Charlie Sheen, the star of iconic films such as Platoon and Wall Street, is set to fly to London to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Irish Post.
Sheen has spoken in the past about his affinity for Ireland and the importance of his Irish heritage. His grandmother Mary Ann Phelan emigrated to America from Tipperary whilst his father, veteran actor Martin Sheen, is a regular visitor to Ireland and studied an arts degree at NUI Galway as recently as 2006.
Sheen senior found out more about the family’s links to Tipperary and the Irish War of Independence when he famously took part in the US version of Who Do You Think You Are.
The oldest member of the clan has been coming to Ireland since 1973, when he first met cousins from his mother's town of Borrisokane, in Tipperary.
“She was so feisty, so cocky, I learned all the Irish songs from her,” he told Irish America magazine back in October 2000.
And the West Wing star cited those emotional ties as a big factor in deciding to study in his mother’s homeland when the opportunity presented itself at the age of 65.
"It's been one of the great adventures of my life,” he said of his time in Galway.
“My only regrets are that I didn't do it earlier and that I can't do it any further. I just love this country and the experiences I've had here."
The family’s love affair with film started when a Catholic priest lent a young Martin Sheen $500 to pursue his acting dream in the early 60s.
“My father did not want me to go to New York to be an actor, and Father Al had the authority to get between us and make the situation a little easier with my Dad,” he said.
Between them, Charlie and his father have starred in close to 200 films and have devoted themselves to worthy causes such as the Sick Kids Foundation and HIV, homeless and autism charities.
