Martin Sheen

Actor and activist Martin Sheen, born Ramón Estevez on August 3, 1940, in Dayton, Ohio, has played a wide variety of roles from killers to world leaders throughout his extensive career. Sheen discovered his passion for acting in high school and honed his skills on the New York stage without formal training.

Sheen’s career milestones include a Tony Award nomination for his performance in "The Subject Was Roses" in 1965, a role he reprised for the film adaptation in 1968. His film debut came in 1967 with "The Incident." Throughout the 1970s, Sheen delivered notable performances in films like "Catch-22" (1970), "Badlands" (1973), and "Apocalypse Now" (1979). His later works include significant roles in "Gandhi" (1982), for which he donated his salary to various charities, "Wall Street" (1987), and "The American President" (1995).

Sheen achieved television acclaim as President Josiah Bartlet in NBC’s "The West Wing," a role that earned him a Best Actor Golden Globe Award in 2001 and multiple Emmy nominations. His film career continued to flourish with roles in "The Departed" (2006), "Bobby" (2006), and more recently, he appeared alongside his son Charlie in "Anger Management" from 2012 to 2014, and starred in the Netflix sitcom "Grace and Frankie" since 2015.

Beyond acting, Sheen is a dedicated social activist and humanitarian. He serves as a Special Envoy to the Front-Line International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, advocating for global peace and justice on issues including nuclear disarmament, treatment of immigrants, and poverty alleviation. He has been arrested multiple times during political demonstrations and protests, reflecting his commitment to social activism. Sheen co-authored "Along the Way," a memoir with his son, Emilio Estevez, sharing insights into their family and careers.

Sheen and his wife, Janet, reside in Los Angeles, surrounded by a family where all four children have occasionally followed in their father's acting footsteps. His life and work, marked by a blend of artistic achievement and advocacy, continue to influence both the entertainment industry and social justice movements worldwide.