6 articles from 2008
1 July 2008 12:02 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news
Former The O.C. star Mischa Barton has replaced British actress Sienna Miller in the cast of new movie Bhopal: A Prayer For Rain.
The Alfie actress had been lined up to take the female lead in the film, which focuses on the story of a chemical spillage in India.
But now 22-year-old Barton will join former West Wing star Martin Sheen in the picture, which is due for release later this year.
27 June 2008 9:03 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news
Actor Martin Sheen made an appearance in a New York court on Thursday to watch the mother of his granddaughter be tried for assault.
Paula Speert, the ex-girlfriend of Charlie Sheen and mother of his eldest child, 23-year-old Cassandra, is facing charges she attacked her business partner in a Manhattan hotel.
Speert pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Sheen told the New York Daily News outside court, "It's a surprise and a shock. We're here to hear the allegations."
8 June 2008 3:58 PM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news
Martin Sheen is urging his fellow pensioners to find ways to help others in an effort to end the trend of the elderly drinking themselves to death.
The actor, 68, is staggered by statistics about the rise in alcoholism among retired people and, as an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, he's determined to make a change.
Sheen tells the new issues of America's Aarp magazine for the elderly he believes many retirees turn to booze when loved ones die and they find themselves feeling lonely.
He says, "Suddenly they're alone; they spiral much quicker.
"What revives so many elderly and people who have lost spouses is getting back in there. Go back and serve, teach, find people who need your help.
"When you become disconnected, you get farther and farther from the shore, and you don't realise how far you've drifted, and then suddenly you're in the deep water and you're alone."
28 May 2008 12:13 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news
Martin Sheen was so determined to make sure his son Charlie kicked his drug habit - he became "fanatical" about getting him help.
Sheen's actor son was hospitalised in 1998 for a drug overdose and has endured a long-running battle with his addictions.
The West Wing star is a recovering alcoholic and admits he was so troubled when he found out about Charlie's problems he became fixated on helping him sort his life out.
And Sheen's first step was to report the 42-year-old to the police in a bid to get him into a rehabilitation programme.
He says, "When a life is at stake and it's your child, you become fearless in a lot of ways. I mean, you just become fanatic. Nothing ever gets done unless it's done by a fanatic.
"The only way I got to Charlie, frankly, was because he'd skipped out of the hospital. I had to pay the bill.
"He'd consumed an illegal substance; he was on probation. This was a criminal matter. And so that was the wedge; that was the leverage I had. That is what I took to the court; that's what I took to the sheriff. It was the only way I got him."
19 May 2008 5:08 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news
West Wing star Martin Sheen has been honoured for his role as a peace activist and for his humanitarian work.
The 67-year-old actor was awarded the Laetare Medal by the University of Notre Dame in Indiana - the prize is the school's top honour and is bestowed on a Catholic "whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the church, and enriched the heritage of humanity".
Sheen has long been known for his involvement with a variety of charitable organisations, as well as his continued support for campaign groups including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) and environmentalist group Earth First!
And the star insists his charity work is more important to him than his career.
He says, "While acting is what I do for a living, activism is what I do to stay alive."
18 March 2008 7:18 PM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news
Martin Sheen has gone public with his criticism of former daughter-in-law Denise Richards' decision to include his granddaughters in a reality TV show.
The veteran actor fears Richards is making "a mistake" in turning her home life into the basis for a new reality series on America's E! cable network.
Richards recently won a court battle allowing her to feature her two daughters with Charlie Sheen, Sam, three, and Lola, two, in the upcoming show, much to her ex-husband's dismay.
And now his father is weighing in on the TV project.
He tells PageSix.com, "We were hoping they wouldn't be exposed to that. It's unfortunate. But she's (Richards) of a mind where it's important to her.
"Maybe she has to get involved with something to realise how big a mistake it is."
6 articles from 2008