Eduardo Verástegui
Verástegui at CPAC 2022
Born
José Eduardo Verástegui Córdoba

(1974-05-21) May 21, 1974
Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico[1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • activist
Years active1990s–present
Websiteeduardoverastegui.com

José Eduardo Verástegui Córdoba (Spanish pronunciation: [eˈðwaɾðo βeˈɾasteɣi]; born May 21, 1974) is a Mexican actor and singer. He was part of the band Kairo and later embarked on a solo music career, before he started appearing in Mexican telenovelas and eventually feature films like Chasing Papi, Bella, and Little Boy, the latter two produced by his own production company, Metanoia.

His political ideas have been described as ultra-conservative and far-right by various media outlets.[2][3] Currently, Eduardo directs the Viva México movement.  On September 7, 2023, he registered as an independent candidate for the 2024 Mexican presidential election.[4]

Verástegui is popular on social media, with an active YouTube channel of nearly 300,000 subscribers.[5]

Early life

Verástegui was born on May 21, 1974, in Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico. And grew up in the town of Xicoténcatl.[6] Son of José Jesús Verástegui Treviño (1950-2022), a sugarcane farmer, and Alicia Córdoba, Eduardo, He was raised in a practicing Catholic family.[7][8] and was interested in the world of entertainment since his childhood,[9] After studying law for a time, Verástegui decided to instead try his hand at modeling, acting and singing and moving to Mexico City at the age of 17 to enter the Televisa Artistic Education Center (CEA).[10][11]

Career

Before he began his acting career, Verástegui was a backing singer and founding member of the musical group Kairo. Eduardo Verástegui, his lone solo album to date, was released in 2001 following his collaboration with the aforementioned ensemble on the albums Signo del tiempo (1994) and Gaudium (1995).

At the end of the 90s he appeared in some Mexican television productions such as Una luz en el camino (1998), Soñadoras (1998-1999) and Alma rebel (1999).

2000-2010

After finding success as a musical entertainer, and then as a soap opera star, he decided to pursue a career in Hollywood.[12] In 2002, before filming commenced on Chasing Papi, Verástegui took voice-coaching lessons to improve his English pronunciation. The coach was a committed Catholic, and in the course of their conversations Verástegui re-discovered his faith and resolved to change his lifestyle. He also declared that he had decided to turn down offers to play roles in films that conflicted with his Catholic beliefs or that insulted his Latino brethren.[13] In an interview with Dave Hartline, the author of The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism and published by Catholic Report, he said he was committed to attend Mass daily, praying, reading the Bible, saying the rosary and going to Confession at least once a week. He also said that he first encountered his renewed faith in Scott Hahn's book, Rome Sweet Home that "had a great impact on me and its influences can be seen in a lot of what I do".[14][15]

2010-Present

In 2011 Verástegui produced a new short film, titled Crescendo.[16][17] The short, starring Colombian actress Montserrat Espadalé, was awarded at the Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival and won awards at other important events such as the Heartland International Film Festival, the Rochester Film Festival, the San Antonio Film Festival and the San Diego Latino Film Festival.[18]

In 2012 he played the Mexican martyr Anacleto González Flores in the historical film Cristiada , directed by Dean Wright and starring Andy García , Eva Longoria and Peter O'Toole.[19] The film was based on the events of the Cristero War and obtained several nominations for the ALMA awards in 2002, among other recognitions.[20]

In 2014 he served as executive producer and provided the voice of Jesus of Nazareth in the dubbing of the film Son of God. A year later he played the role of Eduardo Furtillo in Andy Fickman's film Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 and Father Crispín in the film Little Boy , another project from the company Metanoia Films where he again served as producer.[21][22][23] The film, starring Emily Watson, Kevin James, David Henri, Jacob Salvati and Ben Chaplin, tells the story of Pepper, an eight-year-old boy who goes to great lengths to reunite with his father, a soldier who fought in World War II, and was captured by the Japanese.[24][22] In 2016, Verástegui produced the documentary The Other Part: The Untold History of Narco , a work that tells the story of the son of one of Mexico's first drug traffickers and his fight for redemption.[25][26]

In 2017 the actor made an appearance in the episode "Trainer Wreck" of the second season of the American CBS television series Kevin Can Wait , playing the role of Alejandro.[27] A year later, filming began in the city of Bogotá on a new Metanoia Films production titled The Sound of Freedom , which will present the events of the rescue carried out by the organization Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) of more than one hundred child victims of sexual exploitation in Colombia. That same year it was announced that American actor Jim Caviezel would be in charge of playing Tim Ballard, founder of the OUR organization.[27][28]

Political Activism

Eduardo Verástegui speaking at CPAC Hungary 2023

Verástegui is an anti-abortion advocate, through the organization Manto de Guadalupe. Verástegui recounts an anecdote about his beliefs: he was doing research for his role in Bella and had gone to an abortion clinic as part of that process. While there, he started talking to a Hispanic couple who were going to the clinic for an abortion. He says that, recognizing him from his telenovela roles on Mexican television, they listened as he described his upcoming role and the plotline of Bella. They reconsidered their decision and went home without going ahead with the abortion. Immediately after their child was born, they called him to tell him the good news and thanking him and asking for his permission to name the child Eduardo after him. He also made a point of meeting "little Eduardo" weeks later.[15][29]

In 2008, he released a long video message denouncing the high rate of abortion in Hispanic communities in the United States and speaking out loudly about alleged targeting of the Hispanic communities with messages supporting abortion by the Barack Obama campaign during the presidential race.[30]

Actively involved in anti-abortion organizations, he has established Manto de Guadalupe, an anti-abortion organization based in Los Angeles and offering a crisis pregnancy center.[31]

On September 15, 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate and appoint Eduardo Verástegui to be a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity.[32] Verástegui signed the Madrid Charter, a document drafted by the far-right Spanish party Vox that describes left-wing groups as enemies of Ibero-America involved in a "criminal project" that are "under the umbrella of the Cuban regime".[33]

In November 2022, Verástegui organized a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Mexico.[34][35] In September 2023, he filed paperwork with the National Electoral Institute enabling him to collect signatures for a possible run as an independent candidate for President of Mexico in the 2024 general election.[36][37]

Metanoia Films

Verástegui cofounded the production company Metanoia Films (the Greek word for "conversion") with co-founders and partners Sean Wolfington, Alejandro Gomez Monteverde and Leo Severino. The company is based in Beverly Hills, California. The company released its debut film Bella directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde and starring Verástegui. The latest project of the company is Little Boy written by Alejandro Monteverde and Pepe Portillo. Starring Emily Watson, Kevin James, David Henrie, Jacob Salvati, Ben Chaplin, and set in 1945, it tells the story of Pepper, an eight-year-old who does all he can to be reunited with his father, a soldier fighting in World War II and captured by the Japanese. Meanwhile, Pepper has to befriend Hashimoto, a Japanese man living in his town.[38]

Discography

Albums

as part of Kairo

(For detailed discographies, see Kairo discography section )

  • 1994: Signo del tiempo
  • 1995: Gaudium
  • 1996: Cara a cara [joint album credited to Kairo & Magneto]
  • 1997: Éxitos
as solo

Singles

as part of Kairo
  • 1994: "En los espejos de un café"
  • 1994: "Háblame de ti"
  • 1994: "Te amaré"
  • 1994: "Perdóname'
  • 1995: "No nos rendimos"
  • 1995: "Ponme la multa (Fammi la multa)"
  • 1995: "Dile que la amo"

Music video

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003Chasing PapiThomas Fuentes
2005Meet Me in MiamiEduardo
2006BellaJosé
2009The Butterfly CircusMr. MendezShort film
2012CristiadaAnacleto Gonzales Flores
2014Son of GodJesusSpanish dubbing
2015Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2Eduardo Furtillo
2015Little BoyFr. Crispin
2023Sound of FreedomPaul Delgado

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Mi querida IsabelMalaysia
1998SoñadorasManuel Vasconzelos Jr.
1998Una luz en el caminoDaniel
1999Tres mujeresRamiro Belmont
1999Alma rebeldeEmiliano Hernández / Mauro Expósito
2003CSI: MiamiJarod Parker"Forced Entry" (Season 1, Episode 14)
2003Karen SiscoTuck Rodriguez"Dear Derwood" (Season 1, Episode 6)
2004CharmedMr. Right"Prince Charmed" (Season 6, Episode 11)
2015Nuestra Belleza Latina 2015HimselfCelebrity guest (Finale)
2017Kevin Can WaitAlejandro"Trainer Wreck" (Season 2, Episode 11)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Página Oficial del Municipio de Xicoténcatl, Tamaulipas, México" (in Spanish). Xicoténcatl Municipality. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Video | Verástegui se pone a rezar por Jorge Ramos en plena entrevista". Aristegui Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Organiza Eduardo Verástegui cumbre ultraderechista en México; asistirán Steve Bannon, Ted Cruz e hijo de Bolsonaro". Aristegui Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ Rosa, Yared de la (September 7, 2023). "Eduardo Verástegui se apunta para ser candidato independiente a la Presidencia". Forbes México (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Eduardo Verastegui - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Personaje GQ: Eduardo Verástegui". GQ (in Mexican Spanish). May 15, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  7. ↑ Twiston Davies, Bess (August 24, 2009). "The man they call Mexico's Brad Pitt". The Times. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  8. ↑ Hernandez, Lee (November 3, 2008). "Pérez Hilton lashes out at Verastegui over Proposition". Daily News (New York). Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  9. ↑ Vujicic, Nick (December 15, 2012). Un espíritu invencible (in Spanish). Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial México. ISBN 978-607-11-2114-1.
  10. ↑ Univision. "Univision Famosos". Univision (in Spanish). Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Biography: Eduardo Verástegui Córdoba". thelifeinstitute.net. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  12. ↑ "¿Qué es de la vida de Eduardo Verástegui?". People en español (in Spanish). January 4, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  13. ↑ La Voz Libre. Eduardo Verástegui: actor, modelo y monje
  14. ↑ Hartline, Dave (April 22, 2010). "An Interview With Eduardo Verastegui, Lead Actor and Co-Producer Of The Highly Anticipated Film Bella". Catholic Report. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  15. 1 2 Greydanus, Steven D. "An interview with filmmakers Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, Eduardo Verástegui, Leo Severino and Sean Wolfington". Decent Films website. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  16. ↑ ReL, C. L. / (January 2, 2013). ""Crescendo", otro corto de impacto de Eduardo Verástegui y los productores de "Bella"". www.religionenlibertad.com (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Estreno a nivel mundial de 'Crescendo'". ZENIT - Espanol (in Spanish). March 6, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  18. ↑ Crescendo I (Short 2011) - Awards - IMDb, retrieved November 16, 2023
  19. ↑ Prensa, A. C. I. "Eduardo Verástegui encarna a mártir mexicano en nuevo filme "Cristiada"". ACI Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  20. ↑ For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012) - Awards - IMDb, retrieved November 16, 2023
  21. ↑ "Personaje GQ: Eduardo Verástegui". GQ (in Mexican Spanish). May 15, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  22. 1 2 Young, James (August 5, 2011). "Metanoia plays with 'Little Boy'". Variety. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  23. ↑ Radio, Caracol (October 18, 2015). "Eduardo Verástegui". Caracol Radio (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  24. ↑ Prensa, A. C. I. "Eduardo Verástegui estrena su última película "Little Boy" en España". ACI Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Documenta Colorado Seira "la otra parte del narco"". www.proceso.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  26. ↑ Digital, Tiempo-La Noticia (October 24, 2016). "Presentan documental "La Otra Parte, Historia no Contada del Narco"". tiempo.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  27. 1 2 "https://twitter.com/everastegui/status/939955374307860483?lang=es". X (formerly Twitter) (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  28. ↑ canalrcn.com (July 12, 2018). "Comienza rodaje de película The Sound of Freedom, con Jim Caviezel, en Bogotá". Comienza rodaje de película The Sound of Freedom, con Jim Caviezel, en Bogotá (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  29. ↑ Testimony about his anti-abortion position, YouTube, Retrieved on 2012-08-31.
  30. ↑ Eduardo Verástegui anti-abortion message in 2008. Youtube.com (2008-09-24). Retrieved on 2012-08-31.
  31. ↑ "Mexican actor pledges to build largest pro-life women's clinic in US", Catholic News Agency, 19 January 2011.
  32. ↑ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved September 17, 2020 – via National Archives.
  33. ↑ "Carta de Madrid". Fundación Disenso (in Spanish). Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  34. ↑ O'Boyle, Brendan (November 19, 2022). "At CPAC Mexico, 'orphaned' right tries to build home as region tacks left". Reuters. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  35. ↑ Tomson, Danielle (November 23, 2022). "CPAC México wants to unite a fractured international far-right". Coda Media. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  36. ↑ Graham, Thomas (September 8, 2023). "Sound of Freedom film producer plots long-shot bid for Mexican presidency". The Guardian. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  37. ↑ Zerega, Georgina (September 7, 2023). "El ultraderechista Eduardo Verástegui se registra como candidato independiente a la presidencia de México". El País. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  38. ↑ Little Boy page on Metanoia Films Official website. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2012-08-31.
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