LOS ANGELES — Warner Bros Television on Monday announced it has fired ‘Two and a Half Men’ actor Charlie Sheen because of his “dangerously self-destructive conduct” that continues to grab headlines.
45-year-old Sheen, whose real name is Carlos Estevez, has played on the CBS hit series since it premiered in September 2003. The production was suspended last month due to several incidents involving bizarre public remarks and drug use.
“After careful consideration, Warner Bros. Television has terminated Charlie Sheen’s services on “Two and a Half Men” effective immediately,” a brief statement from Warner Bros Television said, without providing other details. It gave no indication about the future of the show, but it is unlikely that Warner Bros Television will replace Sheen to continue the series.
Sheen’s bizarre behavior has been extensively covered by American media outlets. In January, Sheen reportedly partied with two porn stars for a span of no less than 36 hours and allegedly consumed large amounts of cocaine, resulting in him being hospitalized.
Other incidents include numerous radio and internet rants and appearances on television. “I am on a drug. It’s called Charlie Sheen. If you try it once you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body,” Sheen said during an interview.
When Sheen was asked by ABC News if he was bipolar, he said no. “I’m not bipolar, I’m bi-winning,” Sheen said, creating a huge internet sensation after he repeatedly called himself a “winner”. Sheen described himself as an “unemployed winner” on the social networking website Twitter, where he gained more than 2.1 million followers in several days, earning himself a Guiness World Record for being the fastest person to gain a million followers.
Hours after Warner Bros Television announced its decision to fire Sheen, entertainment news and gossip website TMZ.com published a detailed letter that Warner Bros sent to Sheen’s lawyer to explain the decision.
“The need to suspend and now terminate Mr. Sheen’s agreement is not a step taken lightly,” the lawyer representing Warner Bros wrote in the letter, adding that the companies and persons involved with the show made great efforts over the years to continue the production of ‘Two and a Half Men’.
“This inability to perform the essential duties of his position included Mr. Sheen’s physical appearance, inability to deliver lines, inability to collaborate creatively with staff and crew, inability to work with the executive producers, inflammatory comments poisoning key working relationships, and frustration of the Show’s creative environment by the public spectacle of his self-inflicted disintegration,” the letter said.
The letter further cites Sheen’s contract which shows Warner Bros has no obligation to pay Sheen for the cancelled episodes. “In any event, Warner Bros. is entitled to suspend Mr. Sheen’s employment under the Agreement due to his “Incapacity” under Section 12 of the Standard Terms and Conditions,” it adds.
Additionally, Warner Bros claims that Sheen’s conduct has caused ‘significant damage’ to the company. “By way of example only, due to Mr. Sheen’s conduct, Warner Bros has lost ten episodes of the Show – two last year and eight for the remainder of the season,” the letter adds, warning: “In any ensuing arbitration, Warner Bros will seek recovery of all its damages including lost revenue from the Show, and all other damages the law allows.”
Sheen is believed to have been the highest-paid American TV series actor, reportedly receiving $1.25 million per episode.
