All My Children: JR Martinez, A Real American Hero
As previously reported, All My Children has cast real-life Iraqi War veteran JR Martinez in the role of Brot Monroe, the fellow soldier Lt. Taylor Thompson (Beth Ehlers), fell in love with while both were serving their country in the backstory for the fictional soap.
According to a press release from ABC Daytime, Brot's combat-related injuries, which caused him to allow Taylor to believe he was dead so not to burden her, were determined by Martinez's real life injuries.
In February of 2003, Mr. Martinez was deployed to Iraq and in April, 2003, while serving as a driver of a Humvee, the tire hit a landmine and he suffered severe burns to more than 40 percent of his body."
In addition to his new role on All My Children, Martinez, who spent 34 months in the hospital and underwent 32 surgeries, also serves as national spokesperson for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes. No matter our respective political leanings tonight, I just want to take this time out to say thank you to Mr. Martinez and all the men and women who risk their lives to protect my opportunity to run my big mouth. And here's to hoping we elect a leader tonight who will utilize the tenets of diplomacy to the utmost before putting these brave men and women in harm's way.
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Comments
12 February 2008
1 hour 2 min
This casting brings back fond memories of AMC being a socially relevant soap...
***///The Hunt 4 Dixie Martin Is On!\\\***
20 January 2008
6 weeks 18 hours
It will be interesting to see how viewers react, and how mature they'll be when they realize this isn't a makeup job, and Brot won't be able to get back his pre-war face by flying to Brazil to visit that plastic surgeon Erica used.
30 May 2008
5 weeks 5 days
Props to AMC for casting a real HERO. I would love for the entertainment industry to cast more actors with real disabilities.
18 January 2008
3 min 15 sec
I'm really looking forward to seeing how this plays out. AMC is taking a big step forward by finally being a soap that shows veterans in a positive light (take notes, GH).
7 November 2008
1 year 13 weeks
I applaud the episode yesterday with the veterans telling their stories. It was great. What I'm a little perturbed about is why AMC chose to give the new characther a non-Hispanic name. The person is obviously Hispanic, why couldn't his character be Hispanic?
11 November 2008
1 year 12 weeks
so weird, I was flipping through the channels and came across JR on the soap channel. Earlier this year, he sat next to me on an airplane from Vegas to LA. Hes one of the nicest and most awesome people I have ever met, seriously. So easy to talk to and so so positive. Not annoyingly positive but just had this contagious energy. The flight went by so fast. Yes, first sight you do notice his scars, but by the end of the conversation they somehow seem to disappear. I had no idea he was this huge war veteran and a national speaker. I dont even watch AMC, but Im excited to see how he does in his role. Its really neat that AMC is using real war veterans/heroes to tell their storyline this season. And for the girl above who says it freaks her out to look at people who may look different than her... grow up. Sorry if that may sound rude.
11 November 2008
1 year 12 weeks
How sad that the woman gets "freaked" out about visably disfigured people... I grew up with a brother who was a double-amputee with severe brain damage. When we went out people would literally stop and stare and point at him like he couldn't see it. I so admire JR Martinez fo taking this on and showing people the atrocities of war! What a brave young man! I hope he stays on for a long time!
As for his name being hispanic... my last name is hispanic and I am a white, blue-eyed woman from Denmark... so what is in a name?!
23 July 2008
2 hours 1 min
I think the character was already named before he was cast.
________________________
//**No one on the corner has swagger like us!**\\
20 November 2008
1 year 11 weeks
And for the girl above who says it freaks her out to look at people who may look different than her... grow up. Sorry if that may sound rude--------------
You don't sound sorry, it seems to have come pretty easily from you.-----------------------------
Would he *JR MARTINEZ* have spoken to the girl above in that manner on the airplane? If what you stated about his mannerisms and personality are true, probably not. You enjoyed him so much, then turn around to spite someone who was brave enough to state an opinion. Shame on you. You were blessed and lucky to have met such an incredible American.
22 January 2008
20 min 19 sec
Mr. Martinez is a true hero and a great man.