Andy Garcia
A Cuban exile turned Hollywood mainstay, he brought a simmering dignity and Old World gravitas to roles exploring crime, family, and cultural identity.
Born 1956 (age 70)·American actor·Birthday: April 12·Baby Boomers
Biography
Andy Garcia carries the weight of history in his eyes. Fleeing Castro's Cuba as a child, he grew up in Miami, a displacement that would forever inform his screen presence—a sense of being from somewhere else. He paid his dues in 1980s Hollywood, his breakthrough coming as the impeccably dressed, morally conflicted cop in 'The Untouchables.' That role announced a new kind of leading man: intense, romantic, and inherently dignified. His Oscar-nominated turn as Sonny Corleone's hotheaded son in 'The Godfather Part III' cemented his status, allowing him to channel his own heritage into the saga. Rather than be pigeonholed as a gangster, Garcia consistently sought projects that explored the Cuban experience, like 'The Lost City,' which he also directed. His career is a balancing act between mainstream success and personal passion, always infusing his characters with a soulful, watchful intelligence.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Andy was born in 1956, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Andy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Vincent Mancini in 'The Godfather Part III.'
- Starred as George in 'Ocean's Eleven' and its sequels, part of one of the most successful heist film franchises.
- Directed, co-wrote, and starred in 'The Lost City,' a passion project about a family in pre-revolutionary Cuba.
- Received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a tough but inspiring teacher in the drama 'Stand and Deliver.'
Did You Know?
He is a talented percussionist and has performed and recorded with several Latin jazz musicians.
Garcia's family left Cuba when he was five years old; he did not return until 2010 for a cultural visit.
He was considered for the role of Detective Martin Riggs in 'Lethal Weapon' before it went to Mel Gibson.
He is a dedicated fan of the Miami Heat basketball team and is often seen at their games.
“I'm an American. I'm a Cuban-American. But first and foremost, I'm an American. This is my home.”
