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Martin Sheen doesn't get why people care about his Uncle Ben: "I had never seen a Spider-Man before or since"
The West Wing and Apocalypse Now actor remains unclear as to why fandom has embraced his brief time as the uncle to Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker
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For many people — perhaps even most people — Martin Sheen is President Jed Bartlett of NBC’s The West Wing… but that’s far from the only famous role he’s inhabited across a career that’s spanned decades of movies and television. The popularity of one of those roles remains a mystery to him, however: his short time playing Peter Parker’s beloved Uncle Ben in the 2002 Spider-Man movie directed by Sam Raimi.
Asked if he had realized ahead of the role just how beloved Uncle Ben is to the core Spider-Man audience during the Walk and Talk: The West Wing with Martin Sheen and Dule Hull panel at C2E2 2026, Sheen deadpanned, “Clearly, I did not. I had never seen a Spider-Man before or since.”
One moment did stick out in clarifying just how iconic the character is to fandom, he continued, although it’s also a moment that arguably says nothing good about a generation’s familiarity with some genuinely classic movies from the 1970s.
“I was speaking at the Loyola University graduation, and I was being introduced, and the fellow that was introducing me named all these credits: The West Wing, Apocalypse Now, Badlands. Endless credits, and they just sat there. And then he said, ‘he played Uncle Ben in Spider-Man,’ and they all stood up,” Sheen explained. “So, what am I missing?”
Being so humble and just a little bit out of touch at the same time…? That’s classic Uncle Ben, let’s be honest.
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About C2E2
Comics, cosplay, gaming, authors, and anime abound in the only pop culture convention in the heart of Downtown Chicago! We've gathered your favorite celebrities, unique exhibitors, incredible comic creators, and larger-than-life literary authors into one place to celebrate the fandoms you love. From the halls of Artist Alley to the depths of the Show Floor, our goal is to provide a space of creativity and fun, but most importantly, one that cultivates a sense of belonging, safety, and inclusiveness.
Dates
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Chicago's McCormick Place
United States
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