Charlie Sheen on Being Latino: “Never a Part of my Life”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Roastee Charlie Sheen arrives at Comedy Central's Roast of Charlie Sheen held at Sony Studios on September 10, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)
To be or not to be Latino? That is Charlie Sheen’s question.
Sheen, who was born Carlos Irwin Estévez, has become synonymous with hard partying, cocaine binges, prostitutes and, of course, having “tiger blood and #Winning.”
But, the former “Two and a Half Men” actor sat down with Univision veteran Maria Elena Salinas and candidly talked about how he is not in touch with his Latino roots, despite his Spanish bloodline. The interview started out in Spanish but quickly turned to English when he seemed uncomfortable speaking the second language he barely knows.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“It was never a part of my life growing up,” said Sheen. “My parents never infused it into our household.”
Sheen says that he changed his name when he was 4 to Charlie because he “didn’t want to be confused growing up” with an uncle who is also named Carlos.
“We would both respond to the name Carlos, so I changed my name,” Sheen said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sheen, who is releasing his new show on Fox called “Anger Management,” said he decided to change his last name from Estévez to Sheen when he decided to become an actor.
“I don’t wake up feeling Latino,” Sheen said. “I’m a white guy in America.”
He said he wasn't ashamed about his background, nor is he running away from it.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“But I was born in New York and grew up in Malibu,” he said.
Besides his latest gig on FOX, the actor is a candidate to replace Jennifer Lopez on the popular singing competition “American Idol.” He said he wants to try and improve his Spanish.
“I wish I spoke more Spanish,” said Sheen. “I’m sure I can learn, but there hasn’t been a lot of time lately.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Latin women, the food and the “hard working people” are aspects of the Latino culture Sheen says he truly enjoys.
“Latin women and Latin food. They are both fabulous,” said Sheen. “I went to Colombian and that was nice, I like the people… I love the food, the sites and the history.”
“The people are very friendly,” he continued. “They embrace the whole tourism, the aspect of it. The whole commerce package.”