Biography of Actor Charlie Sheen

Don't let the stories fool you (even the true ones - and many of them aren't). Yes, Charlie Sheen has done his share of living on the wild side. (In his defense, however, he has probably led a life similar to many of his less-famous peers. Take away his fame and money, and his perceived transgressions are the dead-on, down-to-the-last-detail experiences of many lesser-known people of his generation.)

More importantly, underneath the gossip column fodder is an accomplished actor from a family that is a Hollywood dynasty. With more than 60 acting credits spanning over three decades, he has proved that even the most outrageous antics have not gotten in the way of his work. In addition to acting, Sheen has several writing and producing credits to his name.

Charlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estevez on September 3, 1965, in New York. Born to actor Martin Sheen and his wife, Janet, Charlie was encouraged from an early age to pursue an acting career. His first professional acting experience came in the 1974 television movie, The Execution of Private Slovik. By the mid-1980s, he was taking on breakthrough roles, appearing in 1984's Red Dawn and 1986's Platoon. He also starred in Wall Street in 1987.

While his 1980s roles leaned towards the serious side of life, during the 1990s and beyond, Sheen seems to have slowly turned his focus toward comedy. He starred in Hot Shots and its sequel, Hot Shots Part Deux, in 1991 and 1993 respectively. That has been followed by appearances in such comedies as Loaded Weapon I, Being John Malkovich, and Good Advice.