- Born
- Birth nameRamon Antonio Gerard Estevez
- Height5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
- Multiple Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner Martin Sheen is one of America's most celebrated, colorful, and accomplished actors. Moving flawlessly between artistic mediums, Sheen's acting range is striking.
Sheen was born Ramón Antonio Gerard Estevez in Dayton, Ohio, to Mary-Ann (Phelan), an Irish immigrant (from Borrisokane, County Tipperary), and Francisco Estevez, a Spanish-born factory worker and machinery inspector (from Parderrubias, Galicia). On the big screen, Sheen has appeared in more than 65 feature films including a star turn as Army Captain Benjamin L. Willard in Francis Ford Coppola's landmark film Apocalypse Now (1979), which brought Sheen worldwide recognition. The film also starred Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper and Robert Duvall. Other notable credits include Wall Street (1987) (with son Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas), Academy Award-winning film Gandhi (1982) (with Sir Ben Kingsley), Catch Me If You Can (2002) (with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks), The American President (1995) (with Michael Douglas and Annette Bening) and a Golden Globe nominated breakthrough performance as Timmy Cleary in The Subject Was Roses (1968), a role he originated on Broadway and for which he received a Tony Award nomination as Best Featured Actor.
In 2006, the actor played ill-fated cop Oliver Queenan in Martin Scorsese's Academy Award-winning film The Departed (2006) opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin.
The same year, Sheen joined another all-star ensemble cast for the highly acclaimed feature Bobby (2006), written and directed by his son, Emilio Estevez. Bobby was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a SAG Award; and starred Anthony Hopkins, Harry Belafonte, Laurence Fishburne, Sharon Stone, William H. Macy, Elijah Wood, Demi Moore and Heather Graham.
For television audiences, Sheen is best recognized for his six-time Emmy nominated performance as President Josiah Bartlet in The West Wing (1999). Sheen won six of his eight Golden Globe nominations as well as an ALMA Award; and two individual SAG Awards; for the White House series. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor TV Series Drama in 2001.
Of his ten Primetime Emmy nominations, Sheen won for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series on the long-running sitcom Murphy Brown (1988) (starring Candice Bergen) in 1994. In addition, he has garnered a Daytime Emmy Award for directing and another for performance.
In 2006, Sheen was again nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series; this time for the CBS hit comedy Two and a Half Men (2003), starring his son Charlie Sheen.
In addition to series television, Sheen has appeared in several important made-for-television movies and mini-series including playing President John F. Kennedy in the television mini-series Kennedy (1983) for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Sheen Team
- SpouseJanet Sheen(December 23, 1961 - present) (4 children)
- Children
- ParentsMary-Ann Phelan
- RelativesJoe Estevez(Sibling)Amanda Estevez(Niece or Nephew)Casey Estevez(Niece or Nephew)Sami Sheen(Grandchild)Lola Rose Sheen(Grandchild)Bob Sheen(Grandchild)Max Sheen(Grandchild)Paloma Estevez(Grandchild)Ama(Great Grandchild)Luna(Great Grandchild)Cassandra Jade Estevez(Grandchild)Taylor Estevez(Grandchild)
- Frequently plays a U.S. president or a political character involved in the White House. See The West Wing (1999), The Dead Zone (1983), Kennedy (1983), The Missiles of October (1974), Blind Ambition (1979) and The American President (1995). He also did the narration for JFK (1991)
- Films often reflect his liberal political views
- Intense, serious performances, although he became more loose and humorous in acting style after middle age
- Probing stare
- Eloquent inspiring speeches
- Never officially changed his real name to his stage one. He is still Ramon Estevez on all identifications and legal documents, and all his children were born under that name. He answers to both names with friends, but his wife first met him as Martin (he did not tell her his real name until weeks later) and as a result she still calls him that.
- Suffered a severe heart attack while filming Apocalypse Now (1979).
- Was arrested more than 70 times, mainly for liberal protests.
- He can only put his jacket on by flipping it over his head (like Bartlet in The West Wing (1999)). His left arm was crushed by forceps when he was born and he has limited lateral movement.
- Father of Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Renée Estevez and Ramon Estevez (full birth name: Ramon Antonio Gerard Luis Estevez, Junior).
- I love being Spanish as much as I love being Irish, and I really love being Irish.
- [on his political activism and arrests for protests] I love my country enough to suffer its wrath.
- [on son Charlie Sheen] No father could ever be prouder of his son. I hold Charlie's accomplishments dearer than my own. He has been through so much and overcome so much more. Even if he weren't my son he'd still be my best friend.
- I consider myself a liberal Democrat, but I'm against abortion.
- I adored Mr. Clinton. And he was a fan of The West Wing (1999). For a while, we were given carte Blanche at the White House, which ended when Bush got in - ended for me anyway. When the new administration got into power, all my "West Wing" colleagues were invited there to meet their counterparts. All except me. I was very relieved about that.
- The West Wing (1999) - $300,000 per episode
- No Code of Conduct (1999) - $250,000
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