Sheen Pays Tribute to Childhood Friend Chris Penn in New Memoir

NEW YORK (Sept. 13, 2025) - Charlie Sheen publicly honored his late childhood friend Chris Penn at a launch event for his memoir “The Book of Sheen,” revealing personal anecdotes and emphasizing the bond they shared growing up in Malibu.

In his first live discussion about the Penn brothers since Chris’s death in 2006, Sheen sat down with moderator David Duchovny at the 92nd Street Y to explain why he penned passages about Chris “out of love for Sean,” underscoring the emotional significance of recounting their early filmmaking adventures together.

Nut Graf

Sheen’s tribute arrives as part of a broader effort in “The Book of Sheen” to reconcile with his past-documenting formative relationships, childhood creativity and his journey through addiction-while offering readers unvarnished reflections on family and fame.

Early Filmmaking Bonds

  • Sheen recalled making homemade movies with Sean and Chris Penn at their Malibu homes, using blank guns and stage blood as props.
  • He laughed at the amateur quality of those Super 8 films, many of which will appear publicly for the first time in his upcoming Netflix documentary “aka Charlie Sheen.”

Writing “Out of Love”

  • The most intimate passages about Chris were written specifically for Sean, Sheen noted, aiming to convey how much Sean’s brother meant to him.
  • He resisted reading drafts aloud to Sean during the writing process, believing Chris would have preferred a straightforward presentation rather than dramatics.

Memoir Themes and Addiction

  • Beyond family tributes, “The Book of Sheen” chronicles Sheen’s rise from child actor to sitcom star and his very public battles with substance abuse.
  • Now eight years sober, Sheen shares moments of shame and redemption, describing the memoir as “the most challenging job I’ve ever had-and hands down the most rewarding one.”

Publication Details

“The Book of Sheen” is available nationwide in print and digital formats. A two-part Netflix documentary sequel will premiere later this fall, featuring never-before-seen family footage and in-depth interviews.