García nació el 12 de abril de 1956, en La Habana, Cuba, de Amelie Menéndez, maestra de inglés, y René García Núñez, abogada y granjera. La familia de García era relativamente próspera. Sin embargo, cuando tenía dos años, Fidel Castro llegó al poder y la familia huyó a Miami Beach.

Forzados a trabajar en empleos de baja categoría por un tiempo, la familia comenzó una compañía de fragancias que eventualmente valía más de un millón de dólares. Asistió a Natilus Junior High School y luego a Miami Beach Senior High School. Andy era un estudiante popular en la escuela, un buen jugador de baloncesto y guapo. Soñaba con jugar béisbol profesional. En su último año, sin embargo, contrajo mononucleosis y hepatitis, e incapaz de practicar deportes, dirigió su atención a la actuación.

Estudió actuación con Jay W. Jensen. Jensen era una leyenda del sur de Florida, entre sus numerosos estudiantes, Brett Ratner, Roy Firestone, Mickey Rourke y Luther Campbell. Después de sus experiencias positivas de la escuela secundaria en la actuación, continuó sus estudios de drama en la Universidad Internacional de Florida.

Pronto, se dirigía a Hollywood. Su primer salto fue como miembro de una pandilla en el primer episodio de la popular serie de televisión Hill Street Blues (1981). Su papel como capo de la cocaína en 8 Million Ways to Die (1986) lo puso en el radar de Brian De Palma, quien buscaba en su clásico de gángsters The Untouchables (1987).

Al principio, imaginó a García como el secuaz sádico de Al Capone, Frank Nitti, pero temiendo ser encasillado como un gángster, García hizo campaña por el papel de “George Stone”, el policía italiano que es aceptado en la famosa banda de abogados de Eliot Ness. El siguiente papel notable de García fue en Black Rain (1989) del aclamado director Ridley Scott, como socio del detective de policía Michael Douglas. Luego coprotagonizó con Richard Gere en Internal Affairs (1990), dirigida por Mike Figgis.

En 1989, Francis Ford Coppola realizó el casting para la muy anticipada tercera entrega de sus películas “El Padrino”. The Godfather: Part III (1990) incluyó uno de los papeles más buscados en décadas, el hijo de “Sonny Corleone” y el protegido de “Michael Corloene”, “Vincent Mancini”. Un papel importante para cualquier joven estrella en ascenso, el papel fue hecho campaña por una gran cantidad de actores. Val Kilmer, Alec Baldwin, Vincent Spano, Charlie Sheen e incluso Robert De Niro (que quería que el papel cambiara para adaptarse a su edad) fueron derrotados por el prometedor García. Su actuación fue nominada al Oscar como Mejor Actor de Reparto, y le aseguró el estrellato internacional y un lugar en la historia cinematográfica. Ahora un hombre destacado, protagonizó películas como Jennifer Eight (1992) y Hero (1992).

Ganó elogios por su papel como el marido de Meg Ryan en When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) y le dio a otro gángster carismático el turno de Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995). Luego regresó en Night Falls en Manhattan (1996), dirigida por Sidney Lumet, y también retrató al legendario mafioso Lucky Luciano en Hoodlum (1997). Quizás en su papel más importante, interpretó a un policía en la película de acción Medidas desesperadas (1998). García luego protagonizó algunos proyectos de bajo perfil que no hicieron mucho por su carrera, pero las cosas cambiaron en 2001, y el primero de muchos proyectos fue su papel como propietario de un casino frío en Ocean’s Eleven (2001), dirigido por Steven Soderbergh. Al ver que su retiro de Cuba es involuntario, García se enorgullece de su herencia que influye en su vida y trabajo. Uno de esos casos es su interpretación del renombrado trompetista cubano Arturo Sandoval en For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000).

Es un hombre extremadamente privado y un fuerte creyente en la caballería anticuada. Casado con su esposa, María Victoria, desde 1982, la pareja tiene tres hijas. Como uno de los hombres líderes más talentosos, García ha tenido una carrera única de mantenerse fiel a sus propios ideales y pensamientos sobre la actuación. Si bien algunos habrían usado parte del impulso que ha adquirido en diferentes momentos de su carrera para enriquecerse con proyectos ligeros, García se ha mantenido fiel a las historias y películas que aspiran a algo más. Pero con una presencia y un estilo que nunca parecen viejos, un respeto de los directores y cinéfilos, Andy García será recordado durante mucho tiempo en la historia del cine.

VIDA PERSONAL.

En 1982, García se casó con Marivi Lorido. La pareja tiene cuatro hijos: las hijas Dominik García-Lorido (n. 1983), una actriz, Daniella (n. 1988) y Alessandra (n. 1991); y su hijo Andrés (n. 2002).

García ha expresado, en varias ocasiones, su oposición al régimen comunista que ha gobernado Cuba desde la revolución que tuvo lugar desde 1953 hasta 1959. Tras la muerte de Fidel Castro en noviembre de 2016, García condenó su legado y declaró: “Es necesario para que exprese la profunda tristeza que siento por todo el pueblo cubano … que ha sufrido las atrocidades y la represión causada por Fidel Castro y su régimen totalitario “.

(LEER LAS ULTIMAS PRESENTACIONES DE ANDY GARCIA EN PELICULAS Y TELEVISION EN LA SECTION EN INGLES.)

ANDY GARCIA, AN EXTREMELY PRIVATE ACTOR, PROUD OF HIS ROOTS. VIDEOS.

One of Hollywood’s most private and guarded leading men, Andy Garcia has created a few iconic characters while at the same time staying true to his acting roots and personal projects.

Garcia was born on April 12, 1956, in Havana, Cuba, to Amelie Menéndez, a teacher of English, and René García Núñez, an attorney and avocado farmer. Garcia’s family was relatively affluent. However, when he was two years old, Fidel Castro came to power, and the family fled to Miami Beach.

Forced to work menial jobs for a while, the family started a fragrance company that was eventually worth more than a million dollars. He attended Natilus Junior High School and later at Miami Beach Senior High School. Andy was a popular student in school, a good basketball player and good-looking. He dreamed of playing professional baseball. In his senior year, though, he contracted mononucleosis and hepatitis, and unable to play sports, he turned his attention to acting.

He studied acting with Jay W. Jensen. Jensen was a South Florida legend, counting among his numerous students, Brett Ratner, Roy Firestone, Mickey Rourke, and Luther Campbell. Following his positive high school experiences in acting, he continued his drama studies at Florida International University.

Soon, he was headed out to Hollywood. His first break came as a gang member on the very first episode of the popular TV series Hill Street Blues (1981). His role as a cocaine kingpin in 8 Million Ways to Die (1986) put him on the radar of Brian De Palma, who was casting for his gangster classic The Untouchables (1987).

At first, he envisioned Garcia as Al Capone’s sadistic henchman Frank Nitti, but fearing to typecast as a gangster, Garcia campaigned for the role of “George Stone”, the Italian cop who gets accepted into Eliot Ness’ famous band of lawmen. Garcia’s next notable role came in Black Rain (1989) by acclaimed director Ridley Scott, as the partner of police detective Michael Douglas. He then co-starred with Richard Gere in Internal Affairs (1990), directed by Mike Figgis.

In 1989, Francis Ford Coppola was casting for the highly anticipated third installment of his “Godfather” films. The Godfather: Part III (1990) included one of the most sought-after roles in decades, the hot-headed son of “Sonny Corleone” and mob protégé of “Michael Corloene”, “Vincent Mancini”. A plum role for any young rising star, the role was campaigned for by a host of actors. Val Kilmer, Alec Baldwin, Vincent Spano, Charlie Sheen, and even Robert De Niro (who wanted the role changed to accommodate his age) were all beaten out by the up-and-coming Garcia. His performance was Oscar-nominated as Best Supporting Actor, and secured him international stardom and a place in cinematic history. Now a leading man, he starred in such films as Jennifer Eight (1992) and Hero (1992).

He won raves for his role as the husband of Meg Ryan in When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) and gave another charismatic gangster turn in Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995). He then returned in Night Falls on Manhattan (1996), directed by Sidney Lumet, as well as portraying legendary mobster Lucky Luciano in Hoodlum (1997). In perhaps his most mainstream role, he portrayed a cop in the action film Desperate Measures (1998). Garcia then starred in a few lower-profile projects that didn’t do much for his career, but things turned around in 2001, with the first of many projects being his role as a cold casino owner in Ocean’s Eleven (2001), directed by Steven Soderbergh. Seeing his removal from Cuba as involuntary, Garcia is proud of his heritage which influences his life and work. One such case is his portrayal of renowned Cuban trumpet player Arturo Sandoval in For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000).

He is an extremely private man, and strong believer in old-fashioned chivalry. Married to his wife, Maria Victoria, since 1982, the couple has three daughters. One of the most talented leading men around, Garcia has had a unique career of staying true to his own ideals and thoughts on acting. While some would have used some of the momentum he has acquired at different points in his career to get rich off lightweight projects, Garcia has stayed true to stories and films that aspire to something more. But with a presence and style that never seem old, a respect from directors and film buffs, alike, Andy Garcia will be remembered for a long time in film history.

PERSONAL LIFE.

In 1982, García married Marivi Lorido. The couple has four children: daughters Dominik García-Lorido (b. 1983), an actress, Daniella (b. 1988), and Alessandra (b. 1991); and son Andres (b. 2002).

García has expressed, on a number of occasions, his opposition to the communist regime that has ruled Cuba since the revolution that occurred there from 1953 to 1959. Following Fidel Castro’s death in November 2016, García condemned his legacy, stating: “It is necessary for me to express the deep sorrow that I feel for all the Cuban people…that have suffered the atrocities and repression caused by Fidel Castro and his totalitarian regime.”

Filmography
Last Performances.
Film

2005 The Lazarus Child Jack Heywood
2005 The Lost City Fico Fellove Also executive producer/director
Imagen Foundation Award for Best Director
Nominated—ALMA Award for Outstanding Director – Motion Picture
Nominated—Imagen Foundation Award for Best Actor
2006 Smokin’ Aces Stanley Locke
2007 The Air I Breathe Fingers
2007 Ocean’s Thirteen Terry Benedict Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Chemistry (entire cast)
2008 New York, I Love You, Garry
2008 Beverly Hills Chihuahua Delgado Voice only
2009 The Pink Panther 2 Inspector Vicenzo Brancaleone
2009 City Island Vince Rizzo Also producer
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
2009 La Linea Javier Salazar
2010 Across the Line Jorge Garza
2011 5 Days of War Mikheil Saakashvili
2012 For Greater Glory Enrique Gorostieta Velarde
2012 A Dark Truth Jack Begosian
2013 Open Road Chuck
2013 At Middleton George Hartman
2014 Let’s Be Cops Detective Brolin
2014 Kill the Messenger Norwin Meneses
2014 Rob the Mob Big Al
2014 Rio 2 Eduardo
(voice) Nominated—Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production
2016 Ghostbusters Mayor Bradley
2016 Max Steel Dr. Miles Edwards
2016 True Memoirs of an International Assassin El Toro
2016 Passengers Admiral Norris
2017 Geostorm President of the United States Andrew Palma
2018 Bent Jimmy Murtha
2018 Book Club Mitchell
2018 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Fernando Cienfuegos
2018 The Mule Laton
2019 What About Love Peter Tarlton Post-production
2019 Headlock Gerald Hotchkiss Completed
TBA Words On Bathroom Walls Father Patrick Post-production

Television
Last Performances.
2005 Kurtlar Vadisi Amon Episode: 4.96
Episode: 4.97
2006 George Lopez Ray Episode: “George Doesn’t Trustee Angie’s Brother”
2008 Classical Baby (I’m Grown Up Now): The Poetry Show Himself TV movie
2009 The National Parks: America’s Best Idea Various historical figures Voice only
2010 Top Gear Himself Series 15, episode 4
2011 The Simpsons Slick Publisher Episode: “The Book Job”
2012 Dora the Explorer Don Quixote Episode: “Dora’s Royal Rescue”
2012 Dora’s Royal Rescue Don Quixote TV movie
2013 Christmas in Conway Duncan Mayor TV movie
2013 Doll & Em Andy Episode: 1.5
TV mini-series
2014 Kurtlar Vadisi Pusu Amon Episode: 9.230
Episode: 9.231
Episode: 9.232
Episode: 9.235
Episode: 9.238
2016 Ballers Andre Allen 6 episodes
2018 My Dinner with Hervé Ricardo Montalbán HBO TV movie

Agencies/IMDb/Brian Stewart/Chase Rosenberg/ Wiki/ Internet Photos/ YouTube/ Arnoldo Varona/ www.TheCubanHistory.com
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