‘It’s one of my regrets’: Martin Sheen says he regrets changing his name from Ramon Estévez for his acting career
Martin Sheen says he regrets taking on a show business stage name.
Speaking to Closer Weekly Saturday about the career decision, the 81-year-old actor, born Ramon Estévez, said: “It’s one of my regrets.”
The Emmy winner continued, “I never officially changed my name. My birth certificate still says Ramon Estévez.
The Latest: Martin Sheen, 81, says he regrets taking on a show business stage name. The adored actor was snapped in LA in 2019
“It’s on my marriage certificate, my passport, my driver’s license. Sometimes if you don’t have enough insight or even enough courage to stand up for what you believe in, you can be persuaded and end up paying for it later. But of course I only speak for myself.”
In the interview, the Dayton, Ohio, father of stars Emilio Estevez, 60, and Charlie Sheen, 56, said he doesn’t stand in the way of his children’s entry into show business.
“I have to honestly say I wasn’t aware of it,” he told the outlet. “I was so self-absorbed and trying to be a provider that I wasn’t aware of her inclination to be an actor.”
Sheen said he “did a show once, and Emilio showed up,” adding, “I thought he was there to visit me, but he got a part on the same show.”
In the interview, the Dayton, Ohio, father of stars Emilio Estevez, 60, and Charlie Sheen, 56, said he doesn’t stand in the way of his children’s entry into show business
Sheen also spoke about his stint on the acclaimed series The West Wing, where he played the role of President Josiah Bartlet from 1999-2006, saying, “The blessings of this show have just been endless and are yet to come.”
The Apocalypse Now actor said “the only hold” he had on son Emilio “was to keep his name,” because “when he started out, his agent advised him to change his name to Sheen, and he would.” don’t do it.
“And I thank God he didn’t.”
Sheen has been candid about working with his son Estevez on his 2010 dramatic comedy The Way, saying the film filled him “with the deepest gratitude and satisfaction” for all the roles he’s had in his career.
“We did it in Spain via the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and dedicated it to my father, who is from Galicia,” Sheen said. “My son Emilio Estevez wrote the script, directed and starred. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
“Thousands of people have seen the film and found inspiration for the pilgrimage. This is a great source of satisfaction and pride.”
Sheen also spoke about his stint on the acclaimed series The West Wing, where he played the role of President Josiah Bartlet from 1999-2006.
“It’s the people — so many wonderful, wonderful people,” Sheen said, adding that he and the late actor John Spencer “were the elders, so we were kind of the parents.”
He continued: “But we all treated each other with so much respect, passion and most of all joy. I still get letters from people who are just discovering it, and many young people have been inspired to go public with it. The blessings with this show were just endless and they are still coming.