Martin Sheen and The Way

I was very tempted to go to see Martin Sheen and his son Emilio Estevez discuss their new movie, The Way.  It's a spiritual film that reflects Sheen's pretty devout Catholicism.  I admire him, even if his acting is occasionally over the top and self righteous.  I think his heart is in the right place.

Here's an account of the event I missed at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.  I didn't go because they were not going to show the movie, but rather show a trailer and discuss the movie.  I didn't think that would be particularly fruitful unless and until I had seen the movie, which I plan to do.  Still, it sounds like it was a good event.

But imagine my surprise to learn this about him:

Sheen also gave the audience a brief history of his own spiritual growth. He explained that he was born Ramón Estévez. When he moved to New York to pursue acting, he found himself faced with racial discrimination and decided that he needed a stage name.

He chose the last name “Sheen” after Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, whom he described as having an “extraordinary presence” in his household when he was young.

“I grew up watching him,” Sheen said. 

“I thought of him as this magnificent actor,” he explained, recalling the archbishop’s sharp sense of humor.

“He had this fire in his eyes that was a reflection of his passion.”

Anybody reading this who is younger than about 50 probably doesn't know who Fulton Sheen was, but he was a phenomenon in the 1950's and 1060's,  a Catholic bishop with a prime TV show that was top in its time slot, even beating out comedian Milton Berle (someone else you probably don't know).  My parents watched him religiously, so to speak.

I'm sure Bishop Sheen would be flattered to have Martin choose his name.  Not sure he'd be as happy has having Charlie also share his name.