Martin Sheen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Sheen
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Sheen in 2008
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Ramón Gerard Antonio Estévez
August 3, 1940 Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
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| Years active | 1961–present |
| Political party | Democratic |
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Janet Templeton
(m. 1961) |
| Children |
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| Relatives | Joe Estevez (brother) |
| Family | Estevez |
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Ramón Gerard Antonio Estévez (born August 3, 1940), known to the world as Martin Sheen, is a famous American actor. He has been acting for over sixty years! During his long career, he has won many important awards. These include three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Martin Sheen became very well-known for his roles in two big movies. These were Badlands (1973), a crime drama, and Apocalypse Now (1979), a film about the Vietnam War. He has also starred in many other popular films. Some of these include Gandhi (1982), Wall Street (1987), and Catch Me If You Can (2002). You might also know him as Uncle Ben in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012).
On TV, he played important historical figures. He was Robert F. Kennedy in The Missiles of October (1974) and John F. Kennedy in Kennedy (1983). He also won an Emmy Award for his role in Murphy Brown (1994). Many people remember him as President Jed Bartlet in the TV show The West Wing. He also played Robert Hanson in the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (2015–2022).
Martin Sheen was born in the United States. His father was from Spain, and his mother was from Ireland. He chose the stage name Martin Sheen to help him get acting jobs. He has four children, and all of them are actors too! He has also directed one movie called Cadence (1990). In this film, he acted alongside his sons Charlie and Ramón. Besides acting, he is also known for being very active in supporting liberal political causes.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Martin Sheen was born in Dayton, Ohio, on August 3, 1940. His parents were Mary-Ann Phelan and Francisco Estévez Martínez. Both of his parents were immigrants. His mother was from Borrisokane, County Tipperary, Ireland. His father was from Salceda de Caselas, Galicia, Spain.
When he was born, Sheen's left arm was injured. This caused him to have limited movement in that arm. It also made his left arm about 3 inches (7.6 cm) shorter than his right. When he was a child, he also got polio. He had to stay in bed for a year. A special treatment helped him use his legs again.
Sheen's mother passed away when he was eleven years old. The family was able to stay together with help from their church. He grew up as a Catholic and went to Chaminade High School. When he was fourteen, he even organized a strike for golf caddies at a private club!
Martin Sheen loved acting from a young age. His father did not want him to be an actor. But Sheen borrowed money from a priest and moved to New York City in his early twenties. He wanted to become an actor. He spent two years working with a theater group called the Living Theatre. In New York, he met a Catholic activist named Dorothy Day. Working with her group, the Catholic Worker Movement, he started his journey of working for social justice. He even played one of the movement's founders, Peter Maurin, in a movie about Dorothy Day.
He chose his stage name, Martin Sheen, from two people. One was Robert Dale Martin, a casting director who gave him his first big acting chance. The other was Fulton J. Sheen, a Catholic archbishop and broadcaster.
Acting Career Highlights
Becoming a Well-Known Actor (1963–1979)
Martin Sheen was greatly inspired by the actor James Dean. Sheen said that Dean's movies had a huge impact on his life and work. In 1963, Sheen appeared in an episode of the TV show The Outer Limits. In 1964, he acted in the Broadway play The Subject Was Roses. He later played the same role in the 1968 film version and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, Sheen was a guest star on many popular TV shows. These included My Three Sons (1964), Mission: Impossible (1969), and Hawaii Five-O (1970). He also had a regular role on Mod Squad (1970–1971).
By the early 1970s, Sheen started focusing more on TV movies and films. He co-starred in the 1972 TV movie That Certain Summer. This film was important because it was one of the first to show homosexuality in a kind way on American television.
His next big film role was in 1973. He starred with Sissy Spacek in the crime drama Badlands. Sheen has said that this role was one of his favorites. His other favorite role was in Apocalypse Now. In 1974, Sheen was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in the TV film The Execution of Private Slovik. This film told the true story of a U.S. soldier executed for desertion during World War II.
Sheen's acting in these films led Francis Ford Coppola to cast him in Apocalypse Now (1979). This role made him widely recognized. During the filming, Sheen had a minor heart attack. While he was recovering, his younger brother Joe Estevez helped by standing in for him in some scenes. Sheen was able to return to filming a few weeks later.
Becoming a Star (1980–1998)
In the early 1980s, Martin Sheen appeared in several notable films. These included the epic film Gandhi (1982) and the drama Wall Street (1987). In Wall Street, he acted alongside his son Charlie Sheen.
Sheen also played several U.S. Presidents or important government figures. He played John F. Kennedy in the miniseries Kennedy (1983). He was also Robert F. Kennedy in The Missiles of October (1974). In 1995, he played a White House Chief of Staff in The American President. In 1993, his portrayal of General Robert E. Lee in the film Gettysburg was highly praised.
The West Wing and Beyond (1999–Present)
From 1999 to 2006, Martin Sheen played the fictional Democratic president Josiah "Jed" Bartlet in the TV drama The West Wing. For this role, he won a Golden Globe Award in 2000. He also received six Emmy Award nominations.
During this time, he also appeared in major films. He was Roger Strong in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (2002). He played Captain Oliver Queenan in Martin Scorsese's The Departed (2006). He also acted in Bobby (2006).
From 2015 to 2022, Sheen starred in the Netflix series Grace and Frankie. In 2021, he played J. Edgar Hoover in the film Judas and the Black Messiah.
Sheen also lent his voice to video games. He played the Illusive Man in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. In 2012, he was cast as Uncle Ben in The Amazing Spider-Man.
In 2010, Sheen starred in The Way. This film was written and directed by his son Emilio Estevez, who also starred in it. Sheen played an American doctor whose son dies while hiking the Camino de Santiago. His character then goes on the 800 km (500 mi) pilgrimage himself.
Activism and Public Service
Martin Sheen is well-known for his activism. He has been arrested 66 times for taking part in peaceful protests. He has stood up for peace, against nuclear power, and against unfair treatment of farmworkers. He also spoke out against the hunting of seals in Canada. Sheen believes in pacifism, which means he is against war and violence. He has said he could not be president because of his pacifist views.
Sheen supported the farm worker movement in 1965 with Cesar Chavez in Delano, California. He also supported student walkouts in California to create a holiday for Cesar Chavez. Sheen has also taken part in large immigration marches in Los Angeles.
In 1995, Sheen helped negotiate with Canadian sealers on behalf of the environmental group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. He also became involved in the discussion around gun control.
In 2003, Sheen signed a declaration against the Iraq War. In 2005, he visited Camp Casey to support anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. He joked that people had "the acting president of the United States" there, referring to his role on The West Wing.
Sheen has supported Democratic presidential candidates like Howard Dean, John Kerry, Bill Richardson, and Barack Obama. He was asked to run for the United States Senate in Ohio in 2006 but declined. He said, "I'm just not qualified. You're mistaking celebrity for credibility."
From 2008 to 2013, Sheen supported the environmental group Earth First!. He also spoke at youth events for Free the Children, an international charity. He has been named an ambassador for Free The Children. He also supported Help Darfur Now, a student group helping victims of the genocide in Darfur.
In 2011, Sheen visited Sing Sing Correctional Facility. He met with Jon-Adrian Velazquez, who was wrongly convicted of a murder. Sheen then held a press conference to advocate for Velazquez's release.
In 2012, Sheen and George Clooney performed in a play called 8. This play was a reenactment of the trial that overturned California's ban on same-sex marriage. The performance helped raise money for equal rights.
Sheen also reunited with the cast of The West Wing in 2012. They made a video to explain Michigan's voting ballot. This video also helped campaign for Bridget McCormack, who was running for the Michigan Supreme Court.
Personal Life
Martin Sheen married Janet Templeton on December 23, 1961. They have three sons and one daughter. All of their children became actors. Their children are Emilio, Ramón, Carlos, and Renée. Carlos chose to use the name Charlie Sheen when he started acting.
Martin Sheen has acted with his sons Emilio and Charlie in many projects. He played Emilio's father in The War at Home and The Way. He played Charlie's father in Wall Street and on the TV show Anger Management. His daughter Renée also had a role on The West Wing.
Sheen became a grandfather at age 43. He has ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In 2015, he had a quadruple heart bypass operation.
Academic Interests
After The West Wing finished filming, Sheen wanted to continue his education. He planned to study English literature, philosophy, and theology in Galway, Ireland. This is where his mother was from, and he is also a citizen there. In 2006, he started full-time studies at the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway. He joked that he would be the "oldest undergraduate" there! He attended lectures like any other student.
Religious Beliefs
Martin Sheen is a Catholic. He has spoken about how important his faith is to him. In 1981, he had conversations in Paris that helped him reconnect with his faith. He has said that the sacraments, like confession and the Eucharist, are very important in his life. He is also a strong supporter of the Catholic Worker movement.
Awards and Recognition
Martin Sheen has won many awards for his acting. For his role in Badlands, he won the Best Actor award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. His performance in Apocalypse Now earned him a nomination for the BAFTA Award.
On television, Sheen won a Golden Globe and two Screen Actors Guild awards for playing President Josiah Bartlet in The West Wing. He also won an Emmy for his guest role in Murphy Brown. In 1989, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 1989, Sheen was named honorary mayor of Malibu, California. He used this role to declare Malibu a "nuclear-free zone" and a "sanctuary for aliens and the homeless."
Sheen has a special connection to the University of Dayton. He is often seen drinking from a "Dayton Flyers" coffee mug on The West Wing. He also supports Wright State University with scholarships for arts students. In 2008, he received the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame. This is the highest honor given to American Catholics.
Sheen has been nominated for ten Emmy Awards and won one. He has also received eight Golden Globe Award nominations.
In 2003, Marquette University gave him an honorary degree for his work on social and Catholic issues. In 2015, the University of Dayton gave him another honorary degree for his commitment to peace and human rights. In 2023, Loyola Marymount University also honored him for his service and contributions.
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