One of Hollywood's most private and guarded leading men, Andy Garcia has created a few iconic characters while at the same time staying true to his acting roots and personal projects. Born on April 12, 1956, in Cuba, Garcia's family was relatively affluent. When he was five years old, Fidel Castro came to power, however, and the family fled to Miami Beach. Forced to work menial jobs for a while, the family started a fragrance company that was eventually worth more than a million dollars. Andy was a popular student in high school, a good basketball player and good-looking. In his senior year, though, he contracted mononucleosis and hepatitis, and unable to play sports, he turned his attention to acting. He first began acting at Florida International University, but soon he was headed out to Hollywood. His first break came as a gang member on the very first episode of the popular TV series "Hill Street Blues" (1981). His role as a cocaine kingpin in 8 Million Ways to Die (1986) put him on the radar of Brian De Palma, who was casting for his gangster classic The Untouchables (1987). At first, he envisioned Garcia as Al Capone's sadistic henchman Frank Nitti, but fearing typecasting as a gangster, Garcia campaigned for the role of "George Stone", the Italian cop who gets accepted into Eliot Ness' famous band of lawmen. Garcia's next notable role came in Black Rain (1989/I) by acclaimed director Ridley Scott, as the partner of police detective Michael Douglas. He then co-starred with Richard Gere in Internal Affairs (1990), directed by Mike Figgis. In 1989, Francis Ford Coppola was casting for the highly anticipated third installment of his "Godfather" films. The Godfather: Part III (1990) included one of the most sought-after roles in decades, the hot-headed son of "Sonny Corleone" and mob protégé of "Michael Corloene", "Vincent Mancini". A plum role for any young rising star, the role was campaigned for by a host of actors. Val Kilmer, Alec Baldwin, Vincent Spano, Charlie Sheen, and even Robert De Niro (who wanted the role changed to accommodate his age) were all beaten out by the up-and-coming Garcia. His performance was Oscar-nominated as Best Supporting Actor, and secured him international stardom and a place in cinematic history. Now a leading man, he starred in such films as Jennifer Eight (1992) and Hero (1992/I). He won raves for his role as the husband of Meg Ryan in When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) and gave another charismatic gangster turn in Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995). He then returned in Night Falls on Manhattan (1996), directed by Sidney Lumet, as well as portraying legendary mobster Lucky Luciano in Hoodlum (1997). In perhaps his most mainstream role, he portrayed a cop in the action film Desperate Measures (1998). Garcia then starred in a few lower-profile projects that didn't do much for his career, but things turned around in 2001, with the first of many projects being his role as a cold casino owner in Ocean's Eleven (2001), directed by Steven Soderbergh. Seeing his removal from Cuba as involuntary, Garcia is proud of his heritage which influences his life and work. One such case is his portrayal of renowned Cuban trumpet player Arturo Sandoval in For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000) (TV). He is an extremely private man, and strong believer in old-fashioned chivalry. Married to his wife, Maria Victoria, since 1982, the couple has three daughters. One of the most talented leading men around, Garcia has had a unique career of staying true to his own ideals and thoughts on acting. While some would have used some of the momentum he has acquired at different points in his career to get rich off lightweight projects, Garcia has stayed true to stories and films that aspire to something more. But with a presence and style that never seem old, a respect from directors and film buffs, alike, Andy Garcia will be remembered for a long time in film history.

1. Admissions (2012) - George 2. 5 Days of War (5 zile de război) (2011) - Mikhail Saakashvili 3. I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac (2011) - Himself 4. La linea (2009) - Javier Salazar 5. The Pink Panther 2 (2009) - Vicenzo Brancaleone

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6. New York, I Love You (2009) - Garry (segment "Wen Jiang")

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7. City Island (2009) - Vince Rizzo

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8. Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) - Delgado (voice)

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9. Ocean's Thirteen (2007) - Terry Benedict

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10. The Air I Breathe (2007) - Fingers 11. Smokin' Aces (2006) - Stanley Locke

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12. AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Sean Connery (2006) - Himself 13. Twisted (2004) - Mike Delmarco 14. Ocean's Twelve (2004) - Terry Benedict 15. Modigliani (2004) - Amedeo Modigliani 16. The Man from Elysian Fields (2001) - Byron 17. The Unsaid (2001) - Michael Hunter 18. Ocean's Eleven (2001) - Terry Benedict

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19. For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000) - Arturo Sandoval 20. Desperate Measures (1998) - Frank Conner 21. Hoodlum (1997) - Lucky Luciano 22. Dangerous Minds (1995) - (scenes deleted) 23. Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995) - Jimmy 'The Saint' Tosnia 24. Steal Big Steal Little (1995) - Ruben Partida Martinez / Robert Martin / Narrator 25. When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) - Michael Green 26. "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1993) - Himself (2 episodes, 1999-2004) 27. Hero (1992) - John Bubber 28. Jennifer Eight (1992) - Sgt. John Berlin 29. The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (1992) - Vincent Mancini (archive footage) 30. Dead Again (1991) - Gray Baker 31. The Godfather Family: A Look Inside (1990) - Himself 32. The Godfather: Part III (1990) - Vincent Mancini 33. Stand and Deliver (1988) - Ramirez 34. The Untouchables (1987) - Agent George Stone / Giuseppe Petri 35. "Hill Street Blues" (1981) - Ernesto / ... (2 episodes, 1981-1984)

1. Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#65). [1995]

2. Family emigrated to the US in 1961.

3. Father of three girls and one boy.

4. Was born as a conjoined twin. His twin was no bigger than a tennis ball and was surgically removed. All that remains is a scar on his shoulder.

5. Refuses to do nude scenes. He once walked out of a audition when asked to remove his shirt.

6. Gained weight when his wife was pregnant with three of their children.

7. Children: Dominik García-Lorido, 'Daniella Garcia-Lorido', Alessandra Garcia-Lorido and 'Andres Garcia-Lorido'.

8. Fact: Owns 25 conga drums, collects hats, and wears a beret in the winter.

9. Son, Andrés Garcia-Lorido, was born Monday, January 28, 2002 in Los Angeles, tipping the scales at 7 pounds, 13 ounces.

10. His daughter, Alessandra Garcia-Lorido was born on June 20, 1991 in Los Angeles, California.

11. Is said to be very protective of his family's privacy.

12. Daughter, Daniella Garcia-Lorido, was born on January 3, 1988.

13. Left Cuba at 5.

14. Filmed scenes as LouAnne's (Michelle Pfeiffer) love interest in Dangerous Minds (1995), but they were cut from the final print.

15. Son of Rene Garcia (attorney who died in 1993) and Amelie Garcia (English teacher).

16. Daughter Dominik García-Lorido born in 1984.

17. Has an older brother named Rene Garcia.

18. His niece is Jackie Garcia. She was the fiancée of slain Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor at the time of his death.

19. Turned down the role of "Detective Mac Taylor" (The character played by Gary Sinise) on the popular CBS crime drama "CSI: NY" (2004).

20. Longtime friend of actor Mickey Rourke. Has said that Rourke was his high school baseball coach.

21. Good friends with George Lopez.