Charlie Sheen Reveals How He Lost Iconic Role to Tom Cruise

Charlie Sheen recently shared the story of how he was replaced by Tom Cruise in the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July, and the emotional fallout that followed. The actor, now 60, described feeling blindsided when director Oliver Stone never told him directly about the casting change. Instead, Sheen only found out through his brother, Emilio Estevez, leaving him feeling deeply hurt and betrayed.

Sheen’s Unexpected Confrontation With Oliver Stone

During an appearance on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Sheen recounted the night he finally got the truth from Stone. The two happened to be at the same bar, and after a few drinks, Sheen decided to bring up the subject. He recalled:

I was drunk enough and he was drunk enough for that thing to finally be brought up. And he was like, ‘I just felt like you didn’t have any passion for it. I felt like you lost interest.’ I was like, ‘Well, I didn’t see you. How do you know how much passion I lost or interest that evaporated if we never talked about it again?’

Sheen had already met with Stone and the real-life Ron Kovic, the Vietnam veteran whose story inspired the film. He believed he was a lock for the part, so the director’s explanation left him stunned.

Feeling Let Down by a Trusted Director

The disappointment ran deep for Sheen, who had worked with Stone before and thought their relationship meant he’d at least get a phone call. In a candid interview, Sheen admitted:

I wouldn’t have cared if Oliver had called me personally, based on what we’d been through. We fought two wars you know. But here was a crucial point for both of us, and he couldn’t even call me and say, ‘I’ve changed my mind.’

Despite the setback, Sheen chose not to dwell on what might have been. He never signed a contract for the role, so he didn’t lose out financially. He also refused to criticize Cruise, who went on to earn an Oscar nomination for his performance.

Why Cruise Landed the Role

Stone’s fondness for Cruise was well known, but Sheen acknowledged that Cruise’s star power likely sealed the deal. By the late 1980s, Cruise had already made a name for himself with hits like Risky Business and Top Gun, making him a box office draw that studios couldn’t ignore.

While Sheen missed out on Born on the Fourth of July, he still appeared in three films that year: Tale of Two Sisters, Major League, and Never on Tuesday. His career continued into the 1990s and early 2000s, though personal struggles eventually took their toll.

Born on the Fourth of July’s Lasting Impact

Born on the Fourth of July, directed by Oliver Stone, was released on December 20, 1989. The film earned $161 million at the box office and holds an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Cruise’s performance as Ron Kovic remains one of his most acclaimed roles.

The film is currently available to stream on Apple TV.