Top 10 Revelations in aka Charlie Sheen

Top 10 Revelations in “aka Charlie Sheen”

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the wildest, most shocking things we learned from Netflix’s two-part documentary “aka Charlie Sheen.”

#10: Charlie Almost Died During Birth

Director Andrew Renzi’s docuseries opens with a wryly relevant anecdote about Charlie briefly commandeering an airplane. Yet the actor immediately undercuts the bravado, recounting a moment from his birth when he had no control at all. In a startling confession, Sheen reveals he was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, nearly losing his life before it began. Doctors successfully resuscitated him, and in a show of tremendous gratitude, his parents, Martin and Janet, named him after the physician who saved him, giving him the middle name Irwin.

#9: How He Was Affected by Martin Sheen’s Heart Attack

Though Charlie’s father declined to be interviewed for “Aka Charlie Sheen,” Martin Sheen’s presence — and that of Charlie’s brother Emilio — looms large throughout the series. Charlie speaks with deep affection for his father, but there’s unmistakable pain when he recalls Martin’s highly publicized battle with alcoholism during the filming of “Apocalypse Now,” a struggle that culminated in a near-fatal heart attack. Yet the bond between father and son is clear: Charlie remembers simple games of catch as a lifeline during Martin’s recovery. In retrospect, Martin’s demons feel like a harbinger of the turmoil Charlie himself would one day endure.

#8: He Showed Up Late to Film “Ferris Bueller”

Marlon Brando. Daniel Day-Lewis. And… Charlie Sheen? While few would link the “Two and a Half Men” star to method acting, Sheen reveals his brief but iconic cameo in John Hughes’ “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” was his attempt at the craft. He insists no alcohol or drugs were involved: he simply stayed up all night to capture his mysterious character’s bleary-eyed, leather-clad edge. The experiment worked on screen but backfired off it: Sheen overslept and nearly missed the shoot. While Hughes let it slide, his friend Jennifer Grey, who’d recommended him for the role, was less amused.

#7: That Time He & Nicolas Cage Hijacked a Plane

Okay, well, not really — this isn’t “Con Air,” after all. But Charlie and his longtime partner in crime, Oscar winner Nicolas Cage, did get up to some pretty hair-raising hijinks in the early days of both men’s careers. Sheen speaks with admiration for Cage’s fearless individuality, but the two weren’t just kindred spirits: they were notorious partiers. Their boldest stunt? A reckless prank on a commercial flight that could have gone very wrong. Sheen admits their celebrity status likely saved them from serious consequences… a testament to just how untouchable Hollywood’s bad boys once felt.

#6: Clint Eastwood Scared Him Straight

It probably won’t come as much of a surprise to audiences, but Charlie was far from pleased about his family’s first attempt at staging an intervention to curb his escalating substance use disorder. When the actor predictably pushed back and resisted their efforts to send him to rehab, Martin took the situation to the next level and brought out the big guns — well, specifically one big gun: none other than Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood. Eastwood, who directed Charlie and starred alongside him in 1990’s “The Rookie,” took a tough-love approach, imparting some stern but well-intentioned words of wisdom. Whatever was said exactly isn’t important — what is is the fact that it got Charlie to rehab.

#5: He Was Nearly “The Karate Kid”

Before Ralph Macchio crane-kicked his way into pop-culture history, “The Karate Kid” almost starred Charlie Sheen. Casting director Caro Jones had her eye on the young actor, who was already making waves in Hollywood thanks to his famous last name and undeniable screen presence. Sheen revealed that he was offered the role of Daniel LaRusso but ultimately passed, fearing that it would hold him back from other opportunities. The part went to Macchio, whose boyish charm and underdog persona are now inextricably tied to “The Karate Kid,” but the story serves as a tantalizing “what if” in Sheen’s career. Had he donned the gi, Sheen’s trajectory, and perhaps the entire tone of the film franchise, might have been very different.

#4: Charlie’s Car Was Driven Off a Cliff. Twice.

Charlie Sheen’s life has been anything but ordinary, and even his car has a story worthy of a Hollywood script. Sheen once had his Mercedes stolen and discovered at the bottom of a cliff in Los Angeles’ famed Mulholland Drive area. Stranger still, after replacing the car, the exact same fate struck again: the new vehicle was also found wrecked in the same spot. While police chalked it up to thefts and joyrides gone wrong, the coincidence fed tabloid speculation about Sheen’s chaotic personal life. The incidents became yet another strange chapter in a career and life defined by larger-than-life drama, reinforcing Sheen’s reputation as someone who can’t escape the cinematic… even when he’s just trying to drive home.

#3: Shutting Down the Corey Haim Allegations

One of the most explosive moments in “Aka Charlie Sheen” comes when Sheen directly addresses long-circulating allegations made by Corey Feldman that he abused a young Corey Haim on the set of “Lucas.” Sheen doesn’t hedge or soften his response — he delivers his passionate denial with visible anger and disgust. The documentary doesn’t shy away from the controversy, instead presenting Sheen’s statement unflinchingly, allowing audiences to judge his reaction for themselves. In a series defined by revelations and self-reflection, this segment stands out for its raw emotion, as Sheen insists the claims are baseless and have caused deep, lasting harm to his reputation.

#2: Heidi Fleiss Thinks Charlie Should’ve Taken the Fall

Charlie’s connection to Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss was once tabloid gold, but the Netflix doc explores just how badly their relationship soured. Sheen was revealed in court to be one of Fleiss’s most high-profile clients, reportedly spending tens of thousands of dollars on her services. While Sheen initially defended Fleiss publicly, their relationship went south after her 1994 arrest, leading to a public fallout marked by legal scrutiny and intense media attention. Fleiss would later accuse Sheen of betraying her trust, while he maintained that their connection was blown out of proportion by the press. Decades later, their story remains a defining scandal of Sheen’s image as Hollywood’s ultimate bad boy, one that blurred the line between celebrity excess and criminal notoriety.

#1: He’s Unapologetic About Checking Out “the Other Side of the Menu”

In one of the docuseries’ most candid moments, Sheen openly discusses his sexual encounters with men during the height of his substance use disorder. He speaks without shame or hesitation, framing these experiences as part of a chaotic period defined by reckless behavior. Rather than sensationalizing the revelation, Sheen leans into honesty, emphasizing that transparency is part of his ongoing effort to reclaim his narrative. His matter-of-fact tone underscores a striking shift from the secrecy and tabloid frenzy that once surrounded his personal life. The moment offers a rare glimpse of self-awareness from a man who’s spent decades living in the public eye.

Which part of “Aka Charlie Sheen” shocked you the most? Were there any jaw-dropping moments that we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!