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Charlie Sheen, the Emmy-nominated actor known for Two and a Half Men, Platoon, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, has left fans stunned after revealing his birth name in a new Netflix documentary.
Born Carlos Irwin Estévez, Sheen is the eldest son of actor Ramón Estevez, better known professionally as Michael Sheen. The 60-year-old actor, who has also made headlines for decades due to substance abuse and legal controversies, explained the reasoning behind his stage name in his memoir, The Book of Sheen.
“I really liked the way it looked,” Sheen wrote, noting he had his father’s blessing for the change. “It was a much smoother father-son, Estevez-to-Sheen morph than the one Dad had suffered with his old man. I told him how important it was to honour him by carrying the name forward.”
Viewers were quick to react on social media after watching the documentary, expressing astonishment at the revelation. One X user wrote, “Still blows my mind Charlie Sheen’s real name is Carlos Estévez and his brother is Emilio…” Another quipped, “It’s crazy coz yesterday I found out that his real name is Carlos Estevez (Charlie Sheen is his stage name).”
The documentary, released on 10 September, dives into Sheen’s life in Hollywood, chronicling his rise to fame, struggles with addiction, and journey toward redemption after seven years of sobriety.
Fans say the revelation about his birth name has given them a fresh perspective on the actor behind the iconic stage persona.