Martin Sheen Calls Charlie "Emotionally Crippled"

West Winger says he understands son's addiction but believes "faith can help" Charlie

By Marianne Garvey Mar 21, 2011 3:10 PMTags
Martin Sheen, Charlie SheenJordan Strauss/WireImage.com

Martin Sheen has some advice for son Charlie: You gotta have faith.

The George Michael-esque message came as Martin once again addressed his troubled 45-year-old offspring. "Faith can help all of us," Martin tells the U.K.'s Telegraph of Charlie's Meltdown Tour 2011. "He's not a kid. 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."

But that's not the only thing Martin or bro Emilio Estevez has to say about Charlie.

"Addiction is the dark side. It's a reflection of despair. And it's fed by all the other negativity," said Martin, who is with Emilio in Europe promoting their new joint film, The Way

The 70-year-old former West Winger, who battled his own alcohol addiction, says Charlie only listens to his father "every now and then" and needs a moment of clarity.

"I know what hell he's living in. I've had psychotic episodes in public," the elder Sheen said. "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."

Emilio, 48, agrees, suggesting that his brother's troubles are deep-rooted.

"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 older brother hasn't had a drink in over 10 years, my dad hasn't had a drink in 20. And I make wine," Estevez said in the same interview.

Martin, meanwhile, added that Charlie's behavior "is a reflection of despair. And it's fed by all the other negativity."

And until Charlie has a moment of clarity, his dad feels that the former Two and a Half Men star will be stuck on "the dark side."

Hey, Charlie, in this case, father probably knows best.