Sourch -- Hollywood Online - Sunday: Sunday Supplement
HOLLYWOOD - Andy Garcia was deep in thought trying to find a way to put his career into perspective. Thoughtfully, he put it into words, "Never take a step backward, not even to gain momentum." He added, "My father told me this when I was a little boy growing up in Cuba."
A slight smile curved his mouth as he continued. "It was one of the slogans in the early days of the revolution -- the only thing they ever said that my father believed in."
Garcia has listened well, for his career has never slipped. "Maybe it was my stage training," he explained, "but for me, the character you play and the actors you work with were all-important. I never counted my pages of dialogue in the script, or worried about billing. If you are good, the audience will seek out your name."
Recently, he found he wanted to play two roles at once. He had signed to co-star with Michael Keaton in "Desperate Measures" (which is scheduled to open in January) with a European director he was eager to work with, Barbet Schroeder.
He was also sent the script of "Hoodlum" (opens Aug. 27), which starred Laurence Fishburne repeating his role of legendary racketeer Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, the mobster he played in "Cotton Club," with Tim Roth cast as gangster Dutch Schultz.
"They asked if I'd play Lucky Luciano," Garcia said. "It was really a cameo role. I flew to Chicago, and since all my scenes (were) grouped together, I completed the role in six days.
"In the script, Luciano tries to be the mediator between Dutch and Bumpy. The idea is, there's plenty of money for all. The bottom line is, if you don't cooperate with each other, I'll kill you."
Garcia as Luciano had great-looking clothes for the film, plus a little dog, a miniature pinscher, which the kingpin always had with him.
"They say never work with animals; they'll steal the scene. But this little fella was so cute, all I could say was, What a way to go!"
The following week, Garcia was in San Francisco getting ready for shooting "Desperate Measures," for which he plays a police detective trying to convince Michael Keaton, an inmate in the federal prison, that he's a perfect match to supply bone marrow for Garcia's son, who is dying of leukemia.
Naturally, when the prisoner gets to the hospital, he escapes, and the detective has to capture him before his son dies.
Following "Desperate Measures", Garcia's next project was "The Scalper", with Andie MacDowell, about ticket scalpers in New York City.
It's obvious Garcia loves to work. "Loafing is not part of my curriculum." He grinned. In fact, as soon as we were finished talking, he would drive to a jam session, with the Cuban mambo king, Cachao.
The actor loves music and is currently producing a second CD with Cachao. "They let me sit in, playing the drums," Garcia said, "but I know it's just because I bring the sandwiches."
Garcia also is learning the piano. "I came to it late, I just started lessons in '91, so I have to practice to catch up. I try to play at least once every day."
The Garcias have three daughters, 5, 9, and 13, and all are taking piano lessons, "plus the oldest plays the flute, and the baby takes violin."
How does Andy Garcia reward himself? "I just keep buying bigger and bigger pianos. I have a grand now that sits near the front door. Every morning before taking the girls to school, I play. The girls are usually late, arguing about where's my shoe, or where's my other sock, so I wait at the piano. Sometimes I get 20 minutes of practice in before they are ready."
In the meantime, Garcia has another unreleased film in the can, as they say. "It's an art movie," he explained. "I play Federico Garcia Lorca, Spain's greatest poet and dramatist. The film is 'Death in Granada' and refers to Lorca's assassination in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. No one knows who pulled the trigger. Esai Morales plays the young man obsessed with the mystery of his death, and I play Lorca."
When does the actor relax? "At home, with my music, with my family. My children keep me centred. You want to do things that will make them proud. My wife and I hope to set an example. When they are older and come to a time of decision, a crossroads, I want them to think about us and how we lived out lives. You can't preach one thing, and do the other.
"Ultimately, my girls are going to be smarter than we are," he continued, "but when they approach areas in life where they haven't been, and they need wisdom from someone who has been there, I want them to think -- mom and dad probably wouldn't want me to go over -- they never did; maybe we should go another way."
Garcia wasn't always so philosophical. When he was starting out he admitted he had salsa in his blood. Once, at an audition, the casting director was eating a sandwich and talking on the phone. Not missing a sentence or a bite, she instructed him, "Go ahead, read that scene." "I'll wait until you are finished with your call," he told her.
Sensing here was an interesting young actor, the casting exec hung up and then suggested, "Talk off your shirt, let's see if your muscles match your talent."
Garcia replied, "If you tale off yours." And walked out.
The actor added, "William Saroyan was once asked if it was important to him, for his plays to be successful. The writer replied, 'The fact my plays even exist is success enough.'
"So there's something to be said about the endeavour," Garcia said. "Hopefully, people will enjoy my work, but sometimes it's just completely out of (your) hands."
One thing is sure. Andy Garcia's work ethic may be slow and steady, but it will always be forward.
-- By Bonnie Churchill, L.A. Times syndicate.