Denise Richards Opens Up About Her Tough Marriage to Ex-Husband Charlie Sheen

Denise Richards is pulling back the curtain on her turbulent past with ex-husband Charlie Sheen. In Netflix's latest docuseries, the actress offers a rare glimpse into the highs and lows of their headline-making relationship.

On September 10, 2025, Netflix premiered the docuseries "aka Charlie Sheen," which features Charlie Sheen, his family, and friends discussing his personal life. One of the people who appears in the series is the actor's ex-wife, Denise Richards.

In the two-part documentary, Denise reflected on their marriage, which began in 2002. She recalled that their relationship began to deteriorate while Charlie was still starring on "Two and a Half Men."

Speaking about her ex-husband, the actress said, "As soon as the show started getting really successful, I think the pressure of that changed him." In the docuseries, Charlie admits to taking Norco and Vicodin at the time.

The actress continued, "It was almost like he was sabotaging the success and sabotaging our family. When things started to go good, I felt like things were being sabotaged." Denise explained that Charlie's substance abuse led to "irrational anger," which flared up quickly.

She recalled reaching out to his sponsor to express her concern. However, those around him dismissed her fears, attributing them to hormones or postpartum issues. These were claims she strongly disagreed with, believing they were unfounded.

Instead, Charlie's circle appeared to escalate the tension, as Denise felt they pitted them against each other, despite the two being married, sharing a child, and expecting another. That period, she noted, was especially difficult for her.

She explained, "And I'm not just this quiet wife. I'm a strong woman, and I'll say, like, something is not right."

During the release of the docuseries, Netflix shared a candid Instagram clip of Denise crying and becoming emotional while discussing her marriage to Charlie. In the footage, the actress insists that the crew keep recording, saying they were capturing the truth.

She then revealed, "The truth is I feel like my life with Charlie is three stages: It's the time I met him and married him, then my divorce, and then the aftermath of it." The star repeatedly apologized to the crew for her emotional response, confessing, "It was a lot, and I've had to [expletive] hold it together."

In another clip, released days before the docuseries premiered, the former couple talked about how they met. Charlie said, "She was, yeah, the hottest woman alive at that time." For her part, Denise recalled, "He was, like, beating around the bush and was shy."

She took the lead and told him, "Spit it out. Do you want to go out to dinner or what?" However, she believed that made him nervous, because despite his public image, he is very shy.

He then asked her about baseball, hoping to find common ground, but she wasn't very interested in the sport. Charlie mentioned that he couldn't miss the game airing that night, yet he didn't want to cancel their date. Denise found it sweet when he suggested they get takeout and watch the game together.

Although her father advised against it, she didn't want him to miss the game because of her, so she went to Charlie's house and watched it with him.

The former couple's marriage ended in 2006 after Denise filed for divorce in March 2005. The filing happened while she was six months pregnant with their second child. However, they reunited publicly 19 years later at the Los Angeles world premiere of Charlie's docuseries on September 4.

A video showed them entering from separate entrances before meeting in the middle of the red carpet for a hug. They posed for photos, with Charlie placing his arm around Denise's waist, and at one point, they appeared to share a laugh.

It took Denise years before she remarried. She tied the knot with Aaron Phypers on September 8, 2018. The couple was married for more than six years before Aaron filed for divorce on July 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.

He cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the separation, noting July 4 as the date of separation. One publication reported that legal documents revealed that Aaron was seeking spousal support.

He claimed Denise earns over $250,000 a month through television, brand deals, OnlyFans, and public appearances, while he has no income. The filing also offered insight into their spending habits as a couple.

Aaron estimated their monthly expenses at $105,000. This included $18,000 for rent, $20,000 for clothing, $15,000 each for dining out and entertainment, $8,000 for utilities, and $10,000 for groceries—all covered by Denise.

Phypers, who is now estranged from the actress, also wants the court to confirm his ownership of certain items. These include a Ford Shelby GT500, a 2018 Indian Dark Horse motorcycle, and various power tools.

He was previously married to Nicollette Sheridan.

The footage of Denise's participation in her ex's docuseries comes months after their oldest daughter opened up about the severity of her mental health struggles, prompting others to share similar experiences.

Sami Sheen, the couples' 21-year-old daughter, discussed her battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a TikTok post on July 27, 2025.

The video, captioned "so fun! #ocd," shed light on the mental strain she endures daily. "Nothing aggravates me more, then when someone is like, 'Oh my god, I'm so OCD, I need to keep my room clean and organized,'" said Sami.

She explained that it is nothing compared to what she has to deal with:

"I'm so OCD, that even if I buy something from the grocery store that day, and I read the expiration date over and over, over and over, and over again, somehow, I will convince myself it's a fake expiration date and it's actually expired a year ago and if I eat it, I'm going to get violently ill."

Sami admitted that this compulsion often leads her to throw food away, leaving her to starve. Supportive comments quickly flooded the post.

One person wrote, "Your honesty is helpful. I wish more people were open-minded." Another shared, "It feels good to see someone with the same OCD symptoms. Everyone thinks I'm kidding or crazy. I throw so much food away." A third added, "OCD is horrible. I've dealt with it since I was a kid. Ugh."

Sami, who boasts over 100,000 TikTok followers, is Denise and Charlie's eldest child. The pair also share a younger daughter, Eloise, born in June 2005.

Sami's revelation offers insight into how personal challenges can unfold in the public eye, especially within a high-profile family. By speaking openly, she shifts attention toward the realities of mental health rather than the stigma often surrounding it.

Her disclosure arrived at a turbulent time for her family, showcasing the complexities they face privately and publicly.