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Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is an Emmy Award-winning American actor, perhaps best known for his role as Captain Willard in the film Apocalypse Now and, most recently, as President Josiah Bartlet on the acclaimed television drama The West Wing.
BiographyMartin Sheen was born in Dayton, Ohio. He lived on Brown Street in the South Park neighborhood, and was one of 10 siblings (9 boys and one girl). He attended Chaminade High School (now Chaminade-Julienne High School). He is a devout Roman Catholic, born to a Spanish-born father, Francisco Estévez (who was born in Parderrubias, Galicia, Spain near the border of Portugal), and an Irish mother, Mary Anne Phelan from County Tipperary. His mother fled from Ireland during the Irish War of Independence due to her family's IRA connections. Sheen adopted his stage name in honor of Catholic archbishop and theologian Fulton J. Sheen. Career
Sheen has said that he was greatly influenced by the actor James Dean. Sheen developed a theater company with other actors in hopes that a production would earn him recognition. His first major role was on Broadway, in The Subject Was Roses, which he recreated in the 1968 film of the same name. He did not receive another important part until 1973, when he starred with Sissy Spacek in the crime drama Badlands - which he has said in many interviews is his best film[1] In 1974, Sheen received an Emmy Award nomination for Best Actor in a television drama for his portrayal of Pvt. Eddie Slovik in the made-for-television film, The Execution of Private Slovik. The film told the World War II story of the only American soldier to be executed for desertion since the American Civil War. It was Sheen's performance in this film that ultimately led to Francis Ford Coppola choosing him for a starring role in 1979's Apocalypse Now which gained him wide recognition. On the set of Apocalypse Now, Sheen admitted that he wasn't in the greatest shape and was drinking heavily. On location Sheen had a heart attack and crawled out to a road for help. Sheen has also done voiceovers as the narrator for the Eyewitness Movie series. Awards
NUI GalwayIn light of the end of filming of "The West Wing", Sheen announced plans to further his education. "My plan is to read English literature, philosophy and theology in Galway, Republic of Ireland, where my late mother came from and where I'm also a citizen".[2] Speaking after an honorary arts doctorate was conferred on him by the National University of Ireland, Sheen joked that he will be the "oldest undergraduate" at the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway when he starts his fulltime studies there in the autumn of 2006. Although expressing the concern that he might be a "distraction" to other students at NUIG, he will be attending lectures like everyone else. Speaking the week after filming his last episode of The West Wing, he said "I'm very serious about it." He once said "I never went to college when I was young and am looking forward to giving it a try... at age 65!"[3] On 1 September 2006, Sheen was among first to register as a student at NUI Galway.[4] Political activismMartin Sheen is no stranger to politics, both professionally and in real life. He has played U.S. President John F. Kennedy (in the miniseries Kennedy — The Presidential Years), Attorney General Robert Kennedy in the television special The Missiles of October, White House Chief of Staff A.J. McInnerney in The American President, sinister future president Greg Stillson in The Dead Zone, and fictional Democratic president Josiah Bartlet in the acclaimed television drama The West Wing. Although he didn't attend college, Sheen credited the Marianists at University of Dayton as a major influence on his public activism. Sheen is known for his robust support of liberal political causes, and has been arrested 63 times for protesting against issues such as United States military actions and a toxic-waste incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio. Sheen has resisted calls to run for office, saying "There's no way that I could be the president. You can't have a pacifist in the White House … I'm an actor. This is what I do for a living." [5] Sheen is an honorary trustee of the Dayton International Peace Museum. He has also supported causes for PETA and is a proponent of the Consistent Life ethic, which advocates against abortion, capital punishment and war.[6] He also supports the Democrats for Life of America's Pregnant Women Support Act.[7] In 2004, along with fellow actor Rob Reiner, Sheen campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean. He later campaigned for John Kerry. On 16 May, 1995, Martin Sheen and Paul Watson from Sea Shepherd were attacked in a hotel on Magdalen Islands by a number of Canadian sealers, who were upset that they had come there to protest against the annual seal hunt and promote non-lethal alternatives. Sheen was trying to negotiate with the angry mob while Watson was escorted to the airport by police and had to spend the night in hospital. [8] On 28 August, 2005, he visited anti-Iraq War activist Cindy Sheehan at Camp Casey. He prayed with her and spoke to her supporters. He began his remarks by stating, "At least you've got the acting President of the United States," referring to his role as fictional President Josiah Bartlet on The West Wing. [9] Cindy Sheehan had been demanding to speak with the actual President, George W. Bush. On 10 April, 2006, the New York Times reported that members of the Democratic Party in Ohio had contacted Sheen, attempting to persuade him to run for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. Sheen declined the offer, stating that "I'm just not qualified," he said. "You're mistaking celebrity for credibility." On 26 November, 2006, the Sunday Times in the Republic of Ireland where Sheen is living now, due to his enrollment in NUI Galway reported on him speaking out against mushroom farmers exploiting foreign workers by giving them in some situations €2.50 an hour when the minimum is €7.65 an hour. Because of his activism, Sheen was one of many political celebrities spoofed in Team America: World Police. On April 1, 2007 Sheen was arrested, with 38 other activists, for tresspassing at the Nevada Test Site at a Nevada Desert Experience event protesting the Nevada Test Site. [10] Personal lifeSheen married art student Janet Templeton in 1961, and they have four children, 3 boys and a girl, all of whom are actors: Filmography
Footnotes
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