One of PASSIONS' most controversial storylines involves Martin's decision to leave his family behind and go AWOL with Katherine.

Whether Martin is a martyred hero worthy of Pilar's candlelight vigils or a spineless self-serving wimp depends on who you ask. But his portrayer, Richard Steinmetz, is ready, willing and able to defend Martin's actions and honor — even to his fellow castmates. "The other actors on the show they're not buying it from me," reveals Steinmetz. "I tell them you've got to think outside the box: If you really stop and put it into perspective and think it through, Martin did the right thing," insists Steinmetz. "He's doing what was best for his family.

"I consider the character of Martin a hero, whereas most viewers probably don't at this point," he continues. "But I really and truly do. What if you were faced with Martin's situation: Where one of the most powerful men in the world — who could have the CIA, FBI, etc., at his disposal if that's what he wanted — was going to kill you and your family. You've got to make a move one way or another."

Martin's "move" was into self-imposed exile, "technically like a witness protection program. And when you go into a witness protection program, you have to be dead, period, for good. So sending money back home or dropping a line through a friend saying this and that would create a trail. And that, of course, is how you get caught. So, Martin did what he did in terms of sacrificing his life for his family.

"Yeah, it worked out for him in the end too, okay," he adds, referring to Martin's relationship with Katherine, "but I mean, are you going to kill yourself if you're in that situation? No. That might be the 'ultimate sacrifice,' but instead I think you'd instead try [to make the best of things]."