Why didn’t Martin Sheen make it as a leading man in movies?

Explain it to me, eldergays.

He was talented but didn't really stand out in an era where Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino were being offered the more interesting male leads and were big box office. Plus there were the more handsome leading men like Robert Redford, Paul Newman, and Warren Beatty to contend with.

Her refused to suck dick for roles?

R2 That makes sense. He also seems content with being a character actor.

I recently saw him in an old episode of Columbo. He was gorgeous.

Too short.

It’s karma for unleashing Charlie Sheen on the world.

Bump

Yes, he was very short. The internet tells me he is or was 5'7". To me, that goes a long way toward explaining it. Also, as cute as he was, his looks are a little bit odd.

Loved him as President Bartlett.

alcoholism

Aren't Hoffman and Pacino nearly as short? I'm not sure it's his height.

Atrocious looking

Short, stumpy and no charizz

Dustin Hoffman wasn’t that good looking so I’m not sure why people keep bringing up looks.

He has spent years guest starring on just about every hour long show on network tv. He was probably seen as a tv actor and someone whose film work was not initially in big pictures with Badlands being an indie film. Apocalypse Now was a big film but an ensemble piece. His heart attack may have labeled him as a potential problem.

He has a really impressive filmography. I’m shocked at how much he’s worked. But look at the titles. So much gloomy, dark, off center stuff that’s just not movie star material.

I’m actually surprised that he landed Grace and Frankie given his generally sober roles.

I also think his political activism may have hindered his career.

Personal side note - my family sat behind his at the 80s revival of West Side Story. We all chatted during intermission and they were all really into the show and very cool with us. My brothers were very impressed with them as they were about the same age as Emilio and Charlie.

He played gay early in his career - That Certain Summer - for TV. There was no kissing in it but I think that would have derailed him in the industry, But he has a great sexy laugh.

He was EVIL and annoying in The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane, and the industry made him pay for that. “You are EVIL, Mister Martin Sheen!” said Hollywood. They never forgave him for that.

SHORT, ordinary, weird voice.

THREAD CLOSED

If you look at his IMDb, the amount of work he has done is pretty amazing. A true actor.

1975's Sweet Hostage. That's a movie that would never get made today.

He's a great, dependable character actor which is better than being a star. It's obvious that he'll be working until his last day on this earth and he's probably never lacked decent roles. Just looking at his filmography shows a lot of films and performances that will be remembered and discussed long after we've all left this planet. That seems like a solid career to me.

Sheen looked good in Badlands.

Sheen’s idol James Dean was also short. I believe he was 5′8″

Golden Globe-nominated (as Supporting, even though he was really the lead) in one of his first movies, "The Subject Was Roses," which was on TCM a few days ago. His co-star, Jack Albertson, won an Oscar.

and Patrica Neal's post-stroke comeback movie - also Oscar nominated.

R2 has it right. He was simply eclipsed by bigger stars in a generation where male actors (Hoffman, Nicholson, Beatty, Pacino and De Niro) were actually more dominant/bankable than leading ladies (Sally Field, Faye Dunaway, Raquel Welch, Pam Grier). He's clearly a talented actor who shines in whatever role he takes on, but he just couldn't stand out in such a crowded field.

Same thing for Timothy Hutton or Gabriel Byrne in that crowd of Cruise/Penn/Hanks/Denzel, or Christina Ricci compared to Winona Ryder or Natalie Portman.

The stage is big enough to hold a lot of talent, but the spotlight can only shine on so much of it at a time.

He did make it as a leading man until he transitioned to character roles. The West Wing was one of the best of his post leading man roles but, arguably, he was still the lead.

Dean was also Charles Starkweather's idol.

He was more likely to be a leading man on tv than in films--usually a supporting or ensemble player in the movies.

R29 The President was supposed to only be an occasional presence on a show about White House staff, but they liked Sheen so much that they beefed up his part.

Also, they almost cast Sidney Poitier or Alan Alda for that part, and I just can't see it being the hit it was with one of those two in the role.

He has/had no sex appeal.

Poitier would have been very good and more subtle than Sheen. Alda would have been insufferable. There's a reason Woody Allen and his appearance in "And the Band Played On" helped revive his career by making him appear unsympathetic.

R34 Alan Alda eventually won an Emmy for playing a McCain-esque candidate for president who very nearly won the election to replace President Bartlet at the end of TWW.

He did a good job with it, and was at least as compelling as his opponent (played by Jimmy Smits).

[quote] and Patrica Neal's post-stroke comeback movie

Wasn’t that ‘The Night Digger’?

R36 No.

R36 Nah, you're thinking of Mandingo

Alan Alda always looked like a male Florence Henderson to me.