Martin Sheen

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18 Feb 2024

Martin Sheen

Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez, professionally known as Martin Sheen, is an esteemed American actor whose illustrious career spans six decades, marked by numerous accolades, including three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Sheen gained prominence with standout performances in Terrence Malick's Badlands (1973) and Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979). His repertoire includes memorable roles in The Subject Was Roses (1968), Catch-22 (1970), Gandhi (1982), and The Departed (2006), among others. Notably, he portrayed iconic figures such as Robert F. Kennedy, Eddie Slovik, John Dean, and John F. Kennedy in various productions.
Additionally, Sheen is recognized for his portrayal of President Jed Bartlet in The West Wing, a role that earned him six Emmy nominations. He showcased his versatility further in the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (2015–2022), portraying Robert Hanson.
Born and raised in the United States to a Spanish father and an Irish mother, Sheen adopted his stage name to enhance his career prospects. He is the proud father of four children, all of whom have followed in his footsteps as actors. Sheen's directorial debut, Cadence (1990), featured both of his sons, Charlie and Ramón.
Beyond his acting prowess, Sheen has been active in liberal politics and has contributed to documentary projects as a narrator, producer, and director. His enduring legacy in both the entertainment industry and social activism continues to inspire audiences worldwide.

Martin Sheen, originally named Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez, was born on August 3, 1940, in Dayton, Ohio, to Mary-Ann (née Phelan) and Francisco Estévez Martínez. His left arm was injured during birth, resulting in limited movement (Erb's palsy) and a shorter length compared to his right arm. Sheen's parents were immigrants, with his mother being Irish and his father Spanish. His father worked at the National Cash Register Company in Dayton. Sheen grew up in the South Park neighborhood as the seventh child among ten siblings.
As a child, Sheen battled polio and spent a year bedridden. Treatment following Sister Kenny's method helped him recover the use of his legs. Tragically, when Sheen was eleven, his mother passed away, leaving the family facing potential separation. With assistance from the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the family managed to stay together. Sheen attended Chaminade High School, where he later organized a strike of golf caddies at fourteen due to mistreatment by golfers.
Despite his father's disapproval, Sheen pursued acting, eventually moving to New York City in his early twenties with financial aid from a Catholic priest. He joined the Living Theatre company and became involved with Catholic activist Dorothy Day's Catholic Worker Movement, fostering his commitment to social justice. Sheen deliberately failed his entrance exam for the University of Dayton to focus on acting.
He adopted the stage name Martin Sheen, inspired by CBS casting director Robert Dale Martin and Catholic archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Reflecting on this decision, Sheen admitted to creating the name to ease the challenges he faced in securing appointments. Despite his success, he regretted not retaining his birth name, acknowledging his father's sentiments.

Martin Sheen was profoundly influenced by the legendary actor James Dean, whose performances left an indelible mark on him and his generation. Sheen admired Dean's ability to transcend traditional acting and embody authentic human behavior, shaping Sheen's own approach to the craft.
In pursuit of recognition, Sheen co-founded a theater company with fellow actors and made his television debut in 1963 with an appearance in an episode of The Outer Limits. He ventured into Broadway with the play The Subject Was Roses in 1964, earning a Golden Globe nomination for his role. Sheen also showcased his talent in television productions like Ten Blocks on the Camino Real (1966) and Hamlet (1968), displaying his versatility in both English and Spanish.
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Sheen made guest appearances on various popular television series, including Mission: Impossible, Columbo, and The Streets of San Francisco. However, he increasingly focused on television films and motion pictures. Notable among his early film roles was Dobbs in the 1970 adaptation of Catch-22. He gained critical acclaim for his portrayal of a multiple murderer in the crime drama Badlands (1973), followed by a memorable turn as Pvt. Eddie Slovik in The Execution of Private Slovik (1974), for which he received an Emmy nomination.
Sheen's breakthrough came with his role as U.S. Army Captain Benjamin L. Willard in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979). His performance in the grueling filming conditions of the Philippine jungle garnered widespread recognition. Despite facing health issues, including a minor heart attack during production, Sheen's commitment to the role remained unwavering. He continued to impress audiences with roles in films like The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976) and The Final Countdown (1979), solidifying his status as a versatile and dedicated actor.