Martin Sheen
Birthday: 3 August 1940, Dayton, Ohio, USA
Birth Name: Ramon Antonio Gerard Estevez
Height: 170 cm
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 i ...Show More
I consider myself a liberal Democrat, but I'm against abortion.
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 Bla Show more
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. Hide
I don't like scary films. I watched Psycho (1960) for the first time recently, alone in the house at Show more
I don't like scary films. I watched Psycho (1960) for the first time recently, alone in the house at night. That was a mistake. I had to call my friend to come over. Hide
[2011] I would say that maybe there are a dozen films I've done that are of significant worth and th Show more
[2011] I would say that maybe there are a dozen films I've done that are of significant worth and that were great experiences. But you should see the other 90%! The vast majority of them were to pay the bills. I don't think there's any actor who's been around as long as I have that wouldn't agree that a lot of what we do is for the money. You have to be honest about that. Because then when you do land something extraordinary like Apocalypse Now (1979), Badlands (1973), or The West Wing (1999), you *know* this is something really special. Hide
[on his political activism and arrests for protests] I love my country enough to suffer its wrath.
[on his political activism and arrests for protests] I love my country enough to suffer its wrath.
Whenever I would call for an appointment, whether it was a job or an apartment, and I would give my Show more
Whenever I would call for an appointment, whether it was a job or an apartment, and I would give my name, there was always that hesitation and when I'd get there, it was always gone. So I thought, I got enough problems trying to get an acting job, so I invented Martin Sheen. I've never changed my name; it's still Estevez officially. Hide
I was shooting a movie in Rio this summer. I was at a street food place and four boys came up. They Show more
I was shooting a movie in Rio this summer. I was at a street food place and four boys came up. They were pooling their money to buy something. I said to the counter guy, "Give them whatever they want." One of them, the leader, looked at me and I thought, "My God. That's me as a child." Hide
[on the troubles his son Charlie Sheen has been experiencing] All of us have a repository of emotion Show more
[on the troubles his son Charlie Sheen has been experiencing] All of us have a repository of emotional life. We have a licence to explore that private pain and bring it public, but only for the purpose of playing a character. It's called emotional memory. This one is very difficult because it's so deeply personal and painful. Hide
[on his stance on abortion] I cannot make a choice for a women, particularly a black or brown or poo Show more
[on his stance on abortion] I cannot make a choice for a women, particularly a black or brown or poor pregnant woman. I would not make a judgment in the case. As a father and a grandfather, I have had experience with children who don't always come when they are planned, and I have experienced the great joy of God's presence in my children, so I'm inclined to be against abortion of any life. But I am equally against the death penalty or war - anywhere people are sacrificed for some end justifying a means. I don't think abortion is a good idea. I personally am opposed to abortion, but I will not judge anybody else's right in that regard because I am not a woman and I could never face the actual reality of it. Hide
The last thing that really turned me upside down was [Robert De Niro] in Raging Bull (1980) - a tran Show more
The last thing that really turned me upside down was [Robert De Niro] in Raging Bull (1980) - a transcendent performance. It tells us that if you're not able to forgive, this is where you end up: in a dark cell. Hide
I love being Spanish as much as I love being Irish, and I really love being Irish.
I love being Spanish as much as I love being Irish, and I really love being Irish.
[on son Charlie Sheen] No father could ever be prouder of his son. I hold Charlie's accomplishments Show more
[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. Hide
[on changing his name] I never changed it officially. I never will. It's on my driver's license and Show more
[on changing his name] I never changed it officially. I never will. It's on my driver's license and passport and everything: Ramon Gerard Estevez. I started using Sheen, I thought I'd give it a try, and before I knew it, I started making a living with it and then it was too late. In fact, one of my great regrets is that I didn't keep my name as it was given to me. I knew it bothered my dad. Hide
[on filming The Way (2010) on the Camino di Santiago de Compostela] Pilgrimage is structured so it t Show more
[on filming The Way (2010) on the Camino di Santiago de Compostela] Pilgrimage is structured so it takes you out of your comfort zone. You pack all the things you need and soon you realize it's too heavy and have to start unpacking. Then the transcendence starts on stuff you've packed in your interior life, and you begin opening those closets and cells and dungeons and letting all the people out you've been punishing all your life. Hide
James Dean had such a powerful effect on my generation. I'd love to have worked with him. I did a TV Show more
James Dean had such a powerful effect on my generation. I'd love to have worked with him. I did a TV pilot with Sal Mineo once and I drove him crazy asking about Dean. He'd disappear when he saw me coming. On the last day, he came to my trailer. I said, "Sal, come on in!" He said, "No, no. I just wanted to say goodbye." I said, "Well, it was a pleasure working with you." As he walked away, he looked over his shoulder and said, "He would've liked you." Hide
[on missing out on the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972)] I was wrong for it but you Show more
[on missing out on the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972)] I was wrong for it but you never pass up an opportunity. I remember saying to Francis Ford Coppola - that was not the first time I had met him - "If you don't use Al Pacino in this part, it would be like benching Joe DiMaggio in his prime." Hide
Martin Sheen's FILMOGRAPHY
All
as Actor (326)
as Director (1)
Martin Sheen'S roles
Warren Lasky
Ben Parker
A.J. MacInerney
Burke's Mother-in-Law
Sgt. Seymour Skinner
Captain Hollister
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