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 Galician factory worker/machinery inspector from Parderrubias, Galicia, Spain. Sheen's mother had fled from Ireland during the Irish War of Independence due to her family's connections to the Irish Republican Army. Sheen Read more...

Sheen was drawn to acting at a young age, but his father disapproved of his interest in the field. Despite his father's opposition, Sheen borrowed money from a priest and headed to New York City. It was there that he met Catholic activist Dorothy Day and, he says, began his commitment to social justice. While Sheen claims he deliberately failed the entrance exam for the University of Dayton so that Read more...

In light of the end of filming of The West Wing, Sheen announced plans to further his education: "My plan is to read English literature, philosophy and theology in Galway, Republic of Ireland, where my late mother came from and where I'm also a citizen". Speaking after an honorary arts doctorate was conferred on him by the National University of Ireland, Sheen joked that he would be the "oldest Read more...