Introduction to a Lifelong Friendship

Charlie Sheen’s life has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but through it all, one constant has remained: his friendship with Tony Todd. When Sheen needed his then-13-year-old daughter taken to a hair appointment because he was too drunk to drive, he turned to his sober friend, Tony Todd. When Sheen wanted to meet Carlos Estévez because the major league pitcher shared Sheen’s given name, he turned to his connected friend, Tony Todd. When Sheen was in the throes of a crack addiction, fired from his starring role on “Two and a Half Men” and in need of an unwavering voice of encouragement, he turned to his non-judgmental friend Tony Todd.

A Friendship Forged in Baseball

Todd and Sheen have been pals since they bonded through baseball, first on Little League fields in Malibu, then on the Santa Monica High School team, then while taking batting practice in Sheen’s posh indoor batting cage, then while putting on power-hitting displays at local high school fields and even Dodger Stadium. Their friendship spread into their private lives, with Todd serving as best man at the first two of Sheen’s three marriages and serving as a drug-free wingman even when Sheen descended into a chaotic, self-destructive morass of cocaine, alcohol, and reckless sex.

A True Friend in Times of Need

“There are so many fake friends in Charlie’s life,” Todd said. “I’ve been there for him since we were little kids. The cool thing is, we’ve never had an argument.” Thanks to the recent Netflix documentary “aka Charlie Sheen” and publication of “The Book of Sheen” memoir, Todd’s 50-year friendship with the mercurial actor has been revealed to the world. Todd’s social media accounts have since been flooded with praise from viewers far and wide.

Praise from Around the World

“I had to reach out immediately to say you were and remain an angel from heaven.”
“You are the friend we would all like to have man, greetings from Spain!”
“Dear Tony, If you ever visit Istanbul, it would be our honor to host you in our hotel…. You are not only a great actor but also a true friend.”
“You… are a stellar human being [heart emoji].”

The Depths of Their Friendship

“There’s never been a call he hasn’t answered, there’s never been a crisis he didn’t help solve,” Sheen said in a phone interview. “Tony Todd has always been a friend, and a true one.” The documentary “aka Charlie Sheen” is a first-person tell-all, with the narrative helped along by Sheen’s oldest brother, Ramon, childhood neighbor Sean Penn, “Two and a Half Men” co-star Jon Cryer and executive producer Chuck Lorre, drug dealer Marco Abeyta, and ex-wives Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller. And, of course, Todd. He laughs. He cries. He exudes honesty and empathy.

A Career Beyond Friendship

Although he has enjoyed a career that includes acting/stuntman roles in both “Black Panther” movies and acting roles in the movie “Little Big League,” the TV show “Anger Management,” and more than two dozen national commercials, Todd is best known in Santa Monica as the dude who can’t say no to volunteer fundraisers and sports a vanity license plate that reads “NVR KWT.” Just this summer he helped raise $10,000 for Santa Monica Little League by hosting an outdoor screening of “Little Big League” and tapping into his vast contact list of pro athletes and A-list entertainers to attract silent-auction items.

A Hero in the Community

And Todd was hailed as a “real hero” by authorities after he gave $700 to a family of five who had been robbed of their rent money in Lancaster in 2018. He was “so moved by the family’s story” that he jumped in his car and drove from Santa Monica to the high desert to hand-deliver the money. His friendship with Sheen resonates with many, in part because Todd professes never to have taken a drug or a drink. Sheen, of course, was the poster man-child of substance abuse until becoming sober in December 2017, the day he relinquished his car keys to Todd to drive his daughter Sami to a hair salon appointment in Moorpark.

Overcoming Addiction Together

When Sheen was addicted to crack, Todd moved into his friend’s Mulholland Estates house in Beverly Hills. Even then, Sheen wouldn’t smoke the drug in Todd’s presence, and they often would end evenings watching MLB Network or ESPN’s “Sports Center.” “I didn’t do hard stuff in front of him, just out of respect,” Sheen said. Todd wept in “aka Charlie Sheen” when he explained why he continued to live with his friend knowing the actor was often smoking crack in the next room. “I just can’t leave him to die,” he said.

Shared Passion for Baseball

Happier times occurred when they would head to a ball field to hit. Years earlier, after suffering a shoulder injury, Sheen had learned to bat left-handed, taking a hundred or so swings a day off an Iron Mike pitching machine in his indoor batting cage. While filming a DirecTV commercial at Dodger Stadium in 2007, Sheen stepped into the batter’s box during a lunch break and crushed a pitch over the right-field wall. Todd whooped and hollered, in no small part because he had bet a Dodgers employee that his buddy would go deep. “I knew it was going to happen because of all the [batting practice] we’d been taking,” Todd said.

Conclusion

Charlie Sheen and Tony Todd’s friendship is a testament to the power of true and lasting relationships. Through the highs and lows, Todd has been a constant source of support and encouragement for Sheen, helping him navigate the challenges of addiction and personal struggles. Their bond, forged in their shared love of baseball, has endured for over 50 years, a remarkable feat in the often tumultuous world of Hollywood.

FAQs

Q: How long have Charlie Sheen and Tony Todd been friends?
A: Charlie Sheen and Tony Todd have been friends for over 50 years, since they met playing baseball in Little League.
Q: What role did Tony Todd play in Charlie Sheen’s life during his struggles with addiction?
A: Tony Todd was a source of support and encouragement for Charlie Sheen during his struggles with addiction, often being a voice of reason and helping him to stay on the path to recovery.
Q: What is Tony Todd’s claim to fame beyond his friendship with Charlie Sheen?
A: Tony Todd is also known for his acting and stunt work in films like "Black Panther" and his charitable efforts in his community, including hosting fundraisers and helping those in need.
Q: How did Charlie Sheen become sober?
A: Charlie Sheen became sober in December 2017, with the help of his friend Tony Todd, who drove him to appointments and supported him through the recovery process.