Charlie Sheen says partying with Nicolas Cage and several friends helped precipitate the actor’s first intervention and a stay in rehab, according to an excerpt from Sheen’s new memoir, The Book of Sheen.
Sheen, 60, writes that he ran into “my old pal Nicolas Cage” while shooting the 1990 film The Rookie, and that the encounter “opened the door to a different warehouse of mischief.” He says the two, along with three other companions, dubbed themselves “J-5” and embarked on a string of heavy nights that he describes as “madhatted” and reckless, at times interfering with his work on set with director and star Clint Eastwood.
Sheen recounts that as filming wound down he was invited to what he believed was a celebration of his father Martin Sheen’s 50th birthday. Instead, he says, the gathering was an intervention staged by family and friends, including Rob Lowe. Sheen writes that he was taken to Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, for treatment. He says the intervention came shortly after finishing The Rookie and that he was frustrated because he had prior plans to travel to Palm Springs with Cage to judge a Hawaiian Tropic event.
In the memoir, Sheen describes managing to leave rehab for a night after promising a nurse he would give her $1 million if he failed to return by 9 a.m. He calls the trip a “bona fide Class 3 blowout,” says he remembers little of the night other than procuring a bag of cocaine that he shared, and notes he returned to rehab at 8:44 a.m. The Book of Sheen also covers the actor’s HIV diagnosis and a long record of high-profile, sometimes self-destructive behavior.
Sheen’s account places the intervention near the end of a period in which he says he “stopped caring” about work and that his “sloppiness” on set became evident. His description in the memoir focuses on the social dynamic of the J-5 group and the nights of excess that followed their formation.
The Book of Sheen has drawn attention both for its personal revelations and for its candid discussion of substance use and health. The actor presents the events as part of a larger narrative of his life and career, which includes acclaimed early roles and later controversies.
Sheen’s recounting is based on his own recollection; the actor and representatives for Nicolas Cage did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The memoir’s publication continues a recent trend of high-profile entertainers issuing candid books about personal struggles.
If readers are affected by issues raised in the memoir or are seeking assistance with substance use or related concerns, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline is available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).