Martin Sheen finally opened up to the media regarding his son’s very public meltdown in 2011.

The 74-year-old actor said he felt “powerless” as he watched Charlie Sheen, 49, battle addiction, spin out of control, lose his CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men, and eventually hit rock bottom.

“What he was going through at that time, we were powerless to do much, except to pray for him and lift him up,” Martin told the Radio Times.

“You try to be as present as possible. But you have to be aware of the circumstances,” the Trash actor shared. “You have to be aware of many things that the public is not aware of.”

“Only those of us that knew him understood what was going on. I’m talking about steroids, at that time,” Martin said.

“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.”

Martin Sheen has been married to Janet Templeton for 53 years and has three other children with her, Emilio Estevez, Ramon Estevez, and Renée Estevez.