Martin Sheen's Regret After He Changed His Name Influenced His Son Emilio Estevez's Decision To Keep His

Feb 25, 2020 by apost team

Martin Sheen has been a critical figure in the entertainment industry since the late 1960s and has been gracing both the big and small screens ever since. He got his start in films before quickly picking up more roles in various television series. Some of his most notable roles include “The Subject Was Roses” and “Apocalypse Now.” Martin is currently still a working actor, with one of his most recent projects being the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.”

Martin’s birth name is Ramon Antonio Gerardo Estevez — something that he chose not to go by when he became a professional in entertainment. He struggled to get jobs with his birth name, so he opted for a name that didn’t reveal much about his race or ethnicity. Over the course of his career, Martin has been lucky enough to show off his vast array of talents and seems to have passed them down to his children.

His sons — Charlie Sheen, Ramon Estevez, Renee Estevez and Emilio Estevez — have all made careers for themselves in the entertainment industry, just like their father. Although they have gone about their respective careers in different ways, each child has grown into their own and has made a name for himself.

While Charlie’s career was littered with scandals, it seems like the star’s life has since settled down. Emilio, on the other hand, stuck by his roots, keeping his name as he persevered through the struggles of becoming an actor in an ever-changing industry. Both Emilio and his father opened up about their names in the dual-memoir “Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son,” which the father and son co-wrote. 

Emilio was born on May 12, 1962, in New York City and currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. After deciding not to go to college, Emilio set his sights on making a career out of acting and opted to keep his birth name when he first ventured into the industry.

However, it took some time before Emilio was sure about his decision. In the memoir he wrote with his father, Martin, Emilio explains how he used his father’s stage name for his first batch of headshots. 

“Agents and managers who’d expressed an interest in me had encouraged me to use Sheen because it would make their jobs easier if they could introduce me as Martin’s son … I figured that maybe a non-Hispanic, already-known surname would give me an edge,” Emilio writes.

But when he received his headshots with Emilio Sheen written in the bottom right corner of the photo, the up-and-coming actor had second thoughts.

“My Latin last name bumped up against my father’s chosen name Sheen in an obvious, dissonant way,” Emilio explains.

Emilio consulted his parents, showing the headshot and name to both his mother and father. Although it was Martin’s choice to go by a stage name, he told his son that he ultimately regrets not sticking with his Hispanic roots, and so he told his son to reconsider.

“One of the biggest disappointments I have is that I don’t own the name that I use,” Martin told his son, according to their memoir. “It belongs to a fantasy … So many Hispanics are starting to rise up … You can be a part of that movement.”

In the end, Emilio decided to follow his own path, keeping his given name.

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Starring in movies like “The Outsiders” and “The Breakfast Club,” it was no surprise that Emilio had a bright future ahead of him in various movie genres. He had the looks, talent, and connections needed to make it big. During an interview with Vanity Fair in March 2021, Emilio talked more about how he remained so successful throughout his career by rebranding himself and following his true passions. “I didn’t get into this business to be rich or famous,” he said. “I got into this business because I love moviemaking.” 

Some of Emilio’s most recent work includes “The Public” in 2018 and “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers,” which was released in early 2021. While this is undoubtedly similar to his father’s path, Martin grew up in a distinctly different time and place, which likely influenced his decision to change his name.

Martin was born on Aug. 3, 1940, in Dayton, Ohio.

After graduating from Chaminade High School, a world full of opportunities opened in front of Martin’s eyes. Although his father did not approve of his dreams to become an actor, Martin borrowed some money from a priest and made the decision to move to New York City to try and make it in showbusiness. 

At some point, while trying to make it as an actor, Martin adopted his stage name, pulling inspiration from CBS casting director Robert Dale Martin and televangelist Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. The new name prevented people from knowing Martin’s ethnicity, as his father was Spanish and his mother was Irish. Although he goes by his stage name, he never officially changed it, meaning his legal name is still the one he was given at birth.

What do you think about Emilio Estevez’s decision to keep his given name? What about Martin Sheen’s regrets? Let us know — and be sure to pass this story on to others.