Bella

Background:

Mexican actor, singer, model and film producer Eduardo Verástegui started his acting career in Mexican soap operas like “Mi querida Isabel” (1997), “Una Luz en el Camino” (1998), “Tres mujeres” and “Alma Rebelde” (both 1999) before gaining fame in Hollywood as the star of the lively comedy “Chasing Papi” (2003). He next won a MovieGuide Award for his work in the Alejandro Monteverde award winning movie “Bella” (2006), which he also produced. In the romantic drama, he starred as an international soccer player whose career is sabotaged by an abrupt tragedy. Verástegui has also guest starred in the American TV series “CSI: Miami,” “Karen Sisco” and “Charmed” and appeared with Jennifer Lopez in her music video “Ain't it Funny” and in an international TV commercial for her perfume. On the music front, Verástegui entered the industry as part of the Mexican pop sensation Kairo and in 2001, signed with Universal Music as a solo act. His debut album, “Eduardo Verastegui,” was released later that same year.

A devout Catholic, Verástegui attends Mass daily. He enjoys the gym, fishing, tennis and karate and owns a golden retriever. His favorite actors are Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Demi Moore.

In September 2008, Verástegui made a video urging Latino voters in the United States to not elect the eventual President, Barack Obama, because of Obama's pro-abortion opinions. Three months later, he created a pro-life video in Spanish.

Lalo

Childhood and Family:

Eduardo Verástegui was born José Eduardo Verástegui Córdoba on May 21, 1974, in Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico, to farmers José Jesús Verástegui and Alicia Córdoba Verástegui. He has three sisters, Alejandra, Alicia and Daniela. Eduardo was educated in Mexico and the United States. He studied law at the Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, but left his studies in favor of acting. He then attended the celebrated institute CEA in Mexico City.

Eduardo is known to family, friends and a number of his fans by the nickname Lalo.

Chasing Papi

Career:

17-year-old Eduardo Verástegui left his small town for a career in entertainment in Mexico City. Before long, he became one of the three singers of the Mexican pop group Kairo, with whom he toured throughout Mexico. However, after producing two albums, the group disbanded.

Verástegui then tried his hand in acting. A former acting student of Mexico City's prestigious CEA, he made his television debut in the Mexican soap opera “Mi querida Isabel/My dear Isabel” (1997), produced by Televisa. In the series, he was cast as a singer. The next year, Verástegui starred as Daniel in “Una Luz en el Camino,” also for Televisa. Among his costars in the show were Susana Zabaleta and Orlando Miguel. Still in 1998, he also appeared as Manuel, a young orphan dealing with alcohol and drug addiction, in an episode of Televisa's adventure series, “Soñadoras/Dreamers.”

The handsome performer furthered his career with roles in “Tres mujeres/Three Woman” and “Alma Rebelde/Rebellious Soul” (both 1999). In “Tres mujeres,” he portrayed an oncologist named Ramiro Belmont. Verástegui, who left Mexico to go to New York, also gained some success in the world of modeling. He landed a contract with various companies like Versace and Calvin Klein. Verástegui also tried to re-launch his singing career, but found repeated rejection.

In 2000, Verástegui moved to Miami, where he later met Gloria and Emilio Estafan and was discovered by famous music manager Fernán Martínez. Before he knew it, the Tamaulipas, Mexico, native was signed to the world's biggest record company, Universal Music, and released the debut album “Eduardo Verástegui” in 2001. The album consisted of 10 songs, including “Yo No Se Perder” (written by Estefan), “Por Ti” (penned by Cuban songwriter Donato), “Por La Falta de tu Amor” (written by Omar Alfanno), “Vivo La Locura,” “Baila” and “Tequilla.” The same year, Verástegui starred in singer/actress Jennifer Lopez’s music video for the song “Ain't It Funny.” He rejoined J-Lo by appearing in an international television commercial promoting her fragrance “Live.”

Returning to acting after a hiatus in 2002, Verástegui hit the big time when he won the starring role of Thomas Fuentes in the Latin comedy “Chasing Papi” (2003), opposite Roselyn Sanchez, Sofía Vergara and Jaci Velasquez. Directed by Linda Mendoza, the film was a blockbuster hit, grossing over $12 million worldwide. Verástegui also added guest spots on TV shows like “CSI: Miami” (2003, as Jarod Parker), “Karen Sisco” (2003, as Tuck Rodriguez) and “Charmed” (Mr. Right, 2004) to his resume.

In 2005, Verástegui starred in the New Zealand-made “Meet Me in Miami,” with Carlos Ponce, Tara Leniston, Castulo Guerra, Richard Yniguez and Brooke Abbott. The next year, he steamed up the screen with Tammy Blanchard in “Bella,” a drama about how one moment in time changed the lives of three people. Helmed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, the movie won the People's Choice Award at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, the Crystal Heart Award and the Grand Prize for Dramatic Feature at the 2007 Heartland Film Festival. It also received the 2008 ALMA award for Outstanding Performance of a Lead Latino Cast in a Motion Picture. For his fine acting job, Verástegui took home the Grace Award for Most Inspirational Movie Acting at the 2008 MovieGuide Awards, where the film also won the Faith and Freedom Award. “Bella” marked the first project of Metanoia Films, a Latin based production company he founded with director Alejandro Monteverde and producer Leo Severino.

Verástegui served as the associate producer of the documentary “Con los pies en el cielo” (2009), which was directed by Vidal Cantu and scripted by Adolfo Franco. He will also appear in the film, along with Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan and Juan Angel Ruiz.

Awards:

• MovieGuide: Grace Award, Most Inspirational Movie Acting, “Bella,” 2008