Charlie Sheen’s Shocking Revelations in Memoir & Doc

Charlie Sheen is back in the news again, though this time, he is telling his own story. The actor just released a memoir, The Book of Sheen, alongside a Netflix documentary, aka Charlie Sheen, in which both works recount his rise to fame, the struggles with addiction, his HIV diagnosis, and some personal information he has never shared publicly.

The release of both items amounts to one of the most transparent reflections of Sheen turbulent life and career. Once the highest paid actor on television, Sheen became just as famous for his controversies as for his acting performances. And now, Sheen is trying to set the record straight and get his story back.

From Stardom to Struggles

Born into a Hollywood family, Sheen is the son of actor Martin Sheen and brother of Emilio Estevez. The first creativity of his childhood is showcased in the Netflix documentary, which features old family videos of him filming short scenes with buddies in Malibu.

He was a huge star in the 1980s with his acclaimed performances in Platoon and Wall Street. He then received the biggest and best public endorsement for his brand as actor, him being cast as the lead Charlie Harper in the hugely successful sitcom, Two and a Half Men. He became one of the most famous actors with respect to brand recognition and paid highest on television. However, the success quickly descends into chaos.

Sheen states in the memoir and in the documentary, that drug use and erratic misconduct hurt, not just his career, but also his personal life. He recalls being fired during a time in 2011 when, while taking testosterone cream and abusing substances, his actions were erratic. Those chaotic years gave rise to odd interviews and strange headlines, but with it all was a man in crisis.

Sheen also reflects on his HIV diagnosis when he publicly revealed it 2015. He shares how parties he was involved with person tried to extort money from him by threatening to publicly share his condition before he revealed the truth himself. He sad he has never transmitted the virus to anyone. It was hard in him to come out public but thought he couldn't get any closer to honesty and yet refrain from calling it a truth.

Another noteworthy revelation his audience is paying attention to is Sheen's decision to share for the first time that he has had sexual encounters with men. He described those experiences as "weird but fun," and associates the experiences with another time in his life when he was heavily drug affected. He described sharing that truth as liberating not shaming.

Life After Chaos

Sheen describes himself today as sober, celibate, and dedicated to being a better father. He has been sober since 2017 and credits sobriety in recovery as the reason he was able to rebuild his own life. Both the memoir and the documentary emphasize his transition away from his previous focus on fame and excess, to a new focus on health and family.

While Netflix had made the documentary available for viewing, the documentary did receive mixed review ratings from both the national and international review sites and newspapers. Reviewers have acknowledged that the documentary shows valuable insight into Sheen's life, however, critics, including the Guardian have reported that the documentary does not go far enough to show remorse for the damage he caused by his previous behavior. Additionally, some family members like Sheen's father Martin Sheen and brother Emilio Estevez do not appear in the film and it raises the question of whose account is accounted for in the film?

Nevertheless, this documentary contains rare clips and candid interviews that give insight into Sheen's complicated odyssey. For many, it arrives as an opportunity to see the person behind the tabloids and the headlined scandals.

Charlie Sheen turned down starring in The Karate Kid?!?

aka Charlie Sheen premieres September 10. pic.twitter.com/43WsIi1jdJ

— Netflix (@netflix) September 9, 2025

Conclusion

Charlie Sheen’s new memoir and documentary reflect on the rise and fall of a career that once defined the nexus of television and tabloid drama. Sheen describes the highs of his celebrated performances and the lows of his infamy alongside the forces working against him and shares the struggles that shaped him.

While some critics allege that the Netflix film falls short of total accountability, they both signal Sheen's effort to reconcile his past and tell his story in his own words. More than a celebrity confession, it is an effort towards resolution and maybe even redemption.