Martin Sheen

Martin's brother Joe Estévez is also a prolific actor, though he doesn't have the public profile of his older brother.

While Martin was filming Kennedy he met James Cagney, one of his heroes, who commented that he wanted Martin to play him in a film.

In 1972, Martin auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone in hit movie The Godfather. The role went to Al Pacino. Martin turned down the lead role in Ridley Scott's Bladerunner because he was still recovering from the fallout of Apocalypse Now; the part went to Harrison Ford. In 1993, he was considered for the recurring role of Sloan on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Against his father's wishes, Martin borrowed money from a priest and headed to New York City to pursue his acting career. It was there that he met Catholic activist Dorothy Day and began his commitment to social justice.

For some time during the 1940s and 1950s, Martin's family lived in Bermuda, where his father was a representative for IBM. Martin is the only one of the ten Estevez children who was not born in Bermuda.

Martin credited James Dean as his influence to begin acting.

Martin attended Chaminade High School (renamed Chaminade-Julienne High School) and was raised as a Roman Catholic.

Martin adopted his stage name in honor of the Catholic archbishop and theologian, Fulton J. Sheen.

In September 2006, Martin enrolled at the National University Galway, in Ireland, to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree. This included Philosophy and English Literature.

While starring in The West Wing, Martin appeared in 4 public service announcements for NBC's The More You Know. His topics were teacher recruitment, parental involvement, family time, and mentoring.

Special/Honorary Awards Lifetime Achievement award from both the Imagen Foundation (an organization that honors portrayals of Latinos in the media) and the Catholics in Media Associates (CIMA). Honorary trustee of the Dayton International Peace Museum. Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1500 Vine Street. Honorary Doctorate of the Arts from the National University, Ireland (April 2006). Honorary Doctorate from Notre Dame University (May 2008). Awarded the Laetare Medal from Notre Dame University. The medal is awarded to Catholics for their humanitarian work. (2008).

In 1998, Martin Sheen made $250,000 for his role as Bill Peterson in the movie No Code Of Conduct.

Martin Sheen's left arm is three inches shorter than his right because of an accident using forceps when he was born. Because of his shorter arm, the only way that Martin Sheen can put a jacket on is by flipping it over his head.

In October of 2000, Martin Sheen was arrested and charged with trespassing for crossing over a line established by the Air Force in an anti-militarization protest at California's Vandenberg Air Force base.

Martin Sheen is 5' 7" tall.

Martin appeared in an amusing commercial for the Visa Check Card with his son Charlie Sheen. Charlie wants to write a check to buy some of his movies from a video store, but the clerk asks for ID and then has to call the bank to confirm. Charlie wanders around the store and gets bored. Later the clerk is looking at the ID, then he lowers it and we see that Charlie has turned into Martin. "This doesn't look like you," the clerk says. Martin replies, "It did when I came in here."

His original contract for The West Wing only had him signed for 4 episodes per season.

Sheen suffered a heart attack during the arduous shooting of Apocalypse Now. He emerged from the medical crisis spiritually reborn with a commitment to work and family.

Martin Sheen, along with Steve McQueen and James Dean, is mentioned in

Awards BAFTA Awards Best Actor for Kennedy (1984) (Nomination). Best Actor for Apocalypse Now (1980) (Nomination). Emmys Best Lead Actor in a Drama for The Execution of Private Slovik (1974) (Nomination). Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special for Taxi! (1978) (Nomination). Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Murphy Brown (1994) (Won). Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for The West Wing (2000-2004, 2006) (Nomination). Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Two and a Half Men (2006) (Nomination). Golden Globes Best Actor for The Subject was Roses (1969) (Nomination). Best TV Actor - Drama for Blind Ambition (1980) (Nomination). Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for TV for Kennedy (1984) (Nomination). Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series - Drama for The West Wing (2000, 2002-2004 - Nomination, 2001 - Won). Golden Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Series - Drama for The West Wing (2000 - Won, 2001-2003 - Nomination). Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama for The West Wing (2000, 2003, 2004 - Nomination) (2001, 2002 - Won). Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for The West Wing (2001, 2002 - Won) (2003-2006). Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for The Departed (2007) (Nomination). Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Bobby (2007) (Nomination).

He has memorized and can sing every single Frank Sinatra song.

Martin Sheen has played both Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy in The Missiles of October in 1974 and President John F. Kennedy in the mini-series Kennedy in 1983.

Of all the U.S. presidents, he admires Jimmy Carter the most.

Martin Sheen is a Democrat.