Nosibling duos in sitcomscan compare to the very realistic, based-on-sarcasm-and-threats pair that is Charlie and Alan Harper inTwo and a Half Men. Created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn, the 12-season series focuses on the crazy shenanigans two adult brothers often find themselves in. Charlie Sheen played Charlie Harper, a snarky jingle writer who is afraid of commitment but somehow found it in his heart to welcome his younger brother Alan (Jon Cryer) and his 10-year-old nephew Jake (Angus T. Jones) into his bachelor pad in Malibu.
Charlie and Alan rarely see eye to eye on issues, as Alan is pretty much the complete opposite of his brother, but in the end, they do what they can to help each other. During the eighth season, a very public feud happened between Sheen and Lorre, resulting in Sheen’s character getting killed off and replaced by Walden Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher). Of course, the billionaire internet entrepreneur kept Alan and Jake around to not disturb too much of the original storyline, but after an additional four seasons, the series came to an end.
Now, just 12 years since the end of one of the funniest sitcoms, fans are wondering what the original cast ofTwo and a Half Menhas been up to.
Two and a Half Men
Charlie Sheen — Charlie Harper
As some fans may know,Charlie Sheen’sTwo and a Half Mencharacter, Charlie Harper, was actually loosely based on Sheen himself.They both had a reputation for being the “bad boy” who enjoyed the finer things in life along with the company of the finest ladies. No one could have played this selfish and mentally corrupt character quite like Sheen, so when he was written off at the start of season nine, fans thought it was the end of an era.
After Sheen’s falling out with Chuck Lorre in 2010, he was picked up as the lead character in FX’sAnger Management. There, Sheen would play yet another “Charlie,” Charlie Goodson, with anger issues and questionable morals. It is like Sheen was just going through the motions of his real life but as a character with a script. After 100 successful episodes, the series was done, and Sheen admitted that he had been wrong about the way he had been acting for the last several years.In 2023,Sheen and Lorre reconciled, and Sheen guest starred in Lorre’s latest comedy series,Bookie.
Jon Cryer — Alan Harper
Jon Cryer played Charlie Harper’s younger brother, Alan,who struggled financially and often got on his older brother’s last nerve, but in the end, he always meant well. Seeing the pair try to sort through their problems and give one another advice was absolutely comical, and fans were ecstatic that when Walden Schmidt bought the Malibu home, he asked Alan to stick around as it had been his home for nearly a decade.
BeforeTwo and a Half Men, most people knew Cryer from his breakout role inJohn Hughes’Pretty in Pink, but nowadays, Cryer is all over the place. He starred alongside Pete Davidson and Sydney Sweeney inBig Time Adolescence; he joined Ashton Kutcher on the set ofThe Ranch, and most recently,he has a lead role in the NBC sitcomExtended Family.
Angus T. Jones — Jake Harper
While many fans absolutely adoredAngus T. Jones as the iconic “half-man” of the Harper family, the actor grew to resent his time in the spotlight. When Jones was just turning 18,he devoted himself to God, and he asked that people stop watchingTwo and a Half Men.In aninterview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jones called the show “filth” and said he was ashamed to have been a part of such corrupt storylines. Shortly afterward, Jones apologized for his words, but he was essentially cut from the show until a cameo appearance in the series finale.
After his own public announcement about how much he was upset with the industry, Jones decided to go back to school. He has stayed out of the spotlight for the most part, butin 2023, he, like Charlie Sheen, reunited with Chuck Lorreand appeared in the very first episode ofBookie. Perhaps the 30-year-old is coming out of his funk and wants to take on more adult roles.
Ashton Kutcher — Walden Schmidt
When Charlie Sheen was booted fromTwo and a Half Men, everyone who was suggested to fill the void knew they could never match Sheen’s energy. However, Ashton Kutcher adopted the idea that he would not be competing with Sheen per se, but he would be trying to help keep a good thing going.Kutcher’s character, Walden Schmidt, was introduced in the first episode of the ninth season, and due to Walden’s own grieving as well as Alan’s, the two became instant friends and new roommates. Sadly,Kutcher’s reign only lasted four seasons.
WhenTwo and a Half Menconcluded, Kutcher wasted no time with his talents. He immediately joined the cast ofThe Ranchwith hisThat ’70s Showcostar, Danny Masterson, but because of their close friendship and Masterson’s trial, Kutcher found himself in hot water with fans.More recently, Kutcher guest starred inThat ’90s Show; he starred in the romantic comedyYour Place or Mine,and he has been working with several big names on James Franco’s indie filmThe Long Home.
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Holland Taylor — Evelyn Harper
Holland Taylor’s Evelyn Harper is Charlie and Alan’s mother.She’s classy, sassy, and she certainly knows just how to make a grown man squirm, especially when it comes to her two very own sons. Evelyn pops into Charlie and Alan’s lives every now and again, but it is usually when she either wants to praise Charlie for something, dote on Jake, or Alan is once again seeking her approval though he knows whatever he has done will just be overshadowed by his big brother.
After Charlie’s departure fromTwo and a Half Men, Taylor’s role became much smaller, giving her time to branch out to other things.Taylor joined the cast of several shows, includingMr. Mercedes,The Chair,andThe Morning Show.In 2020, Taylor played Lana Condor’s modern-day fairy godmother inTo All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.More recently, Taylor starred alongsideGrey’s Anatomy’s Sandra Oh inQuiz Lady, and she was a guest star in the drama seriesBillions.
Conchata Ferrell — Berta
For Charlie Harper to have a housekeeper, two boxes had to be checked: he needed someone to whom he was not attracted (or he’d run the risk of never keeping them around), and he needed someone who would put up with his lifestyle. Well,Conchata Ferrell’s Bertamanaged to fit the mold, but more importantly, she brought the sass and down-to-earth advice that Charlie so desperately needed. Ferrell had the right attitude when it came to her role, and she knew exactly how to walk the very fine line between tough love and judgmental friend.
After spending 12 years on theTwo and a Half Menset, Ferrell found herself taking a step back from the limelight. She made a guest appearance inGrace and Frankie, and she joined Ashton Kutcher on the set ofThe Ranchfor five episodes.However, in October 2020, Ferrell passed away from complications following cardiac arrest.
Melanie Lynskey — Rose
Melanie Lynskeycan play a sweet-as-pie character in one instance and a deadly threat in another, so when castingthe part of RoseforTwo and a Half Men, she seemed like the perfect fit to blend the personalities together. In short, Rose is Charlie’s one-night stand that just never goes away. Instead, she develops a strange fascination for the older Harper brother and continues to stalk him for years. Charlie eventually falls in love with Rose (because he always makes great decisions), but his “sudden death” — which actually turned out to be a kidnapping — in Paris while with her certainly raises some eyebrows.
Even when Lynskey is not playing some slightly deranged stalker, she still manages to make an impact on audiences. Many movie lovers will recognize her fromSweet Home Alabama,Coyote Ugly,Don’t Look Up, andHello I Must Be Going. However,Lynskey has broken out into a more dominating role in Showtime’sthriller seriesYellowjackets.As of 2024, Lynskey has two films,Griffin in SummerandPike, in the post-production stage, and she will portray the New Zealand author Heather Morris in the historical drama seriesThe Tattooist of Auschwitz.
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Melanie Lynskey, who appeared in the CBS series, is also open to guest starring on a reunion show.
Marin Hinkle — Judith Harper-Melnick
Marin Hinkle played Alan’s self-absorbed and manipulative ex-wife, Judith,who managed to set up the storyline in the pilot by kicking Alan out of their home, forcing him to move to Charlie’s bachelor pad. Just about every time Judith is around, the fun immediately dies, and Alan goes into pathetic desperation mode. She never really redeems herself as a cheating and vindictive woman, so fans were actually glad that Alan did not end up with her by the series finale.
While Judith was a cold-hearted shrew, Hinkle is actually a funny and kind woman. After her time onTwo and a Half Men, Hinkle went on to landroles in the TV seriesDeception,Madame Secretary, andThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.As for her film career, several movie-goers will recognize Hinkle as Spencer’s mom inJumanji: Welcome to the JungleandJumanji: The Next Level. In 2024, Hinkle was in Netflix’s rom-comPlayersand the Hulu miniseriesWe Were the Lucky Ones.
April Bowlby — Kandi
April Bowlby’s breakout role was inTwo and a Half Menwhen she played Kandi,a fun and loving girl who was not exactly too bright when it came to her choice of men.Kandi initially dates Charlie, but he calls it off to be with someone else. Later on, she decides to date Alan, and the two end up getting married in Vegas, though their marriage only lasts four months. With the help of Alan’s first ex-wife, Kandi leaves him, makes it big in Hollywood, and then in the finale, she lets on that she still may have feelings for Alan.
When Bowlby was not playing the love interest to the Harper brothers, she could be found onHow I Met Your Motheras Barney Stinson’s obsessive ex-girlfriend, Meg. In 2009, Bowlby landed the lead role inDrop Dead Diva, but after its conclusion in 2014, she found herself only appearing as a guest star in a few TV series such asPsych,The Big Bang Theory, andTitans.The latter actually relaunched her acting career as she was able to reprise her role in the four seasons ofDoom Patrol.
Jennifer Taylor — Chelsea
Now there are plenty of actors who have played multiple characters within the same show, but Jennifer Bini Taylor is credited as four different women inTwo and a Half Men. For the most part, fans will best remember Taylor as Charlie’s girlfriend, Chelsea, who actually made the bachelor turn his life around for a brief moment. Unfortunately, that did not last nearly as long as it should have, but Chelsea did come back for the finale as Charlie sent her a large check and a genuine apology for some silly antics.
AfterTwo and a Half Men, Taylor landed a recurring role inBurn Notice, and she guest starred inShamelessandThe Young and the Restless.As of 2024, Taylor looks to be enjoying her time away from the hustle and bustle of the entertainment industry.According to her Instagram, she is happy and very down-to-earth about living with her husband, their two kids, and her incredible garden.
