Eduardo Verástegui

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Eduardo Verástegui
Eduardo Verastegui.JPG
Verástegui at the 16th Annual MovieGuide Faith and Values Awards Gala
Born (1974-05-21) May 21, 1974 (age 38)
Xicoténcatl, Tamaulipas, Mexico[1]
Website

[http://www.eduardoverastegui.com.ar/ eduardoverastegui.com.ar/

http://www.metanoiafilms.com/]

José Eduardo Verástegui (born on May 21, 1974) is a Mexican model, singer, and actor. He was part of band Kairo and later a solo music career, before he started appearing in Mexican telenovelas and eventually feature films like Chasing Papi and Bella the latter produced by his own production company "Metanoia".

Contents

Biography [edit]

Modeling career [edit]

[icon] This section requires expansion with: further modelling info. (May 2012)

Born in Xicoténcatl, Tamaulipas, he had moved to Mexico City to pursue modeling, landing work with Calvin Klein among others.

After moving to the United States, he made an appearance in the Jennifer Lopez music video "Ain't It Funny".[2]

Acting career [edit]

[icon] This section requires expansion with: roles on screen. (May 2012)

In 1997, after quitting the band, Kairo, Verástegui began acting in Mexican telenovelas produced by Televisa[3] and starred in 5 soap operas in 4 years.

In 2003, he was chosen as the lead character in the Latin comedy Chasing Papi, alongside Jaci Velasquez, Sofia Vergara, and Roselyn Sanchez. The film grossed $12 million worldwide.[4] He was voted among the 50 "hottest" Hispanics by People en Español magazine.

He co-founded the production company "Metanoia" (the Greek word for 'repentance') and the company's first film Bella, starring Verástegui and co-produced by him was released in 2006. The film portrays the inner emotional conflicts people go through in family and abortion cases. Bella won the People's Choice award at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival.[5][5][6]

In 2012, he starred in Cristiada also known as For Greater Glory written by Michael Love directed by Dean Wright based on the true story of the Cristero War (1926–29), a rebellion which arose out of the Mexican government's persecution of Catholics in the 1920s in its attempt to secularize the country.

Personal life [edit]

Verástegui was raised in a practicing Catholic Christian family.[7] 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. 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 and 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".[5][6]

Verástegui is a pro-life advocate, through the organization "Mantle of Faith." Verástegui recounts an anecdote about his beliefs: supposedly, he was offered a role in a certain film and had gone to an abortion clinic to "research his role," but, shocked by what he saw, he dropped the idea of taking part in the film altogether. On his way out, he saw a pro-life rally that introduced him to a Hispanic couple who were going to the clinic for an abortion. The campaigners offered that Verástegui try to convince the couple by talking to them in their native Spanish. He says that, recognizing him from his telenovela roles on Mexican television, 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.[6][8]

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 pro-choice messages by the Barack Obama campaign during the presidential race.[9]

Verástegui also took part in the 2008 campaign for passing of California Proposition 8 releasing his own messages in Spanish language in support of the "Yes on 8" campaign encouraging the Hispanic population in California to vote for the passing of the "California Marriage Protection Act" known as "Prop 8" calling for "Elimination of Rights of Same-Sex Couples to Marry." He was quoted on the message saying: "As a Latino man proud of my community, I feel I have been called to fight for traditional marriage between a man and a woman."

He supported the Republican candidate John McCain in 2008 against Barack Obama.[10][11] He was listed as one of the endorsers of Republican Texas Governor Rick Perry's "The Response" campaign.[12]

In its issue of 21 April 2010, the Spanish-language TVyNovelas published a cover story entitled "La Historia de Ricky Martin & Verástegui" claiming that besides their long-running personal friendship, the two were in a romantic relationship.[10][13][14] Martin was a closeted gay at the time and the story created further speculation not only of Martin's sexuality, but also the sexuality of Verástegui despite the latter's known positions and his active support of "Prop 8" against gay marriage. Other claims by the media frenzy in the aftermath of the TV y Novelas article was that Verastegui possibly fathered Martin's children.[11] Eduardo Verástegui later denied that he ever dated Martin calling the news "lies" and refuting all claims of him being homosexual, saying in a Spanish-language interview[10]

Rumors will always exist, whatever you do. For eight years, I have promoted the message of chastity, purity, faith and hope to the world. You realize that some people might not like that, and are going to invent any kind of gossip to try to discredit what we are doing

Actively involved in charities, he has established "Manto de Guadalupe" a pro-life organization with worldwide outreach and based in Los Angeles and offering a crisis pregnancy center for the underprivileged Latina women.[15][16]

Metanoia Films [edit]

Verástegui co-founded the production company "Metanoia Films" (the Greek word for 'repentance') with co-founders and partners Alejandro Gomez Monteverde and Leo Severino. The company based in Beverly Hills, California and is committed to produce films that touch the consciences and hearts of people. The company released its debut film Bella directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde and starring Verástegui. The next 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 youngster who does all he can to be reunited with his father, a soldier fighting in World War II and captured by the Japanese. Meanwhile he has to befriend Hashimoto, a Japanese man back home.[17]

Discography [edit]

Albums [edit]

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 [edit]

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 [edit]

Filmography [edit]

|}

Television [edit]

Year television series Role Notes
1997 Mi querida Isabel
1998 Soñadoras Manuel
Una Luz en el Camino Daniel
1999 Alma Rebelde Emiliano Hernandez
Tres Mujeres Dr. Ramiro Belmont
2001 Salomé Eduardo Guest star: Season 1, Episode 1
2003 CSI: Miami Jarod Parker Guest star: Season 1, Episode 14
2004 Charmed David Guest star: Season 6, Episode 12

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ (Spanish) "Página Oficial del Municipio de Xicoténcatl, Tamaulipas, México". Xicoténcatl Municipality. Retrieved 24 June 2012. 
  2. ^ Jennifer Lopez music video for "Ain't It Funny" (Alt Version) featuring Eduardo Verástegui. Youtube.com (2012-07-14). Retrieved on 2012-08-31.
  3. ^ Twiston Davies, Bess (August 24, 2009). "The man they call Mexico's Brad Pitt". The Times. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
  4. ^ "Chasing Papi". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
  5. ^ a b c Hartline, Dave (April 22, 2010). "An Interview With Eduardo Verastegui, Lead Actor and Co-Producer Of The Highly Anticipated Film Bella.". Catholic Report. Retrieved 2012-05-30. 
  6. ^ a b c Greydanus, Steven D. "An interview with filmmakers Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, Eduardo Verástegui, Leo Severino and Sean Wolfington". Decent Films website. Retrieved 2012-05-30. 
  7. ^ Hernandez, Lee (November 3, 2008). "Pérez Hilton lashes out at Verastegui over Proposition". Daily News (New York). Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  8. ^ Testimony about his pro-life position. Youtube.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-31.
  9. ^ Eduardo Verástegui anti-abortion message in 2008. Youtube.com (2008-09-24). Retrieved on 2012-08-31.
  10. ^ a b c "Source: Verastegui Never Dated Ricky Martin". The Advocate. April 22, 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-30. 
  11. ^ a b "Tabloid: Ricky Martin Dated Prop 8 Supporter Eduardo Verastegui". Miami New Times. April 22, 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-30. 
  12. ^ "Honorary Co-Chairs". The Response USA. Retrieved 2011-08-26. 
  13. ^ Latin Gossip website: Ricky Martin & Eduardo Verastegui on TVyNovelas. Latingossip.com (2010-04-22). Retrieved on 2012-08-31.
  14. ^ ""El encontrón" de Ricky Martin con Eduardo Verástegui – La revista 'TV y Novelas' publica una fotografia que aviva los rumores sobre su supuesta relacion". La Voce Libre. April 23, 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-30.  (Spanish)
  15. ^ Mexican actor pledges to build largest pro-life women's clinic in US. Catholic News Agency (2011-01-19). Retrieved on 2012-08-31.
  16. ^ California Catholic Daily: "Just a few miles from 10 abortion clinics" – Mexican actor pledges to build largest pro-life women's clinic in US in East LA. calcatholic.com (2011-01-25).
  17. ^ Little Boy page on Metanoia Films Official website. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2012-08-31.

External links [edit]

Authority control
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eduardo_Verástegui&oldid=551156651"