Martin Sheen on Charlie's Implosion: Steroids

Finally, an explanation for Charlie Sheen's 2011 meltdown: It was not, in fact, fueled by tiger blood and Adonis DNA, but by steroids, according to dad Martin. "Only those of us that knew him understood what was going on. I'm talking about steroids, at that time," Sheen says of his son in a new interview with Radio Times. "He was in a very desperate situation. And he was doing what he felt would get him out of it—going public. And it was very painful. No less painful for him." Those close to Charlie "were powerless to do much," he adds. "Except to pray for him and lift him up."

The younger Sheen's meltdown, which included a lot crazy quotes and his firing from Two and a Half Men, culminated with what Radio Times calls a "disastrous" stand-up tour. But the elder Sheen says he never saw a performance of My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat Is Not an Option. "You try to be as present as possible," says Martin, who himself has struggled with alcoholism. "You can assure them you're there and you love them, but you cannot effect change." As for Anger Management, Charlie Sheen's next TV flop, Martin had a role in it and admits the series "didn't set the bar that high." (Click to relive more of Charlie's best quotes.)