Netflix’s two-part documentary “AKA Charlie Sheen” gives a comprehensive look at the actor’s life and career. It may not be as intimate and personal as what the actor likely shared with his therapist about the tumultuous events in his life (like fame, addiction, and complex family relationships), but in terms of the retrospective document we’re receiving more and more of lately, it’s a comprehensive document with real depth. Naturally, most viewers just want to relive the scandals and hear the craziest stories Sheen has told over his decades-long career, but if you’re more of a movie buff, there are some truly intriguing tidbits in these three hours that will satisfy your curiosity as well.
One of them is that Sheen could have been the original Karate Kid. Fortunately for him (and for Ralph Macchio), he wasn’t. He had a small role in a long-forgotten and truly terrible horror film, “Grizzly II: Revenge”, when he was offered to play Daniel LaRusso in “The Karate Kid”. He wasn’t at all committed to his role in “Grizzly II,” even though he starred alongside a young George Clooney and Laura Dern, but when he asked his father, Martin Sheen, for advice on what to do, he got an answer he didn’t want to hear at the time:
“I took it to my dad and said, ‘I got this thing, and it’s a life-changing opportunity. They want me to train karate tomorrow.’ And he said, “Well, there’s a problem here. You gave your word to this other company. I said, “Yeah, but it’s forgettable, and it’s like eight lines.” He said: “None of this matters. You gave them your word. Your word in this business will take you much further than a great film. So it disappeared.”
Looking back, Sheen was glad he didn’t do The Karate Kid
Looking back on that decision, Sheen admitted he was furious at the time. “The Karate Kid” had become a phenomenon, spawned multiple sequels and made Macchio a global sensation and teen idol. This could all have come down to Sheen. But in retrospect, he was glad he followed his father’s advice. He said: “[Macchio] probably won $20 million. However, I don’t know if that necessarily opened a lot of doors to other things he was passionate about. I don’t mean I dodged a bullet. Maybe I dodged a back kick.”
In all honesty, Sheen didn’t need “The Karate Kid” to become a star. He had talent, charisma, and screen presence stronger than Macchio’s, and that flair undoubtedly showed itself in the films he was able to direct in the 1980s instead of becoming the face of a teen movie franchise.
Just two years later, Sheen landed a brief scene in the beloved John Hughes classic, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” thanks to co-star and friend Jennifer Grey, which turned out to be a step in the right direction. Shortly after, he landed the lead role in Oliver Stone’s war epic, “Platoon,” which was a complete game-changer for him. “Wall Street” followed soon after, and Sheen became a household name around the world, skyrocketing to the kind of fame and popularity every actor dreams of. We now know how it ended and that he reached all-consuming levels of fame that he couldn’t handle at the time. It upset him, pushed him to take drugs, and caused him to do shameful things. But when it comes to career opportunities and the kind of work an actor of his caliber can be proud of for the rest of his life, he was better off losing the role to Daniel LaRusso.
