Uploaded September 2019 | Updated September 2026, 16 minutes ago
The renowned actor as you’ve never heard him before. He has appeared in over 100 films, including “Apocalypse Now.” He’s best known on television as President Bartlet in “The West Wing.” But Martin Sheen, born and still legally named Ramón Estévez, has had another lesser-known life as a spiritual seeker and activist. He returned to a deep and joyful Catholic faith after a crisis at the height of his fame in mid-life. He’s been arrested over 60 times in vigils and protests. “Piety is something you do alone,” he says. “True freedom, spirituality, can only be achieved in community.” (Original Air Date: December 16, 2015)
About the Guest:
Martin Sheen is an actor and a Catholic activist. He has appeared in over 100 films including “Badlands,” “Apocalypse Now,” and “The Way,” as well as on television in “The West Wing” and most recently in the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.” Along with his son Emilio, he co-wrote the memoir “Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son.”
Visit our website to read the transcript, download the episode, or listen to the unedited interview: onbeing.org/programs/martin-sheen-spirituality-of-imagination-jun2017
Visit our On Being Classics Library, where this episode is featured:
onbeing.org/libraries/classics
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The renowned actor as you’ve never heard him before. He has appeared in over 100 films, including “Apocalypse Now.” He’s best known on television as President Bartlet in “The West Wing.” But Martin Sheen, born and still legally named Ramón Estévez, has had another lesser-known life as a spiritual seeker and activist. He returned to a deep and joyful Catholic faith after a crisis at the height of his fame in mid-life. He’s been arrested over 60 times in vigils and protests. “Piety is something you do alone,” he says. “True freedom, spirituality, can only be achieved in community.” (Original Air Date: December 16, 2015)
About the Guest:
Martin Sheen is an actor and a Catholic activist. He has appeared in over 100 films including “Badlands,” “Apocalypse Now,” and “The Way,” as well as on television in “The West Wing” and most recently in the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.” Along with his son Emilio, he co-wrote the memoir “Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son.”
Visit our website to read the transcript, download the episode, or listen to the unedited interview: onbeing.org/programs/martin-sheen-spirituality-of-imagination-jun2017
Visit our On Being Classics Library, where this episode is featured:
onbeing.org/libraries/classics
STAY IN TOUCH
Facebook: facebook.com/onbeing
Twitter: twitter.com/onbeing
Instagram: instagram.com/onbeing
Newsletter: onbeing.org/newsletter
OUR PODCASTS
On Being with Krista Tippett: onbeing.org/series/podcast
This Movie Changed Me: onbeing.org/series/this-movie-changed-me
Becoming Wise: onbeing.org/series/becoming-wise
