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Martin Sheen Biography

Birth Name:Ramon Antonio Gerard Estevez

Birth Place:Dayton, Ohio, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Director

Fast Facts

  • Despite a prolific and renowned career that has earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 10 Emmy nominations and 8 Golden Globes nominations, he has yet to be recognized with an Academy Award nomination
  • Supports the group "Help Darfur Now" to help aid victims affected by the genocide
  • Named ambassador for the Free the Children charity for supporting the "We are Silent" campaign
  • Participated in the fundraising play of "8" in 2012
  • Received an honorary Doctorate from Marquette University in 2003 for his work on social and Catholic issues
  • Received an honorary life membership in the Law Society at University College in Dublin in 2011
  • Married actress Janet Templeton in 1961
  • Brother to actor and director Joe Estevez
  • In addition to having four children who are all actors, he has on numerous occasions played the onscreen role of a father to two of his sons, Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez
  • Despite paternal objection, he decided to pursue an acting career by moving to New York
  • Made his Broadway debut in "The Subject was Roses" in 1964
  • After moving to New York, he met activist Dorothy Day and expanded his passion for social activism and joined the Catholic Worker Movement
  • Quote: "I know two things in this life: Nothing is a sure thing․ And you have to trust that your feet will find solid ground․ You just have to keep moving and trusting each step․"
  • Quote: "Because, for an artist, if something is not personal it's impersonal, and if it's impersonal then nobody cares․"
  • Most notably seen in Francis Ford Coppola’s "Apocalypse Now," serious mannerisms and intense stares were trademarks in Sheen’s early acclaim
  • Has a distinct voice which is one of the industry’s most recognizable, with unique voice credits including narration for an episode of "The Simpsons," and as primary antagonist The Illusive Man in the "Mass Effect" video game series
  • Has often chosen roles and scripts based on his personal politics and social activism, including playing real-life politicians John F․ and Robert F․ Kennedy, as well as fictitious President Jed Bartlet on "The West Wing․"
  • Credits the restoration of his Catholic faith to a series of conversations in 1981 with director Terrence Malick
  • Voices the character Illusive Man in the video game series "Mass Effect․"
  • Began using the stage name "Martin Sheen" in hopes of avoiding biased casting directors, though he has never legally changed his birth name

Awards

  • 1969Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1974Primetime Emmy-Best Lead Actor in a Drama: nominated
  • 1974Prize San Sebastián-Best Actor: winner
  • 1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special: nominated
  • 1980BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1980Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Movie Performer (Mejor intérprete de cine extranjero): winner
  • 1980Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1981Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Religious Programming - Performers: winner
  • 1984BAFTA TV Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1984Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1985ACE-Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1989Gold Special Jury Award-Best Television & Cable Production: winner
  • 1990ACE-Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1990Critics Award-: nominated
  • 1993Imagen Award-Best Actor - Television: winner
  • 1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1998ALMA Award-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series in a Crossover Role: nominated
  • 1998ALMA Award-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Crossover Role in a Feature Film: nominated
  • 1999ALMA Award-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series in a Crossover Role: nominated
  • 1999ALMA Award-Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film in a Crossover Role: nominated
  • 2000ALMA Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a New Drama Series: winner
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Drama: winner
  • 2000TV Guide Award-Favorite Actor in a New Series: winner
  • 2000TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2000Q Award-Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series: winner
  • 2001ALMA Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Series: winner
  • 2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2001Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 2001OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2001TV Guide Award-Actor of the Year in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2001TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2002ALMA Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2002OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2002TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2003Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2003Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2003Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2005Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2006BSFC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2006Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
  • 2006NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 2006OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Ensemble, Motion Picture: winner
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2007COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2007Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2007Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2007Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: winner
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2010Imagen Award-Best Supporting Actor - Film: nominated
  • 2012ALMA Award-Favorite Movie Actor: nominated
  • 2012IFTA Award-Best Actor - Film: nominated
  • 2012Grace Award-Most Inspiring Performance in Movies: nominated
  • 2019Best Supporting Actor-Feature Film: nominated
  • 2025OFTA TV Hall of Fame-Character: winner