, it’s clear the real story is only just beginning.
