Andy Garcia

Garcia was born Andres Arturo Garcia y Menendez in Bejucal, La Habana Province, Cuba.

His mother, Amelie, was an English teacher, his father, Rene Garcia Nunez, was an avocado farmer and attorney in Cuba and later owned a fragrance business in the United States. Garcia has an older brother, Rene.

When Garcia was five years old, the family moved to Miami, Florida after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion. Over a period of several years they built up a million-dollar perfume company. Garcia was raised as a Catholic and attended Miami Beach Senior High School, where he played on the basketball team. During his last year in high school he became ill with hepatitis, which convinced him to pursue a career in acting.

Garcia began acting at Florida International University, but soon went to Hollywood. He started to perform in very short roles, working part-time as waiter and in a warehouse. His chance arose when he was offered a role as a gang member in the first episode of the popular TV series Hill Street Blues.

In 1982, Garcia married Maria Victoria Lorido. He is the father of three daughters and one son, his namesake, born in 2002. The Garcia family lives in Los Angeles and Miami.

Garcia and his friend Christian Tellez saved a family of four during a boating accident they witnessed off the coast of Miami Beach in 1986. Garcia is a fervent critic of the Cuban government. He was also, along with Gloria Estefan, a strong advocate of Elian Gonzalez staying in the United States rather than returning to be with his father in Cuba in early 2000. He also appeared as a waiter in Gloria Estefan's video for the song "When I see your smile".

Garcia's niece Jackie was the longtime girlfriend of the late Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was shot by intruders in their Miami-area home on November 26, 2007 and who died from his wounds on November 27, 2007. The two were home with their 18-month old daughter Jackie when the incident took place. Garcia attended Taylor's funeral, and released a statement to the Miami Herald calling Taylor a hero for saving the life of his niece and her child.