Andy Garcia, whose full name is Andrés Arturo García Menéndez, was born on April 12, 1956, in Havana Province, Cuba. He is a Cuban-American actor, director, and producer who gained recognition through The Untouchables (1987), Black Rain (1989), and The Godfather Part III (1990). His portrayal of Vincent Mancini-Corleone in the third installment of Francis Ford Coppola's crime trilogy earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He subsequently starred in When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), Ocean's Eleven (2001), and its sequels. Garcia also directed and starred in The Lost City (2005), a film set during the Cuban Revolution. He appeared in the Turkish television productions Kurtlar Vadisi and Kurtlar Vadisi Pusu as Amon. His later work includes Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), Father of the Bride (2022), and the television series Landman, in which he plays Gallino.

Early Life and Education

Andy Garcia was born on April 12, 1956, in the Havana region of Cuba. His mother, Amelie Menéndez, was an English teacher, while his father, René García Núñez, worked as a lawyer and avocado farmer.

Garcia was born with an incompletely developed conjoined twin attached to his left shoulder. The tissue was surgically removed during infancy.

In 1961, when he was five years old, his family left Cuba following the Cuban Revolution and settled in Miami, Florida, United States. His father established a perfume business that eventually became financially successful.

Garcia attended Miami Beach Senior High School, where he played basketball. During his school years, he developed an interest in acting and studied drama under teacher Jay W. Jensen.

He subsequently enrolled at Florida International University, where he studied theater. After beginning his acting career in Florida, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in film and television.

Early Acting Career

Andy Garcia began appearing in television productions during the early 1980s, including Hill Street Blues and Murder, She Wrote. His early film credits included Blue Skies Again (1983) and A Night in Heaven (1983).

In 1985, he appeared as Ray Martinez in The Mean Season, a crime thriller starring Kurt Russell.

The following year, he played Angel Maldonado in 8 Million Ways to Die, directed by Hal Ashby and starring Jeff Bridges.

These roles were followed by his appearance in a major Hollywood crime drama directed by Brian De Palma.

The Untouchables and Black Rain

In 1987, Andy Garcia portrayed George Stone, also known as Giuseppe Petri, in The Untouchables. Directed by Brian De Palma, the film followed federal agent Eliot Ness and his efforts to prosecute Chicago gangster Al Capone.

Garcia appeared alongside Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro.

In 1988, he starred in American Roulette and Stand and Deliver, the latter featuring Edward James Olmos.

In 1989, he played Detective Charlie Vincent in Black Rain, directed by Ridley Scott. The crime thriller starred Michael Douglas and was set partly in Japan.

The Godfather Part III and Academy Award Nomination

In 1990, Andy Garcia played Vincent Mancini, the illegitimate son of Sonny Corleone, in The Godfather Part III, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

The film starred Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, alongside Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, and Sofia Coppola. Garcia's character becomes involved in the Corleone family's criminal organization and eventually assumes leadership of the family.

His performance earned him nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1991.

That year, Garcia also appeared in Internal Affairs, a crime thriller starring Richard Gere.

Film Career During the 1990s

Following The Godfather Part III, Andy Garcia appeared in Dead Again (1991), directed by Kenneth Branagh, and Jennifer Eight (1992), in which he played Detective John Berlin.

In 1992, he starred alongside Dustin Hoffman and Geena Davis in Hero, a comedy-drama directed by Stephen Frears.

In 1994, he played Michael Green in When a Man Loves a Woman, opposite Meg Ryan. The film examined the effects of alcohol dependency on a marriage and family.

His other films from the decade included Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995), Steal Big Steal Little (1995), The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca (1996), Night Falls on Manhattan (1997), Hoodlum (1997), and Desperate Measures (1998).

In The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca, he portrayed Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca. In Hoodlum, he played organized crime figure Lucky Luciano.

In 1999, he starred as Gary Starke in Just the Ticket, which he also produced.

Ocean's Eleven and Its Sequels

In 2001, Andy Garcia played Terry Benedict, a Las Vegas casino owner, in Ocean's Eleven, directed by Steven Soderbergh.

The film featured George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Don Cheadle, Casey Affleck, and Elliott Gould.

Garcia returned as Terry Benedict in Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007).

During the same period, he appeared in The Unsaid (2001), The Man from Elysian Fields (2001), and Modigliani (2004), in which he portrayed Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani.

The Lost City and Directing Career

In 2005, Andy Garcia directed and starred in The Lost City, a historical drama set in Havana during the Cuban Revolution.

He portrayed Fico Fellove, a nightclub owner whose family and livelihood are affected by political developments in Cuba. The cast included Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray, and Inés Sastre.

The screenplay was written by Cuban novelist Guillermo Cabrera Infante. Garcia also served as a producer and contributed to the film's music.

His directorial work also includes the documentary Cachao: Como su ritmo no hay dos (1993), about Cuban bassist and composer Israel López, known as Cachao.

Garcia was later attached to direct and star in Hemingway & Fuentes, a proposed film about writer Ernest Hemingway and Cuban fisherman Gregorio Fuentes. The project was announced but remained in development.

Later Film Career

During the late 2000s, Andy Garcia appeared in Smokin' Aces (2006), The Air I Breathe (2007), and Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008), providing the voice of Delgado in the latter.

In 2009, he appeared in The Pink Panther 2 and starred in City Island, portraying Vince Rizzo, a prison officer whose family life becomes complicated by long-held secrets.

His subsequent credits included For Greater Glory (2012), At Middleton (2013), Rob the Mob (2014), Let's Be Cops (2014), and Kill the Messenger (2014).

In 2016, he appeared in Ghostbusters, Max Steel, and Passengers. The following year, he portrayed President Andrew Palma in the disaster film Geostorm.

In 2018, Garcia played Fernando Cienfuegos in the musical romantic comedy Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, alongside Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, and Cher.

That year, he also appeared in Book Club, starring Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen, and The Mule, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.

His later films included Words on Bathroom Walls (2020), Wrath of Man (2021), and Father of the Bride (2022), in which he played Billy Herrera opposite Gloria Estefan. Garcia also served as an executive producer of Father of the Bride.

Film and Television Projects, 2023–2026

In 2023, Andy Garcia appeared in Book Club: The Next Chapter, Miranda's Victim, Pain Hustlers, and Expend4bles. In Pain Hustlers, he played pharmaceutical executive Jack Neel opposite Emily Blunt and Chris Evans.

In 2024, he portrayed Roman in the action film Long Gone Heroes, starring Frank Grillo and Josh Hutcherson.

In 2025, he appeared as Nico in the crime comedy Eenie Meanie and as Giacomo in Under the Stars.

He also joined the Paramount+ drama Landman, created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace. Garcia portrays Dan "Gallino" Morrell, a criminal figure whose activities intersect with the Texas oil industry. He appeared in the first-season finale in January 2025 and returned for the second season, which continued into January 2026.

His 2026 film credits include 72 Hours and Diamond. He also appeared in the production of Maserati: The Brothers, a biographical drama about the founders of the Italian automobile company.

Personal Life

Andy Garcia married Marivi Lorido Garcia on September 24, 1982.

The couple have four children: Dominik García-Lorido, born in 1983; Daniella García-Lorido, born in 1988; Alessandra García-Lorido, born in 1991; and Andrés García-Lorido, born in 2002.

His daughter Dominik has pursued an acting career, while Alessandra has worked as a model.

Garcia has maintained an interest in Cuban music and culture throughout his career. He has collaborated with musicians including Israel López, and his directing and producing work has frequently included subjects connected with Cuba.

Awards and Recognition

1991 – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor – The Godfather Part III (Nominee)
1991 – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – The Godfather Part III (Nominee)
1991 – Nosotros Golden Eagle Award – Best Actor
1991 – ShoWest Award – Male Star of the Year
1995 – Hollywood Walk of Fame – Motion Pictures
2001 – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film – For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (Nominee)
2001 – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (Nominee)

Selected Films

1983 – Blue Skies Again – Ken
1983 – A Night in Heaven
1985 – The Mean Season – Ray Martinez
1986 – 8 Million Ways to Die – Angel Maldonado
1987 – The Untouchables – George Stone / Giuseppe Petri
1988 – American Roulette – Carlos Quintas
1988 – Stand and Deliver – Dr. Ramirez
1989 – Black Rain – Charlie Vincent
1990 – Internal Affairs – Raymond Avila
1990 – The Godfather Part III – Vincent Mancini-Corleone
1991 – Dead Again – Gray Baker
1992 – Jennifer Eight – John Berlin
1992 – Hero – John Bubber
1994 – When a Man Loves a Woman – Michael Green
1995 – Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead – Jimmy the Saint
1995 – Steal Big Steal Little – Ruben Partida Martinez
1996 – The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca – Federico García Lorca
1997 – Night Falls on Manhattan – Sean Casey
1997 – Hoodlum – Lucky Luciano
1998 – Desperate Measures – Frank Conner
1999 – Just the Ticket – Gary Starke
2000 – Lakeboat – Guigliani
2001 – The Unsaid – Michael Hunter
2001 – The Man from Elysian Fields – Byron Tiller
2001 – Ocean's Eleven – Terry Benedict
2002 – Confidence – Gunther Butan
2004 – Ocean's Twelve – Terry Benedict
2004 – Modigliani – Amedeo Modigliani
2004 – The Lazarus Child – Jack Heywood
2004 – Twisted – Mike Delmarco
2005 – The Lost City – Fico Fellove (Also director and producer)
2006 – Smokin' Aces – Stanley Locke
2007 – The Air I Breathe – Fingers
2007 – Ocean's Thirteen – Terry Benedict
2008 – Beverly Hills Chihuahua – Delgado (Voice)
2008 – The Line – Javier Salazar
2009 – The Pink Panther 2 – Vicenzo Brancaleone
2009 – City Island – Vince Rizzo
2010 – Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright – Jorge Garza
2011 – 5 Days of War – Mikheil Saakashvili
2012 – For Greater Glory – Enrique Gorostieta
2013 – Open Road – Chuck
2013 – At Middleton – George Hartman (Also producer)
2014 – Let's Be Cops – Detective Brolin
2014 – Rob the Mob – Big Al
2014 – Rio 2 – Eduardo (Voice)
2014 – Kill the Messenger – Norwin Meneses
2016 – Ghostbusters – Mayor Bradley
2016 – Max Steel – Dr. Miles Edwards
2016 – Passengers – Admiral Norris
2017 – Geostorm – President Andrew Palma
2018 – Bent – Jimmy Murtha
2018 – Book Club – Mitchell
2018 – Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again – Fernando Cienfuegos
2018 – The Mule – Laton
2019 – Against the Clock – Gerald Hotchkiss
2020 – Ana – Rafa
2020 – Words on Bathroom Walls – Father Patrick
2021 – Redemption Day – Ambassador Williams
2021 – Wrath of Man – FBI Agent King
2022 – Big Gold Brick – Floyd Deveraux
2022 – Father of the Bride – Billy Herrera
2023 – Miranda's Victim – Alvin Moore
2023 – Book Club: The Next Chapter – Mitchell
2023 – Pain Hustlers – Jack Neel
2023 – Expend4bles – Marsh
2024 – Long Gone Heroes – Roman
2025 – Eenie Meanie – Nico
2025 – Under the Stars – Giacomo
2026 – 72 Hours – Drug Lord
2026 – Diamond – Joe Diamond (Also director, writer and producer)

Television Series and Productions

1981 – Hill Street Blues – Guest role
1984 – Murder, She Wrote – Guest role
2000 – For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story – Arturo Sandoval (Television film)
2005 – Kurtlar Vadisi – Amon
2011 – His Way – Himself (Documentary)
2013 – Doll & Em – Himself
2014 – Kurtlar Vadisi Pusu – Amon
2020 – Flipped – Rumualdo Vasco
2021 – Rebel – Julian Cruz
2025–2026 – Landman – Dan "Gallino" Morrell

Director and Producer Credits

1993 – Cachao: Como su ritmo no hay dos – Director
1999 – Just the Ticket – Producer
2005 – The Lost City – Director and producer
2013 – At Middleton – Producer
2022 – Father of the Bride – Executive producer
2026 – Diamond – Director, screenwriter and producer

Source: Biyografiler.com