Martin Sheen says, 'I couldn't believe the level of courage I was witnessing' after watching his son's interview.
- Nov 18, 2015
AceShowbiz - Martin Sheen is a proud father. He applauded his son Charlie Sheen after he came clean about his HIV positive. After watching Charlie's confession on "Today" show, "I couldn't believe the level of courage I was witnessing, and that it was my son," the 75-year-old actor said as quoted by Naples Daily News.
"He had been leading up to this sort of story for several months, and we kept encouraging him to do it," Martin said at CME Group's Global Financial Leadership Conference on Tuesday. "And he kept backing away and backing away because it was like going to his own execution, I guess.
"We didn't know until he walked on the set this morning that he was going to do it," the father continued. "I saw him Saturday night, my wife and I went to see him, to make sure he knew we were behind him, and if he wanted me to go, I would have canceled this event. He said, no, this was his and his alone."
He got emotional as he added, "As a father, I dare say that if I were to ask, just a general question in this room, how many of you have children or spouses or nieces, nephews, uncles, clients, who are dealing with drugs or alcohol. I dare say that there isn't a person in here that wouldn't raise their hand."
"So, I just want to encourage all of you that have children, spouses, aunts, uncles, clients, that are involved in any form of addiction to realize that it's a disease," he went on. "And if it they had cancer, you wouldn't think of them any differently."
"But most importantly, people, and I speak from my own personal experience, most people who become addicted are looking for a transcendent experience. They are looking for one, the other, God, whatever it is, and naturally they shortcut the journey because, the apparition."
