'We were all trying to find ourselves and find some measure of truth. 'Joe expanded that possibility and made us all feel that we had a contribution to make. 'At that time, you rarely saw working-class people in Broadway theaters, because the prices were prohibitive,' recalls Sheen, who is featured in the new American Masters documentary, Joe Papp in Five Acts, now playing on PBS and the PBS Video app. One of Papp's achievements was making the work of William Shakespeare newly accessible to a mass audience by founding Shakespeare in the Park - an annual event in Central Park that's become a New York institution. 'He hated bullies and he gave his life to a social justice theater, creating an artistic environment that reflected the culture that he worked in.' 'He had this godlike image in theater at the time, but when you met him, he was the most disarming guy,' the actor says of Papp, who died in 1991.

The two collaborated on multiple productions, including a landmark 1967 staging of Hamlet that elevated Sheen's star. (Watch our Role Recall above.)Īccording to Sheen, the credit - or, as he jokes, blame - for his longevity in the business can be traced back to pioneering theater director, Joseph Papp. Since his breakout role in 1973's Badlands, Sheen has been a fixture on the big and small screen, bringing the same quiet authority and generosity of spirit to every project, no matter the size of the part. That's a typically humble understatement. 'You made me feel like I've really had a substantial career,' the 81-year-old stage and screen veteran tells Yahoo Entertainment after sitting down for our latest Role Recall. But Martin Sheen's greatest role is as the consummate actor's actor. He's played a president, a soldier and a superhero's uncle.

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