Martin Sheen

American actor in more than a dozen box-office hits, memorable films and TV series that included Gandhi (1982), Blind Ambition (1979) and Apocalypse Now (1979). While on the latter, he had a heart attack that was near fatal. He played fictional U.S. president Josiah Bartlet in the award-winning TV series West Wing (1999-2006) and Robert Hanson in the Netflix television series Grace and Frankie (2015–2022).

A devout Catholic, Sheen was one of nine boys with one sister. He grew up in poverty with a Spanish dad and Irish mom who died when he was 11. In December 1961 he made a long-term, stable marriage with four kids who have all gone into show biz, Ramon, Emilio, Carlos and Renee. A political and social activist, he takes a hands-on role in recognizing the plights of the homeless and hungry, as well as issues of peace and justice, gun control, better quality in Hollywood moral presentations, nuclear disarmament. He has been arrested 70 times for his involvement in protests for issues ranging from nuclear disarmaments to the disenfranchised. In 2000, he was working for Democratic candidates, in agreement with vice-presidential hopeful Joseph Lieberman that "half of Hollywood is in production of sleaze; gratuitous sex and unnecessary violence."

The role which shaped his career was in Apocalypse Now, released in 1979. It also came close to finishing his career: during 18 brutal months of filming in the jungles of the Philippines, he had a heart attack on 5 March 1977. Given the last rites, he pulled through and gave up booze, cigarettes and gambling, but not his drive to succeed. He has worked steadily since then. While shooting The American President in 1995, he met the creator and executive producer, Aaron Sorkin, who later cast him in the superlative hit TV series, West Wing.

With his own family, he backs up his beliefs in strong support and tough-love with action.