that underserved their performer’s charisma. By the end of 2000, Garcia’s ability to play biographical figures and his obsession with music brought him back to television as legendary trumpeter Arturo Sandoval in HBO’s “For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story” (2000). For his work, he netted two 2001 Emmy nominations – one as its lead; the other as its producer.

It seemed as though Garcia’s onscreen brand of passionate sincerity would not return him to the studio blockbuster fold anytime soon, but he found his niche in the system when, in 2001, he was tapped for the ensemble cast of “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001). Draped within a cold, cocky veneer, Garcia chewed the scenery playing Terry Benedict, a Las Vegas casino owner on the receiving end of an elaborate heist. Danny Ocean himself, George Clooney, roped in a motley crew of actors, with Garcia fitting in perfectly among the crowd of unconventional, self-effacing matinee hunks including Clooney himself, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. The film was a success with audiences and critics alike.

By 2002, Garcia was also riding high with the birth of a son, Andres Antonio. An “Ocean’s” sequel was inevitable as well, with too much profit and fun to be had on the line. Garcia had several films in the can in 2004, but made his biggest splash in that summer’s “Ocean’s Twelve,” in which Benedict vowed to get his stolen money back even tracking the Ocean’s gang internationally. As impressive as the franchise had become, Garcia personally eclipsed that milestone for himself with a second project of his own. Recruiting a diverse mix of Latin actors and Hollywood heavyweights like Bill Murray and Dustin Hoffman, he directed and executive produced “The Lost City” (2005), a romantic love letter to Havana, Cuba’s vibrancy in the 1950s, and co-written with Cuban author, Guillermo Cabrera Infante. Garcia played Fico Fellove, a member of a middle-class nightclub-owning family forced into exile following the societal changes of the Castro regime. After years of gestation, the film started production in the summer of 2004. Infante had died by then, but Garcia used his 300-page script as a guide. Long an accomplished conga, guitar and piano player, Garcia – who won a Grammy for producing Cachao’s 2004 album, Ahora Si! – even wrote its mambo-flavored score. Despite mixed reviews upon the movie’s release, Garcia’s deep feelings for Cuba remained clear.

By 2007, Garcia had solidified his inroads into major studio projects, but seemed content to step back and act alongside other great talents, rather than carry films on his own. A commanding presence, nonetheless, he was the F.B.I. director overseeing the protection of magician informant Buddy “Aces” Israel in “Smoking Aces,” a slick ensemble action film – not unlike the “Ocean’s” franchise – which kicked off the year. After a lengthy absence, “Ocean’s Thirteen” (2007) was prepped for the summer. Enough time had passed, even allowing for Garcia’s character to make peace with his former nemesis (Clooney) and ante up into the caper himself.

• Also Credited As:
  Andres Arturo Garcia Menendez, Andrés Arturo García Menéndez
• Born:
  Andrés Arturo García Menéndez on April 12, 1956 in Havana, Cuba
• Job Titles:
  Actor, Producer, Director, Songwriter, Banquet waiter

Family

• Brother: Rene Garcia.
• Daughter: Alessandra Garcia-Lorido. Born in 1991; mother, Maria Victoria
• Daughter: Daniella Garcia-Lorido. Born in 1987; mother, Maria Victoria
• Daughter: Dominik Garcia-Lorido. Born in 1983; mother, Maria Victoria; made film debut as her father's daughter in "Steal Big, Steal Little" (1995)
• Father: Rene Garcia. Built a multi-million-dollar import-wholesale fragrance company, which his son Rene now runs; died in 1993
• Mother: Amelie Garcia.
• Sister: Tessi Garcia.
• Son: Andres Antonio Garcia-Lorido. Born Jan. 28, 2002; mother, Maria Victoria

Education

• Florida International University, Miami, FL, theater
• Miami Beach Senior High School, Miami, FL

Milestones

• 1961 At age five, moved to the USA with family; settled in Florida
• 1978 Moved to Los Angeles; worked as a waiter while performing with improvisational theater groups and appearing at the Comedy Store and other local Los Angeles improv clubs
• 1981 TV debut as a gang member in the premiere episode of NBC's "Hill Street Blues"
• 1983 Film acting debut in "Blue Skies Again"
• 1986 First garnered attention as a drug dealer in "8 Million Ways to Die"
• 1987 Convinced Brian De Palma to cast him as George Stone in "The Untouchables"
• 1988 First starring role in a feature film, "American Roulette" (British-Australian)
• 1988 Made TV-movie debut opposite Ellen Barkin in the HBO production "Clinton and Nadine"
• 1990 Co-starred opposite Richard Gere in "Internal Affairs"
• 1990 Portrayed the illegimate son of Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather, Part III"; earned Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor
• 1993 Directed (also produced) the documentary "Cachao: Like His Rhythm There Is No Other"
• 1994 Produced the recording "Master Session Volume I" of the music of Cachao
• 1994 Won praise for his turn as the husband of an alcoholic (Meg Ryan) in "When a Man Loves a Woman"
• 1995 Received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (September)
• 1995 Wrote songs for and sang on soundtrack to "Steal Big, Steal Little"; also played twins
• 1997 Appeared as the Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca in "The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca"
• 1997 Had supporting role of mobster Lucky Luciano in "Hoodlum"
• 1997 Starred as a ditsrict attorney in Sidney Lumet's "Night Falls on Manhattan"
• 1999 Produced and starred in "Just the Ticket"
• 2000 Portrayed (also executive produced) Cuban musician, Arturo Sandoval in the HBO drama "For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story"; earned an Emmy nomination for his performance and shared Emmy nod for Outstanding TV-Movie
• 2001 Co-starred with Gregory Hines in the Showtime biopic "Bojangles"
• 2001 Starred as Terry Benedict in Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Eleven" a remake of the 1960's heist film
• 2002 Produced and starred in "The Man From Elysian Fields"; screened at Toronto Film Festival
• 2003 Played FBI agent Gunther Butan in "Confidence"
• 2004 Reprised the role of Terry Benedict in Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Twelve"
• 2005 Directed, co-wrote and starred in the independent film "The Lost City"
• 2005 Portrayed Amedeo Modigliani in the drama "Modigliani"
• 2006 Feature directorial debut, (also starred) "The Lost City" set against the backdrop of the Cuban Revolution
• 2006 Made guest appearance on ABC hit sitcom "George Lopez" as Angie's shady brother
• 2007 Re-teamed with the original cast for "Ocean's 13"
• Born in Cuba
• Formed CineSon Productions
• Performed with regional Florida theater groups before entering films

Gallery: