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Eduardo Verástegui

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Verástegui and the second or maternal family name is Córdoba.
Eduardo Verástegui
Verástegui at CPAC 2024
Born
José Eduardo Verástegui Córdoba

(1974-05-21) May 21, 1974 (age 50)
Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico[1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • producer
  • activist
Years active1990s–present
Websiteeduardoverastegui.com

José Eduardo Verástegui Córdoba (Spanish pronunciation: [eˈðwaɾðo βeˈɾasteɣi]; born May 21, 1974) is a Mexican actor, singer, and producer. 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.

Various media outlets have described his political ideas as ultra-conservative and far-right.[2][3] Currently, Verástegui directs the Viva México movement. On September 7, 2023, he registered as an independent candidate for the 2024 Mexican presidential election.[4] He was later disqualified from the election as he did not meet the required signatures.[5]

Verástegui is popular on social media, with an active YouTube channel of nearly 300,000 subscribers.[6]

Early life

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Verástegui was born on May 21, 1974, in Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and grew up in Xicoténcatl.[7] The son of José Jesús Verástegui Treviño (1950-2022), a sugarcane farmer, and Alicia Córdoba, Verástegui was raised in a practicing Catholic family[8][9] and has been interested in the world of entertainment since his childhood.[10] 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).[11]

Career

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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).

2000-2010

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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 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.[13] 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".[14][15]

2010-present

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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 movie 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, 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.[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 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.[27][28]

Political activism

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Eduardo Verástegui speaking at CPAC Hungary 2023

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.[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 against the alleged targeting of 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 as a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity.[32] 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".[33]

In November 2022, Verástegui organized a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Mexico.[34][35]

2024 presidential campaign

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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] 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.[38][5]

As of February 2024, Verástegui was under investigation by the National Electoral Institute (INE) for illegal foreign funding of his presidential campaign.[39] 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.[40] The INE has asked the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Tax Administration Service to look into the origin of these funds.[41]

Metanoia films

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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.[42]

Discography

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Albums

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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

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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

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Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Chasing Papi Thomas Fuentes
2005 Meet Me in Miami Eduardo
2006 Bella José
2009 The Butterfly Circus Mr. Mendez Short film
2012 Cristiada Anacleto Gonzales Flores
2014 Son of God Jesus Spanish dubbing
2015 Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Eduardo Furtillo
2015 Little Boy Fr. Crispin
2023 Sound of Freedom Paul Delgado Also producer

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 Mi querida Isabel Malaysia
1998 Soñadoras Manuel Vasconzelos Jr.
1998 Una luz en el camino Daniel
1999 Tres mujeres Ramiro Belmont
1999 Alma rebelde Emiliano Hernández / Mauro Expósito
2003 CSI: Miami Jarod Parker "Forced Entry" (Season 1, Episode 14)
2003 Karen Sisco Tuck Rodriguez "Dear Derwood" (Season 1, Episode 6)
2004 Charmed Mr. Right "Prince Charmed" (Season 6, Episode 11)
2015 Nuestra Belleza Latina 2015 Himself Celebrity guest (Finale)
2017 Kevin Can Wait Alejandro "Trainer Wreck" (Season 2, Episode 11)

See also

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References

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  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. ^ de la Rosa, Yared (September 7, 2023). "Eduardo Verástegui se apunta para ser candidato independiente a la Presidencia". Forbes México (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "No habrá candidatos independientes a la Presidencia: así le fue a Eduardo Verástegui y al resto de los aspirantes". InfoBae. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Eduardo Verastegui - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Personaje GQ: Eduardo Verástegui". GQ (in Mexican Spanish). May 15, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Twiston Davies, Bess (August 24, 2009). "The man they call Mexico's Brad Pitt". The Times. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  9. ^ Hernandez, Lee (November 3, 2008). "Pérez Hilton lashes out at Verastegui over Proposition". Daily News (New York). Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  10. ^ Vujicic, Nick (December 15, 2012). Un espíritu invencible (in Spanish). Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial México. ISBN 978-607-11-2114-1.
  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. ^ a b 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. ^ ""Crescendo", otro corto de impacto de Eduardo Verástegui y los productores de "Bella"". www.religionenlibertad.com (in Spanish). January 2, 2013. 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. ^ "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. ^ a b Young, James (August 5, 2011). "Metanoia plays with 'Little Boy'". Variety. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  23. ^ "Eduardo Verástegui". Caracol Radio (in Spanish). October 18, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  24. ^ "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. ^ "Presentan documental "La Otra Parte, Historia no Contada del Narco"". tiempo.com.mx (in Spanish). October 24, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  27. ^ a b "No se pierdan mañana el episodio de "Kevin Can Wait" por CBS. ¡Gracias @KevinJames por haberme invitado a participar!". X (formerly Twitter) (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  28. ^ "Comienza rodaje de película The Sound of Freedom, con Jim Caviezel, en Bogotá". RCN Televisión (in Spanish). July 12, 2018. 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. ^ "No habrá candidaturas independientes para la Presidencia de la República porque no tuvieron el apoyo requerido: Dania Ravel con Mario Maldonado". Instituto Nacional Electoral. January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  39. ^ Zissis, Carin. "Right-Wing Populism Hasn't Thrived in Mexico. Why?". Americas Quarterly. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  40. ^ "INE investigará a Eduardo Verástegui por posible financiamiento ilegal de 6.9 millones de pesos". Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  41. ^ Simancas, Jorge Vaquero (February 19, 2024). "El INE aprueba una investigación al ultra Eduardo Verástegui por financiación ilegal". El País México (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  42. ^ Little Boy page on Metanoia Films Official website. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2012-08-31.
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