A Cuban Refugee's Optimism Inspires His Grandson's Acting Career

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/30/ [login to see] /a-cuban-refugees-optimism-inspires-his-grandsons-acting-career
Growing up in Havana, Cuba, Mario García was a well-known child actor. That all changed in 1962 when he fled as a refugee under Fidel Castro's regime. Although he put his acting career aside then, he was able to pass along his passion for acting to his grandson, Maximilian.

Mario was about 10 years old the first time he ever stepped on set, he told Max during a conversation at StoryCorps earlier this month.

It began with a chance encounter. Mario had been sitting on a bench outside a studio in Havana, waiting while his father, a Cuban jazz saxophonist, was at band rehearsal.

"Suddenly, someone approached me and said, 'We are trying to test for this commercial,' " he said. "So, I got up and I did the casting call."

Even with no acting experience under his belt, it quickly felt like a natural career path, said Mario.

"It was like I had always been doing this," he said. "From the commercial, I went on to be on telenovelas and a movie and all that."