10 Interesting Facts About Martin Sheen You Might Not Know

Martin Sheen is an actor who has had a long career. From his portrayal of Commander William Adama in the reimagined TV series “Battlestar Galactica” to his role as President Josiah Bartlet in “The West Wing”, Martin has left us with many memorable performances and lines. Read on for 10 facts about this talented, charismatic actor that you might not have known.

Martin Sheen’s Childhood

Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen

1. Martin was born Ramon Antonio Gerard Estevez in Dayton, Ohio on August 3, 1940.

2. His father was a Catholic, Spanish immigrant and his mother is of Irish descent.

3. He is the youngest of four children; he has three older brothers: Emilio, Ramon Jr., and David.

4. His parents divorced when he was nine years old and he moved with his mother to New York City where she worked as a secretary at Columbia University’s Bureau of Admissions.

5. During his senior year of high school, Martin studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before graduating from McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, NY in 1958.

Martin Sheen’s Early Acting Career

Martin’s first acting role was in “The Execution of Private Slovik” in 1974. He played a World War II American soldier who is executed for desertion.

When he started acting, Martin went by the stage name ‘Ramón Antonio Gerard Estevez’. He took his mother’s maiden name, Sheen, as his last name when he turned 21.

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Martin has won four Golden Globe Awards: three for Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama and one for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. All of his wins were for playing President Josiah Bartlet on “The West Wing”.

In 2011, Martin was awarded the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award at the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

One of Martin’s most popular films is Apocalypse Now. It follows Captain Willard (played by Martin) who is sent to assassinate Colonel Walter Kurtz (played by Marlon Brando) during the Vietnam War.

Martin Sheen plays the character named Uncle Ben in all three Spiderman movies.

In 1995, Martin married Janet Templeton and had two children with her (one son and one daughter). They divorced in 2002 but remain, friends, today.

The West Wing

Martin has had a range of roles, but he is arguably most famous for his role as President Josiah Bartlet in the popular TV series “The West Wing”. Martin played the president from 1999 to 2006, winning two Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards for his portrayal.

His character was based on former US President John F. Kennedy, so it’s not surprising that Martin studied tapes of JFK speaking in order to develop his voice and mannerisms.

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One of the defining characteristics of Martin’s performance was how he used hand gestures to emphasize points he was making. These hand gestures became so iconic that they were often imitated by other actors playing presidential roles.

Martin Sheen’s Religious Beliefs

Martin Sheen was raised Catholic, but he converted to the Greek Orthodox Church when he married his second wife, Janet.

Martin Sheen’s Political Beliefs

Martin Sheen is a man of many talents, but one thing he is not is shy. Martin has been outspoken about his political beliefs, from discussing the need for social justice to advocating for the legalization of marijuana. He has also supported many charities and causes, including Amnesty International and People for the American Way.

Martin Sheen And The Environment

Martin Sheen has been working with the United Nations Environment Program to raise awareness about global warming and get people involved in protecting the environment. He also worked as a spokesperson for Earth Day and was named an honorary ambassador for UNEP.

Sheen has never been shy about his feelings on global warming, the environment, or his activism. In 2009, he penned an opinion piece for CNN in which he wrote: “The scientists who have studied this problem say that we have about five years left to reverse this trend before it becomes irreversible.”

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The Estevez Family 

1. Martin Sheen is the father of four sons, Emilio (born December 8, 1944), Ramon (born April 3, 1946), Charlie (born February 7, 1951), and René (born August 3, 1954).

2. His wife Janet Templeton was a British actress who became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1986.

3. She was born in London on November 28th, 1939, and died at the age of 68 on March 14th, 2006 following a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

4. The couple had three sons together: Emilio Estevez (actor), Ramon Estevez (producer), and Charlie Sheen (actor).

5. Sheen’s oldest son Emilio is an actor who has appeared in over 100 movies; his younger son Ramon has produced several films himself. 

6. Charlie is an actor who has starred in many popular movies such as Platoon and Wall Street but he is also well known for his controversial personal life which includes substance abuse problems and two failed marriages to Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller respectively. 

7. Sheen’s youngest son René is also an actor with 25 acting credits to his name including roles in M*A*S*H*, Twin Peaks, and more recently How I Met Your Mother.

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