Born in New York City, Jsu was raised by his Cuban-born parents, who had fled their country for the promise of a better life in the US. Growing up on the streets of Newark, New Jersey, Jsu had to deal with a neighborhood of toughs. He became aware of his acting talents when a bully intended to mug him and steal his bicycle and the six-year-old Jsu broke into crocodile tears and so disheartened his ...
show all Born in New York City, Jsu was raised by his Cuban-born parents, who had fled their country for the promise of a better life in the US. Growing up on the streets of Newark, New Jersey, Jsu had to deal with a neighborhood of toughs. He became aware of his acting talents when a bully intended to mug him and steal his bicycle and the six-year-old Jsu broke into crocodile tears and so disheartened his assailant that he allowed Jsu to leave unharmed and with his bike. "It was then I knew I could act," Jsu declares. Determined to be an actor, Jsu migrated to Hollywood, moved into a friend's basement, making it livable by dry walling it and adding a portable toilet and a bed.
His first break came when he auditioned for the TV show "Fame" (1982)" and got the part. He then landed a role in Wes Craven's "Nightmare On Elm Street, A (1984)", in which he appeared opposite Johnny Depp. This was followed by an appearance in Universal's "Gotcha! (1985)" opposite Anthony Edwards and Linda Fiorentino, and then in quick succession in features such as "Traffic (2000)", "Wildcats (1986)", "Slaves of New York (1989)", "Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)" and numerous others. In 2002 Garcia was in Randall Wallace's "We Were Soldiers (2002)" in which he portrays Mel Gibson 's heroic buddy, the commander of a company fighting against the Viet Cong; and in Andrew Davis ' "Collateral Damage (2002)", in which he plays a villainous Communist guerrilla who battles good guy Arnold Schwarzenegger. In addition to numerous television stints on shows like "JAG" (1995)", "Arli$$" (1996)" and "Murder One" (1995)", Garcia just finished playing the hot, sexy male lead in an ABC/ Touchstone Pilot, "Then Came Jones", for Brancato/Selke - the guys behind "Boomtown" (2002)".
Theater also has played a decisive part in Jsu's career. He received the L.A. Dramalogue's Award for Best Acting Achievement in the Fig Tree Theatre's version of "Short Eyes." His other notable stage performances include roles in "Rainmaker" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." In 1998 he partnered up with John-Roger to create "Scott J-R Productions" and they wrote, directed and produced a short film, "My Little Havana (1998)", based on the true story about a period in Jsu's life when he fell in love with the daughter of a Mafia chief in Miami. The film was selected for screening at the South Beach Film Festival and the Cuban Film Festival.
Presently, Garcia is finishing up a major supporting role in "Along Came Polly (2004)", opposite Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston and Philip Seymour Hoffman for Jersey Films and Universal. He is also beginning publicity for an indie film he finished a few months ago, "Klepto (2003)", which just got accepted to this year's Los Angeles Film Festival and San Jose Film Festival. For fun, he often is on the golf course, horseback riding or indulging his true delight, watching movies. One of the most important aspects of Jsu's life is his dedication to Peace Theological Seminary College of Philosophy, for which he and his friend, author John-Roger, have traveled throughout the world each year for the past nine in an effort to bring peace to troubled areas such as Egypt and Israel. Jsu also devotes much of his free time to the Heartfelt Foundation, a charitable organization which feeds poor inner city families.
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