Top 10 Interesting Facts About Andy García   

Actor Andy García. Photo By Andy – Wikimedia

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Andy García   

Andrés Arturo García Menéndez commonly known as Andy García is an American actor, director, and musician. Although little is known about his life, Andy is one of the best actors of his generation and has broken the common Hispanic-American stereotypes.  

His roles in The Untouchables, The Godfather Part III and Ocean’s Eleven movies are the most popular though he has acted in over 100 TV shows and movies. Andy is also remembered in ‘Stand and Deliver’, a 1988 movie that was one of America’s first successful all-Hispanic films. 

Andy remained true to himself from the word go even as agents urged him to change his last name to get more chances in the industry and avoid being placed in stereotypical roles. He chose to face the challenges that affect many Latino actors head-on. Here are the top 10 interesting facts about Andy Garcia. 

1. Having Been Born In Cuba, Andy Is A Naturalized United States Citizen   

Andy was born on 12th April 1956, in Havana, Cuba. He was born into a wealthy family. His father, René García Núñez, was a lawyer and large-scale farmer while his mum, Amelie Menéndez, was a teacher. He was the youngest child in the Catholic family. Andy had two elder siblings, his sister Tessi and his brother René. 

This guy had his first surgery when he was just a newborn because he was born with a dead conjoined twin on his left shoulder. Luckily, the operation to separate them was successful.

Andy grew up in Cuba for the first few years of his life, but his family moved to the United States where he has lived almost all his life. He is a naturalized American citizen.

2. His Father Lost His Property When Fidel Castro Got Into Power

Andy Garcia. Photo by Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons

Around the time of Andy’s birth and the years that followed, Cuba was politically unstable. It was at the height of the Guerrilla war and anti-government groups were rioting, bombing, and destroying property across Cuba. At the same time, the police would respond with mass arrests, torture, and extrajudicial executions.

Fidel Castro, who was loved and hated in equal measure, led the Cuban Revolution till he took over power in 1959. In 1961, the United States government supported anti-Castro forces in invading Cuba while trying to remove Castro from power. The invasion was unsuccessful and because it was during the cold era period, Castro chose to support the Soviet Union, going against the United States.

Andy’s father lost his property when Fidel Castro’s government took away land from private owners. Many Cubans left their country and Andy’s parents were not left behind. They moved their family to the United States. 

Check out this list of the best Cold War Movies to watch.    

3. Andy’s Family Set Up A Perfumes Business 

While in Cuba, Andy’s father practiced law and also did farming. He exported fruits to America but that was before his land was taken away by Castro’s government, forcing him into exile with nothing. After moving to America, he and his wife had to do odd jobs to support their children.

They set up a perfume-making business at a corner shop. Luckily, it grew to a million-dollar fragrance company that became very profitable and popular over the years. This perfume business, currently known as Artistic Brands, is still running. Andy’s brother, René Garcia, is in charge while Jay-Z the rapper is one of their investors. 

Check out our list of most famous rappers here.

4. He Had A Surfing Accident That Nearly Killed Him 

When Andy was about 11 years, he had an accident while surfing. He had gone surfing with a board larger than his tiny body at the time. He was having fun riding the waves when suddenly the board hit him squarely on the face and he passed out. 

The accident happened so fast and he is lucky to have survived after being stranded in the middle of the ocean. It was so traumatic that he has never gone surfing again since that day.

5. He Played Basketball Before Becoming An Actor  

Andy Garcia. Photo By David Shankbone – Wikimedia Commons

In the U.S., the family settled in Miami, Florida. Andy was 5 years old at the time and had grown up speaking Spanish, but he learned English and could speak it fluently.  

He attended local schools, and it was while at Miami Beach Senior High School that he joined the basketball team. He was good at it and even considered playing professionally but unfortunately, he got an illness that made him stop playing.  

Andy decided to try acting when he could not play sports. He joined Florida International  University where he took acting classes. It was while in college that he met his future wife and went on to date her for seven years before marrying in 1982. After graduation, he went to Hollywood to start his career.  

6. Andy Was Once A Waiter  

In Hollywood, he earned a living as a waiter at LA’s Beverly Hilton hotel. Andy split his time between waiting tables and performing with an improvisational group at the Comedy Store.  

Andy remembers waiting on Angelina Jolie’s dad, Jon Voight, and his friends. Voight was holding a Best Actor Golden Globe Award that he had won that night for his role in the movie ‘Coming Home’. Fast forward to decades later, Andy would cast Voight for his film about the legendary writer Ernest Hemingway. 

It was at the Comedy Store that Garcia caught the attention of a casting agent and was cast in the pilot for “Hill Street Blues.” 

7. He Has Acted In Over 70 Movies And About 30 TV Shows 

Andy started acting in the 1980s and he has had a successful career over the years. Some of his successful films include The Lost City, 8 Million Ways to Die, When a Man Loves a Woman, The Untouchables, and The Godfather Part III. 

He has taken part in over a hundred movies and shows, making him one of the most recognizable and experienced actors in Hollywood.   

8. Andy’s Daughter Is An Actress  

Andy Garcia at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival with Julianna Margulies (left) and his daughter Dominik García-Lorido (right). Photo By David Shankbone – Wikimedia

This actor is not the only member of his family in the film industry. His wife Marivi Lorido is a film producer that has worked on many projects. She is known for executive producing the feature film ‘Just the Ticket’.

The couple owns CineSon Entertainment, a production company, and are among the few couples that have been married the longest in Hollywood. They tied the knot in 1982, and together, they have four children Dominik, Daniella, Alessandra, and Andres.

Their firstborn daughter Dominik is an actress and has acted in many roles including working alongside her father in the movie ‘City Island’ where she acted as the daughter of the character played by her father. Interesting right? 

Read about Hollywood Producers Here.

9. He Has A Star On The Walk Of Fame  

Andy loves collecting hats and is keen on taking good care of his body. He eats healthy and exercises regularly. In 1995, he received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

His popular quote, ‘Freedom Is Not Negotiable’, shows his commitment to fighting for all actors’ rights, freedom, and equal justice. 

10. Andy Is An Award-Winning Actor 

Andy Garcia. Photo By Movieguide – Wikimedia Commons

Andy is a good actor, going by the numerous nominations to Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, and others. Out of this, he has won several over the years for his work in film and television. 

For The Godfather: Part III and Internal Affairs, the National Association of Theater Owners awarded him its Star of the Year prize. The Harvard University Foundation awarded him for his outstanding contributions to American performing arts and intercultural relations. 

Another Actor you can read about is Esai Morales.