Martin Sheen (born
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez; August 3, 1940) is an American actor who earned recognition for his performances as Captain Willard in the film
Apocalypse Now and
President Josiah Bartlet on the
NBC political drama series
The West Wing. Apart from the recognition he earned as an actor, he has gained visibility as an activist.
[Martin Sheen Biography (1940-)]Biography
Early life
Sheen was born
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez in
Dayton, Ohio, the son of Mary Ann (
née Phelan), an immigrant from
County Tipperary, Ireland, and Francisco Estévez, a factory worker/machinery inspector from
Parderrubias,
Galicia, Spain.
Sheen's mother had fought in the
Irish War of Independence due to her family's connections to the
Irish Republican Army. Sheen adopted his
stage name in honor of the
Catholic archbishop and theologian,
Fulton J. Sheen.
[Stated in interview on Inside the Actors Studio] Sheen lived on Brown Street in the
South Park neighborhood, and was one of 10 siblings (nine boys and one girl).
One of his brothers is actor
Joe Estévez. He attended
Chaminade High School (now Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School) and was raised as a
Roman Catholic.
