Eduardo Verástegui

Verástegui was born on May 21, 1974, in Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and grew up in Xicoténcatl.{{Cite web |date=2015-05-15 |title=Personaje GQ: Eduardo Verástegui |url=https://www.gq.com.mx/actualidad/personajes/articulos/entrevista-eduardo-verastegui-pelicula-little-boy/4940 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=GQ |language=es-MX}} The son of José Jesús Verástegui Treviño (1950–2022), a sugarcane farmer, and Alicia Córdoba, Verástegui was raised in a practicing Catholic family{{cite news|date=August 24, 2009 |title=The man they call Mexico's Brad Pitt |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/north-america-travel/us-travel/california/the-man-they-call-mexicos-brad-pitt-m39h2qsdnzv |newspaper=The Times |first=Bess |last=Twiston Davies |access-date=2009-11-30}}{{cite news|date=November 3, 2008 |title=Pérez Hilton lashes out at Verastegui over Proposition |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2008/10/31/2008-10-31_prez_hilton_lashes_out_at_verastegui_ove.html |newspaper=Daily News (New York) |first=Lee |last=Hernandez |access-date=2010-09-14}} and has been interested in the world of entertainment since his childhood.{{Cite book |last=Vujicic |first=Nick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CEO2ITvp3ucC&q=kairo+banda+mexicana |title=Un espíritu invencible |date=2012-12-15 |publisher=Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial México |isbn=978-607-11-2114-1 |language=es}} After studying law for a time, Verástegui instead decided to try his hand at modeling, acting, and singing and moved to Mexico City at the age of 17 to enter the Televisa Artistic Education Center (CEA).{{Cite web |title=Biography: Eduardo Verástegui Córdoba |url=https://thelifeinstitute.net/youth-defence/biography-eduardo-ver%C3%A1stegui-c%C3%B3rdoba |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=thelifeinstitute.net}}

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 1990s, he appeared in some Mexican television productions, such as Una luz en el camino (1998), Soñadoras (1998-1999), and Alma rebelde (1999).

After finding success as a musical entertainer and then as a soap opera star, he decided to pursue a career in Hollywood.{{cite web | url =https://peopleenespanol.com/celebridades/en-que-esta-eduardo-verastegui/ | title = ¿Qué es de la vida de Eduardo Verástegui? | date =2019-01-04 | website =People en español | access-date =12 July 2019|language=es}} 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 during 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.[http://www.lavozlibre.com/noticias/ampliar/13804/eduardo-verastegui-actor-modelo-y-monje La Voz Libre. Eduardo Verástegui: actor, modelo y monje] In an interview with Dave Hartline, the author of The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism, published by Catholic Report, he said he was committed to attending Mass daily, praying, reading the Bible, saying the rosary, and attending confession at least once a week. He also said that he first encountered his renewed faith in Scott Hahn's book, Rome Sweet Home, which "had a great impact on me, and its influences can be seen in much of what I do".{{cite web|date=April 22, 2010 |title=An Interview With Eduardo Verastegui, Lead Actor and Co-Producer Of The Highly Anticipated Film Bella. |url=http://www.catholicreport.org/?id=248|publisher=Catholic Report |first=Dave |last=Hartline |access-date=2012-05-30}}{{cite web|title=An interview with filmmakers Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, Eduardo Verástegui, Leo Severino and Sean Wolfington |url=http://www.decentfilms.com/articles/bella|publisher=Decent Films website |first=Steven D. |last=Greydanus |access-date=2012-05-30}}

File:Eduardo Verastegui by Gage Skidmore.jpg]]

In 2011, Verástegui produced a new short film titled Crescendo.{{Cite web |date=2013-01-02 |title="Crescendo", otro corto de impacto de Eduardo Verástegui y los productores de "Bella" |url=https://www.religionenlibertad.com/cultura/26826/crescendo-otro-corto-de-impacto-de-eduardo-verastegui-y-los-productores.html |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.religionenlibertad.com |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2013-03-06 |title=Estreno a nivel mundial de 'Crescendo' |url=https://es.zenit.org/2013/03/06/estreno-a-nivel-mundial-de-crescendo/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=ZENIT - Espanol |language=es}} 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.{{Citation |title=Crescendo I (Short 2011) - Awards - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1805526/awards/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Eduardo Verástegui encarna a mártir mexicano en nuevo filme "Cristiada" |url=https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/36021/eduardo-verastegui-encarna-a-martir-mexicano-en-nuevo-filme-cristiada |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=ACI Prensa |language=es}} The film was based on the events of the Cristero War and obtained several nominations for the ALMA awards in 2002, among other recognitions.{{Citation |title=For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012) - Awards - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1566501/awards/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |language=en-US}}

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 movie Little Boy, another project from the company Metanoia Films, where he again served as producer.{{Cite web |date=2015-05-15 |title=Personaje GQ: Eduardo Verástegui |url=https://www.gq.com.mx/actualidad/personajes/articulos/entrevista-eduardo-verastegui-pelicula-little-boy/4940 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=GQ |language=es-MX}}{{Cite web |last=Young |first=James |date=2011-08-05 |title=Metanoia plays with 'Little Boy' |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/metanoia-plays-with-little-boy-1118040911/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2015-10-18 |title=Eduardo Verástegui. |url=https://caracol.com.co/programa/2015/10/18/a_vivir_que_son_dos_dias/1445185518_528845.html |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Caracol Radio |language=es}} The film, starring Emily Watson, Kevin James, David Henri, Jakob 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.{{Cite web |title=Eduardo Verástegui estrena su última película "Little Boy" en España |url=https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/57594/eduardo-verastegui-estrena-su-ultima-pelicula-little-boy-en-espana |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=ACI Prensa |language=es}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Documenta Colorado Seira "la otra parte del narco" |url=https://www.proceso.com.mx/reportajes/2017/6/4/documenta-colorado-seira-la-otra-parte-del-narco-185402.html |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.proceso.com.mx |language=spanish}}{{Cite web |date=2016-10-24 |title=Presentan documental "La Otra Parte, Historia no Contada del Narco" |url=https://tiempo.com.mx/noticia// |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=tiempo.com.mx |language=es}}

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.{{Cite web |title=No se pierdan mañana el episodio de "Kevin Can Wait" por CBS. ¡Gracias @KevinJames por haberme invitado a participar!|url=https://twitter.com/everastegui/status/939955374307860483?lang=es |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=es}} A year later, filming began in the city of Bogotá on a new Metanoia Films production titled Sound of Freedom, which presented 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.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-12 |title=Comienza rodaje de película The Sound of Freedom, con Jim Caviezel, en Bogotá |url=https://www.canalrcn.com/super-like/entretenimientorcn/articulo-nota/comienza-rodaje-de-pelicula-sound-freedom-con-jim-caviezel-en |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=RCN Televisión |language=es}}

File:Eduardo Verástegui - CPAC Hungary 2023.jpg

Verástegui is an advocate through the organization Manto de Guadalupe, which he helped get started. 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 after having recognized 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, thank him, and ask for his permission to name the child Eduardo after him. He also made a point of meeting "little Eduardo" weeks later.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSu6XZ45Tw4 Testimony about his anti-abortion position], YouTube, Retrieved on 2012-08-31.

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 against the alleged targeting of Hispanic communities with messages supporting abortion by the Barack Obama campaign during the presidential race.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx5A029sEPc Eduardo Verástegui anti-abortion message in 2008]. Youtube.com (2008-09-24). Retrieved on 2012-08-31.

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."[https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/21778/mexican-actor-pledges-to-build-largest-pro-life-womens-clinic-in-us Mexican actor pledges to build largest pro-life women's clinic in US]", Catholic News Agency, 19 January 2011.

On September 15, 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate and appoint Eduardo Verástegui as a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity.{{cite web|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-091620/|via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |access-date=2020-09-17}} Verástegui signed the Madrid Charter, a document drafted by the right-wing populist 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".{{Cite web|title=Carta de Madrid|url=https://fundaciondisenso.org/carta-de-madrid/|access-date=2021-12-07|website=Fundación Disenso|date=October 26, 2020 |language=es}}

In November 2022, Verástegui organized a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Mexico.{{Cite news |last=O'Boyle |first=Brendan |date=2022-11-19 |title=At CPAC Mexico, 'orphaned' right tries to build home as region tacks left |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cpac-mexico-orphaned-right-tries-build-home-region-tacks-left-2022-11-19/ |access-date=2022-11-24}}{{Cite web |last=Tomson |first=Danielle |date=2022-11-23 |title=CPAC México wants to unite a fractured international far-right |url=https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/cpac-mexico-republicans-far-right-movement/ |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=Coda Media |language=en-US}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Thomas |title=Sound of Freedom film producer plots long-shot bid for Mexican presidency |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/08/mexico-president-sound-of-freedom-film-producer |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=8 September 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Zerega |first1=Georgina |title=El ultraderechista Eduardo Verástegui se registra como candidato independiente a la presidencia de México |url=https://elpais.com/mexico/2023-09-07/el-ultraderechista-eduardo-verastegui-se-registra-como-candidato-independiente-a-la-presidencia-de-mexico.html |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=El País |date=7 September 2023}} His efforts were unsuccessful, as his campaign did not meet the required signatures; he only got 154,828 signatures, far behind the 961,405 signatures necessary for participating.{{cite web |title=No habrá candidaturas independientes para la Presidencia de la República porque no tuvieron el apoyo requerido: Dania Ravel con Mario Maldonado |date=9 January 2024 |url=https://centralelectoral.ine.mx/2024/01/09/no-habra-candidaturas-independientes-para-la-presidencia-de-la-republica-porque-no-tuvieron-el-apoyo-requerido-dania-ravel-con-mario-maldonado/ |publisher=Instituto Nacional Electoral |access-date=10 January 2024}}

As of February 2024, Verástegui was under investigation by the National Electoral Institute (INE) for illegal foreign funding of his presidential campaign.{{cite web |last1=Zissis |first1=Carin |title=Right-Wing Populism Hasn't Thrived in Mexico. Why? |url=https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/right-wing-populism-hasnt-thrived-in-mexico-why/ |website=Americas Quarterly |access-date=1 May 2024}} There were financial transactions from a political firm in Miami to Verástegui's account. Verástegui then transferred US$390,000 from that personal account to his campaign between October and December 2023.{{cite web |title=INE investigará a Eduardo Verástegui por posible financiamiento ilegal de 6.9 millones de pesos |date=February 19, 2024 |url=https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/politica/INE-investigara-a-Eduardo-Verastegui-por-posible-financiamiento-ilegal-de-6.9-millones-de-pesos-20240219-0121.html |access-date=1 May 2024}} The INE has asked the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Tax Administration Service to look into the origin of these funds.{{cite web |last1=Simancas |first1=Jorge Vaquero |title=El INE aprueba una investigación al ultra Eduardo Verástegui por financiación ilegal |url=https://elpais.com/mexico/2024-02-19/el-ine-aprueba-una-investigacion-al-ultra-eduardo-verastegui-por-financiacion-ilegal.html |website=El País México |access-date=1 May 2024 |language=es-MX |date=19 February 2024}}

In February 2025, Verástegui performed a gesture resembling a Nazi salute at the end of his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the United States. After saying, "My heart is with all of you" (a reference to the same gesture by Elon Musk at the 2025 inauguration), and touching his chest, he raised his right arm with his hand extended, mimicking the fascist gesture.{{Cite web |last=País |first=El |date=2025-02-22 |title=El actor mexicano Eduardo Verástegui hace el saludo nazi en la conferencia ultraconservadora en Estados Unidos |url=https://elpais.com/mexico/2025-02-22/el-actor-mexicano-eduardo-verastegui-hace-el-saludo-nazi-en-la-conferencia-ultraconservadora-en-estados-unidos.html |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=El País México |language=es-MX}} This incident adds to other similar gestures at the 2025 CPAC. Former Donald Trump advisor Steve Bannon was also accused of making a Nazi salute during his speech at the event. Bannon denied the accusation, claiming the gesture was simply a wave to the crowd.{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Miguel |date=2025-02-21 |title=El líder ultra francés cancela su discurso en el cónclave trumpista por el saludo nazi de Steve Bannon |url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2025-02-21/el-lider-ultra-frances-cancela-su-discurso-en-el-conclave-trumpista-por-el-saludo-nazi-de-steve-bannon.html |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=El País |language=es}}

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 company's latest project is Little Boy, written by Alejandro Monteverde and Pepe Portillo. Starring Emily Watson, Kevin James, David Henrie, Jakob Salvati, and 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.[http://metanoiafilms.com/littleboy.pdf Little Boy page on Metanoia Films Official website]. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2012-08-31.

;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

;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"

• 2001: Jennifer Lopez's "Ain't It Funny" (Alt. Version) (playing her love interest in the music video)

| {{sortname|José||nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Also|producer|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2009

| {{sortname|The|Butterfly Circus}}

| {{sortname|Mr.|Mendez||nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Short|film|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2012

| {{sortname|For Greater Glory||}}

| {{sortname|Anacleto|Gonzales Flores}}

|

|-

| 2014

| {{sortname|Son|of God}}

| {{sortname|Jesus||}}

| {{sortname|Executive|producer|nolink=1}}
{{sortname|Spanish|Latin American version|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2015

| {{sortname|Paul Blart:|Mall Cop 2}}

| Eduardo Furtillo

|

|-

| 2015

| {{sortname|Little|Boy}}

| {{sortname|Fr.|Crispin|nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Executive|producer|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2023

| {{sortname|Sound|of Freedom}}

| {{sortname|Paul|Delgado|nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Also|producer|nolink=1}}

|}

| {{sortname|Manuel Jr.|/ Manuel Vasconcelos Jr.|nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|174|episodes|nolink=1}}

|-

| 1999

! scope="row" | {{sortname|Alma|rebelde}}

| {{sortname|Emiliano|Hernández / Mario Expósito|nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|94|episodes|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2000

! scope="row" | {{sortname|Tres|Mujeres|nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Ramiro|Belmont|nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Episode:|"#1.1"|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2003

! scope="row" | {{sortname|CSI:|Miami|}}

| {{sortname|Jarod|Parker|nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Episode:|"Forced Entry"|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2003

! scope="row" | {{sortname|Karen|Sisco}}

| {{sortname|Tuck|Rodriguez|nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Episode:|"Dear Derwood"|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2004

! scope="row" | {{sortname|Charmed||}}

| {{sortname|Mr.|Right|nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Episode:|"Prince Charmed"|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2015

! scope="row" | {{sortname|Nuestra|Belleza Latina 2015}}

| {{sortname|Himself||nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Celebrity|guest (Finale)|nolink=1}}

|-

| 2017

! scope="row" | {{sortname|Kevin|Can Wait}}

| {{sortname|Alejandro||nolink=1}}

| {{sortname|Episode:|"Trainer Wreck"|nolink=1}}

|}

• List of Mexican actors

{{Reflist}}

{{wikiquote}}

{{commons category}}

• Dos días con Eduardo Verástegui /Two days with Eduardo Verástegui en/at www.TheresaBernabe.TV [http://www.TheresaBernabe.TV?id=152]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120128083731/http://www.catholicdigest.com/articles/people/celebrities/2007/10-01/qa-eduardo-veraacutestegui-actor-co-owner-of-metanoia-films Eduardo Verástegui's Interview with "Catholic Digest".]
• [http://www.mantodeguadalupe.com/ Manto de Guadalupe Official Site]
• [http://metanoiafilms.com/ Metanoia official website]
• [http://www.bellamoviesite.com/ Bella film official website]
• {{IMDb name|0895150}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Verastegui, Eduardo}}

Category:1974 births

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